I love the time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I feel like all we do is eat cookies and drink cocktails. One of my new favorite’s this holiday season is this gingerbread White Russian. This cocktail is a fun and festive twist on the classic White Russian, but kicked up a notch, using gingerbread spices and vanilla vodka.
There are quite a few White Russian recipes that call for different ingredients to give you that Christmas flavor. One recipe called for gingerbread syrup, either store bought or homemade. Another recipe called for gingerbread creamer instead of half and half. My recipe calls for ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and ground nutmeg to give you that nice gingerbread bite.
The origins of Gingerbread and Christmas
Have you ever wondered why we eat gingerbread during Christmas? Ever wonder where the gingerbread man came from? It originated from Medieval England. Apparently, Elizabeth I of England threw a dinner party and made the cookies to resemble the house guests she invited. Everyone loved them and from then on it became an iconic feature of Christmas. The gingerbread house originated in Germany around 1812. The story of Hansel and Gretel finding a candy house became so popular, people wanted to make their own candy houses and it just stuck.
How to make the gingerbread white Russian
First, put a shot of Vanilla vodka in the glass. (I used Smirnoff Vanilla). Next, put the ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and ground nutmeg in the glass. Stir to combine the spices with the vodka. Add the Kahlua. Then, throw some ice in the glass and add the half and half cream. Garnish with gingerbread man cookies or eat the gingerbread man as you sip on your cocktail.
Check out my Santa Mickey cocktail and Disney churro cookies if you’re looking for more Christmas cookies and cocktails to make this year.
Gingerbread White Russian
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Kahlua
- 3 tbsp half and half
- 1½ tbsp vanilla vodka I used Smirnoff Vanilla
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of ground cloves
- pinch of ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Put a shot of Vanilla vodka in the glass.
- Put the ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and ground nutmeg in the glass. Stir to combine the spices with the vodka.
- Add the Kahlua.
- Throw some ice in the glass and add the half and half cream.
- Garnish with gingerbread man cookies.
