Peppermint White Russian

This Peppermint White Russian is filled with minty flavour, a hint of coffee flavour from the Kahlua, a kick from the vodka, and absolutely creamy and luscious from the oat cream. Don’t forget the crushed peppermint rim! It’s the perfect holiday cocktail for Christmas parties or cozying up with a blanket on a chilly winter evening.

What is a White Russian?

A regular White Russian is a classic cocktail made with a combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream or milk. It’s an alcoholic beverage associated with Russia because of the inclusion of vodka and is typically served over ice in an old-fashioned cocktail glass. 

Now, while the White Russian drink is not specifically known as a traditional Christmas drink, it’s a popular choice during the holiday season because of its creamy, comforting, indulgent flavour. 

But this Peppermint White Russian is the perfect fun twist for a holiday celebration, combining the rich and creamy flavours with a bit of peppermint extract and a crushed candy cane rim. It’s truly the perfect holiday treat! 

Why You’ll Love This White Russian

• A festive cocktail that’s easy to make. Most people avoid making homemade Christmas cocktails because they can often be complicated and require bar tools like a cocktail shaker, muddler, etc. This peppermint white Russian cocktail is made without any bar tools at all and requires just 5 simple ingredients. 
• It’s naturally dairy-free. Most White Russian recipes are made with heavy cream, but this version is made with creamy oat milk. It’s just as creamy, but safe to drink for vegans or those who are lactose intolerant. 
• Easy to customize. Prefer a stronger classic white Russian? Add vodka. Want more peppermint flavour? Add additional peppermint extract or even use a peppermint vodka! Don’t be afraid to adjust the measurements to suit your taste buds. 

Key Ingredients and Substitutions 

• Vodka – We use plain, quality vodka so we can also use it to make other cocktails like Blueberry Vodka Lemonade and our famous Christmas Slush. If you happen to have peppermint infused vodka such as Smirnoff Peppermint Twist Vodka on hand or a peppermint schnapps, feel free to use it! 
• Kahlua – Any kahlua or coffee liqueur of choice will do. If you are vegan or dairy-free, make sure to double check the ingredients. 
• Maple syrup – We like to use a little maple syrup to sweeten, but any liquid sweetener of choice will do. Try simple syrup, corn syrup, peppermint simple syrup, or agave. 
• Peppermint extract – Make sure to use an edible peppermint extract, not a peppermint essential oil. These edible oils can usually be found in the grocery store near the other extracts or spices. 
• Oat cream – I used Earth’s Own Oat cream which is unsweetened and unflavoured – just like regular heavy cream or whole milk. However, I can see full fat coconut milk or even just a regular nondairy milk also working well. 
• Candy canes – I purchased crushed candy canes in bulk at my local bulk store, but if you only have regular full-sized candy canes, place them in a plastic bag and bash them with a rolling pin until broken into small uniform pieces. Or, if preferred, add a peppermint stick or candy cane to each cocktail as a festive stir stick! 

How to Make Peppermint White Russian

1. Make the candy cane rim (optional). Rub a small amount of vegan cream on the rim of each glass, then dip and roll the rim of your glass in the crushed candy canes until coated. 
2. Add ingredients to drinking glass. In each glass, place a few ice cubes. Pour over the vodka, kahlua, maple syrup, peppermint extract, and vegan cream. 
3. Serve. Stir the cocktail together, then enjoy immediately while chilled throughout the Christmas Season! 

Recipe FAQs 

Is Kahlua vegan?

Knowing whether or not a bottle of Kahlua is vegan can be very confusing. Our best recommendation is to check the ingredients list – the liqueur should contain a simple combination of rum, sugar, vanilla, and coffee. 

The well-known brand, Kahlua says on it’s website that it is not vegan, but this is because the sugar is not organic. The liqueur itself does not contain any animal products. Personally, the origin of sugar and its processing is not something we worry about. 

Can I make a large batch of peppermint white Russian for a party?

Absolutely! You can either make as many cocktails as you need right away by adding the ingredients to the number of cocktail glasses you’d like to make, or, make a large batch (without ice) in an airtight glass-container and store in the fridge a few hours in advance. Then, when ready to serve, divide the mixture between drinking glasses and serve! 

Similar Peppermint Christmas Recipes to Try Next

• Chocolate Peppermint Star Shortbread Cookies
• Peppermint Mocha Latte
• Vegan Peppermint Mocha
• Vegan Candy Cane Brownies
• Candy Cane Cookies

Peppermint White Russian Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Liv B
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings

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Description

This Peppermint White Russian is filled with minty flavour, a hint of coffee flavour from the Kahlua, a kick from the vodka, and absolutely creamy and luscious from the oat cream. Don’t forget the crushed peppermint rim! It’s the perfect holiday cocktail for Christmas parties or cozying up with a blanket on a chilly winter evening.

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Ingredients

• 2 shots vodka
• 2 shots Kahlua
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 2/3 cup (approx) vegan oat cream, full fat coconut milk or nondairy milk
• ice
• crushed candy cane for rim (optional)

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Instructions

1. If doing the candy cane rims, rub a small amount of vegan cream on the rim of each glass, then dip and roll in the crushed candy cane until the rim is coated. You can also do it partially if you don’t want it all the way around.
2. Place a few ice cubes in each serving glass. Add 1 shot of vodka, 1 shot of kahlua, 1/2 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp peppermint extract and 1/3 cup vegan cream to each glass.
3. Stir, then enjoy immediately!