Easy Gingerbread White Russian Recipe - Holiday Cocktail

This creamy, spiced Gingerbread White Russian tastes like dunking a gingerbread cookie into coffee and somehow ending up with the best winter drink you've ever had. I made my first one last year after finding a jar of homemade gingerbread syrup in the back of my fridge, and honestly, I haven't gone back to regular White Russians since. The whole thing comes together in about 5 minutes with just four ingredients, which is pretty much unbeatable when you want something festive but don't feel like working for it.

If you're in the mood for more easy holiday drinks, The Best Whipped Pink Lemonade Recipe is bright and fun, or try a Delicious Black Manhattan Recipe for something stronger. And for parties, The Best Sour Patch Jello Shots Recipe always disappears fast.

Why You'll Love This Gingerbread White Russian

This is one of those holiday cocktail recipes that doesn't require any special skills or fancy bar tools. You're basically stirring four ingredients together over ice, and somehow it tastes like you spent an hour crafting it. The gingerbread syrup does all the heavy lifting, bringing in those cozy spiced flavors that make winter drinks so good. It's creamy, a little sweet, and has just enough warmth from the spices to feel festive without being overpowering.

It's also flexible. You can use heavy cream for richness, half-and-half for something lighter, or cashew milk if you're avoiding dairy. The vodka and coffee liqueur create that classic White Russian base, while the gingerbread syrup turns it into something seasonal and special. You can make one for yourself or mix up a batch for friends. Either way, it's simple, comforting, and tastes like the holidays in a glass.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Gingerbread White Russian
• Gingerbread White Russian Ingredients
• How to Make a Gingerbread White Russian
• Smart Substitutions
• Equipment For Gingerbread White Russian
• Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
• What Makes This Gingerbread Cocktail Special
• Top Tip
• Serving Ideas
• FAQ
• Related
• Pairing
• Gingerbread White Russian

Gingerbread White Russian Ingredients

Here's what goes into this Gingerbread White Russian.

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities

For the Cocktail:

• Vodka: The base spirit that keeps this drink smooth and strong. Use a good-quality vodka for the best taste.
• Coffee liqueur: Adds rich coffee flavor and sweetness. Kahlua is the classic choice, but any coffee liqueur works.
• Cream: Creates that signature creamy texture. You can use heavy whipping cream, half-and-half, or dairy-free milk like cashew milk.
• Homemade gingerbread simple syrup: This is where the magic happens. The gingerbread syrup brings in all those warm spices ginger, cinnamon, molasses and ties the whole drink together.

Optional Toppings:

• Whipped cream: Makes it feel like dessert in a glass.
• Gingersnap cookies: Adds a spicy crunch and looks adorable perched on the rim. Mini gingerbread man cookies work too.
• Cinnamon powder or ground nutmeg: A light dusting on top adds extra spice and aroma. Ceylon cinnamon is milder and sweeter if you have it.
• Cinnamon sticks: Perfect for stirring and adds a festive touch.

How to Make a Gingerbread White Russian

This comes together faster than you'd think.

Fill the glass with ice: Grab a short cocktail glass and fill it all the way with ice. This keeps everything cold and helps the flavors blend as you stir.

Add the liquids: Pour in the vodka, coffee liqueur, gingerbread syrup, and cream. They'll settle in layers at first, which looks pretty cool.

Stir well: Use a spoon to stir everything together until the layers disappear and the drink turns creamy and smooth. This takes about 10 seconds.

Garnish: Top with whipped cream if you want it extra indulgent. Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on top, add a crushed gingersnap cookie, or stick a whole gingerbread man on the rim. A cinnamon stick makes a great stirrer too.

Smart Substitutions

You can adjust this recipe to fit your taste or what you have on hand.

Dairy-free version: Swap the cream for cashew milk. It has a naturally rich texture that works beautifully in creamy cocktails. Go for unsweetened, unflavored versions, especially the ones made for lattes. For dairy-free whipped cream, check the freezer section for coconut milk-based options.

Mocktail version: Skip the vodka and coffee liqueur. Instead, use 4 ounces of brewed coffee regular or decaf and sweeten it with a little simple syrup or honey. Add the gingerbread syrup and cream, stir, and top with whipped cream and mini gingerbread man cookies. You get all the flavor without the alcohol.

Cookie choice: Gingersnap cookies have a spicier, more pronounced ginger flavor, which I prefer. But if you want something more playful and festive, mini gingerbread man cookies are adorable and taste just as good.

Different cream options: Heavy whipping cream makes this super rich and dessert-like. Half-and-half is lighter but still creamy. Dairy-free milk works, but cashew milk is the best substitute because it doesn't water down the drink.

Equipment For Gingerbread White Russian

You don't need much to make this Gingerbread White Russian.

Short cocktail glass: A classic rocks glass or any short tumbler works perfectly. It's the right size for this drink and shows off the creamy layers.

Stirring spoon: Any long spoon will do. You just need something to mix the ingredients together.

Ice: Regular ice cubes are fine. Fill the glass generously so the drink stays cold.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

This Gingerbread White Russian is best enjoyed fresh, right after you mix it. The cream can separate if it sits too long, and the ice will start to melt and water it down. If you're making drinks for a group, you can pre-measure the vodka, coffee liqueur, and gingerbread syrup into individual glasses, then add the cream and ice right before serving.

The gingerbread syrup is the one thing you can (and should) make ahead. It keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks, so you can batch it and have it ready whenever you want to make a drink. Just give it a quick stir before using since the spices can settle at the bottomdon't stand up well to freezing for X days/weeks/months.

What Makes This Gingerbread Cocktail Special

Last December, my sister Sarah came over with a bottle of gingerbread syrup she'd made herself. She poured it into a White Russian without asking, stirred it once, and handed it to me with a grin. "Just taste it," she said. I took one sip and immediately understood why she looked so pleased with herself. The warm spices, the creamy texture, the hint of molasses—it all worked. We ended up making three more that night, and by the time Emma wandered into the kitchen asking why it smelled like cookies, we were already planning to serve them at Christmas dinner.

This gingerbread flavored White Russian is what happens when classic holiday flavors meet an easy-to-make cocktail. The gingerbread syrup adds sweetness and spice without being too heavy, and the cream balances everything out. You can make it dairy-free, turn it into a mocktail, or top it with whipped cream and gingersnap cookies for extra flair. It's one of those drinks that feels fancy but comes together in minutes.

Serving Ideas

Here are a few ways to enjoy this Gingerbread White Russian.

Holiday party: Serve these in a row on a tray with whipped cream already piped on top and gingersnap cookies tucked into the side. They look festive and taste amazing.

Cozy night in: Make one for yourself, curl up under a blanket, and put on a holiday movie. It's the perfect drink for slow, quiet winter nights.

Christmas Eve dessert: This doubles as a cocktail and dessert. Serve it after dinner with a plate of cookies on the side.

New Year's toast: Make a round for guests just before midnight. The creamy sweetness and warm spices feel celebratory without being too heavy.

FAQ

Related

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Pairing

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