This creamy holiday drink is meant for adults over 21.
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- If you like White Russians, you'll love this sweet and creamy Christmas cookie cocktail that uses just a few simple ingredients.
- Christmas cocktail recipes like this are fun for holiday parties or sipping while waiting for Santa!
- No need for a cocktail shaker or fancy martini glasses—just stir the ingredients over ice cubes in a lowball rocks glass.
This festive dessert cocktail is a creamy drink that tastes like Christmas cookies, complete with warm hints of coffee and almond flavor.
It’s holiday spirit in a glass, y’all, and you'll be feeling merry in no time!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- Replace the plain vodka with vanilla vodka, cake vodka, or whipped vodka to add more sugar cookie flavor to your festive cocktail.
- Don’t have amaretto? No problem—you can substitute it with a few drops of almond extract in a pinch.
- You can use whole milk, 2% milk, or plant-based milk such as almond milk instead of coffee creamer or heavy cream. Your holiday cocktail won’t be as creamy, though.
- Make your sweet cocktail even more boozy with Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur instead of heavy cream!
- Don't have any corn syrup? Spread vanilla frosting on the rim of the glass with a butter knife so it tastes more like sugar cookie dough!
- Elevate the look of your cocktail with garnish—cut a thin wedge out of your favorite sugar cookie and place it on the edge of the rim.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Spread a thin layer of corn syrup on the rim of your glass.
- Roll the rim in red and green sprinkles on a small plate.
- Fill your glass with ice cubes and pour in the vodka, Kahlua, vanilla syrup, and amaretto.
- Pour in the cream and sprinkle the top with cinnamon sugar.
🍴 Equipment
You’ll need old-fashioned lowball glasses and a jigger to measure the liquors. Simple bar staples—nothing too fancy!
🥫 How to store leftovers
Store leftover Christmas cocktail mix in a sealed glass jar or pitcher in the fridge for up to one week. Strain out the ice so it doesn't water down the extras.
To enjoy, simply stir it up again and pour over ice in your sprinkle-rimmed glasses. Don't forget to top it off with cinnamon sugar!
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: This cocktail is designed to be rich and luscious. If you use low-fat, non-fat, or non-dairy milk, it won’t be as creamy.
- Pour the sprinkles into a small plate or shallow bowl, so it’s easier to coat the rim of your glass.
- If you skip rimming the glass with corn syrup and sprinkles, add a teaspoon of sugar to the cocktail so it has the same level of sweetness.
- Use a silicone ice tray to make festive ice cubes—star shapes are fun for the holidays!
- Don't shake it—it'll get frothy. Instead, add all the ingredients and stir with a bar spoon for the smoothest texture.
- Prebatch multiple servings of this sugar cookie cocktail recipe up to a week in advance of holiday parties—Christmas drinks make the best happy hour!
👩🍳 FAQs
This cocktail tastes like every kid’s favorite cookie—just sweet enough, rich, and full of vanilla flavor with a buttery finish! It’s basically a sugar cookie in boozy liquid form.
It’s easy! Simmer equal parts white sugar and water on the stovetop until the mixture thickens into a syrup. Stir in vanilla extract to taste and voila! You’ve made vanilla syrup!
Use almond milk or oat milk to make this cocktail dairy-free. Oat milk will even make it taste like an oatmeal cookie cocktail! Plant-based milk isn’t as creamy, though.
You sure can! Prebatch this cocktail—minus the ice—in a glass pitcher and store it in the fridge for up to one week. Just pour it over ice in a sprinkle-rimmed glass and top with cinnamon sugar to serve.
📚 Related recipes
- A twist on the classic Christmas martini cocktail, this Chocolate Peppermint Martini tastes so festive and rich!
- Cranberry juice, lime juice, orange, and rum combine to create a delicious Cranberry Daiquiri Recipe—perfect for the holiday season.
- Creamy and frothy, Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate gets a boozy kick from rum and coconut vodka with a guajillo chile twist!
📞 The last word
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
White Russian Christmas Cookie Cocktail
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Kahlua
- ½ ounce amaretto
- 1 ounce vanilla syrup
- 2 ounces cream
- ¼ teaspoon white corn syrup
- sprinkles
- cinnamon sugar mixture
Instructions
- Spread a line of syrup around the rim of an on the rocks glass.
- Roll it in the sprinkles.
- Add ice to fill the glass.
- Add the vodka, the kahlua, the syrup, and the amaretto.
- Pour in the cream and sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar.
Notes
- Pour the sprinkles into a small plate or shallow bowl, so it’s easier to coat the rim of your glass.
- Don't shake it—it'll get frothy. Instead, add all the ingredients and stir with a bar spoon for the smoothest texture.
- Prebatch multiple servings of this sugar cookie cocktail recipe up to a week in advance of holiday parties—Christmas drinks make the best happy hour!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Dawn Glorioso says
Is the cream heavy whipping cream?
Marye says
Yes it is. 🙂
Virginia McKenzie says
What an amazing sounding recipe.
I am a fan of Amoretto, that would be my choice to use. The photo of the finished drink looks dang good also.
Janet Martin says
I love White Russions, so this recipe would be a natural for me! We will try these on CHRISTmas Eve! Yum!
Sue Turcsany says
I remember when White Russian cocktails were really popular back in the day. This jazzed up version is really festive. Alcohol, caffeine, sweet and creamy all in one drink---totally decadent! I know I have a bottle of Kahlua around somewhere.
Sherri Rochester says
Oh my yum!
Sounds totally yummy! Merry Christmas!
Leslie says
Not only is this pretty and festive, but it also seems easy enough for an inexperienced cocktail maker.
Ketrena Graves says
I haven't had one in a long time. It soundd really good.
Shelly Carter says
Too bad it's made with alcohol.
Mary McGill says
Wow! Two of my favorite liquors - Kahlua and Amaretto! Can't wait to try this! Mary
Judy Burrell says
Sounds like a delicious drink.
Georgia Gilardez says
This drink is like Christmas in a glass. So delicious, creamy and crisp. So festive with the sprinkles.
Georgia Gilardez says
This is like Christmas in a glass. It’s smooth, rich and just Lucious. Love this drink.(dessert)
Carol says
Oh, these sound addicting! What is vanilla syrup? Can I make that at home, whit items I already have?
Marye says
Vanilla syrup is like the coffee syrup at Starbucks. You can get it on Amazon OR you can simmer vanilla beans in simple syrup and it will do the same.
Espi says
So, I love white Russians. I've never had it like this, but not for long. I'm going shopping today to grab the ingredients. Who knew I needed sprinkles in my pantry? Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
Jeanette Whetzel says
This sounds amazing! I wonder if you can use chocolate or coconut vodka in it?What do you think? I want to try this for a few friends.
Carol Stuck says
Perfect timing! I was wanting a new drink for family and friends for Christmas! This looks absolutely delicious!
Michelle Gosser says
I love to read your recipes! At first I was thinking that there's so much I'm going to have to buy to make this. But your tips and advice on different variations, helped me realize that I already have most of the substitute items on hand! I really enjoyed the tip on how to make a simple syrup, something I haven't tried to make yet...
Dixie Lindsey says
This looks so delicious. I’m making it tomorrow for my birthday.
Marye says
Happy birthday, Dixie!
Maureen says
This is what I need right about now. I ordered me decorations for my sugar cookies and it isn't coming until Dec. 26. What luck?? But I still have other cookies to make and this one is next on my list.
Julie says
Such a great drink! Cannot wait to make again!
Thanks!