This delicious Peppermint White Russian Mocktail is minty and creamy with notes of cocoa and coffee. It is festive, easy to make, and comes with two alcohol free versions- one with non alcoholic spirits and one without.
Try my Espresso Martini Mocktail for another coffee based mocktail!
Why You’ll LOVE This White Russian Mocktail:
- Two delicious versions- one with non alcoholic spirits and one without. This makes it great for new or seasoned mocktail enthusiasts.
- Packed with sweet peppermint flavor! The best flavor of the holidays, in my humble option.
What Is A White Russian?
A White Russian is a popular cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream. There are many different variations out there, just like everything else. My version is non alcoholic, has a dose of peppermint and chocolate to make it festive for the holiday season.
Ingredients In A Peppermint White Russian Mocktail
This recipe has two versions: one with and one without non alcoholic spirits. I do want to note there is a very small difference in taste between the two versions.
Version #1 – With Non Alcoholic Spirits
- Non Alcoholic Vodka: I use Seedlip Spice 94. Here is a great guide to other types of non alcoholic vodka out there.
- Non Alcoholic Coffee Liqueur: I use Lyres Coffee Originale. I do not know of any other options out there at this time.
- Peppermint Simple Syrup: Feel free to use store-bought or homemade. I have a recipe here that has instructions for making your own with peppermint candy, candy canes, or peppermint extract. You can also use peppermint extract or essential oil but it doesn’t taste as good in my opinion.
- Half and Half: I love the creaminess and consistency it gives to the mocktail. Feel free to use other types of milk or cream. Just remember the less fat in the milk the less creamy it will be.
- Chocolate Syrup: This is used on the rim to help the crushed candy canes stick to it. I also like to drizzle some inside the glass.
- Mini Candy Canes: Crush a few to use on the rim of your glass and leave one aside as a garnish.
Version #2 – WITHOUT Non Alcoholic Spirits
- Tonic Water: It is known for boosting flavors in drinks but it also helps to mimics the light flavor of vodka.
- Espresso: You can use strongly brewed coffee in it’s place.
- Vanilla Extract: This brings more depth of flavor to the coffee and helps mimic coffee liqueur.
- Peppermint Simple Syrup: see note above.
- Half and Half: see note above.
- Chocolate Syrup: see note above.
- Mini Candy Canes: see note above.
How to Make A Peppermint White Russian Mocktail At Home
This is a quick overview of the steps. The recipe card below will have more details.
- Rim your glass with chocolate syrup and then roll it in crushed candy canes.
- Drizzle the inside of the glass with chocolate syrup. Throw it in the freezer for 5 minutes.
- Combine the peppermint syrup, non alcoholic vodka (or tonic water), and non alcoholic coffee liqueur (or espresso and vanilla extract). Add to your chilled glass.
- Pour in the half and half and gently stir.
- Garnish with a mini candy cane.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Whether you want to reduce the amount of sugar in this or you just don’t want to use peppermint syrup, you can use peppermint extract or peppermint essential oil. I recommend starting with an 1/8 teaspoon of extract or 1 drop of essential oil. Taste test your Peppermint White Russian before adding more.
To make an alcoholic White Russian you will add 2 ounces of vodka and 1 ounce coffee liqueur to the peppermint simple syrup and half and half. You can also use peppermint vodka or other peppermint spirits in place of the simple syrup.
More Festive Holiday Mocktails You Might Enjoy:
- Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine
- Cranberry Margarita Mocktail
- Non Alcoholic Coquito
- Mimosa Mocktail
- Dirty Martini Mocktail
- Moscow Mule Mocktail
- Smoked Whiskey Sour Mocktail
- Apple Cider Sangria Mocktail
- Apple Bee’s Knees Mocktail
- Grapefruit Ginger Beer Mocktail
- Browse my many mocktails here!
Thanks for dropping in! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter for fun NEW CONTENT and CONVERSATION delivered to your inbox. If you love this recipe save it now so you can find it later. Thank you for your support!
Peppermint White Russian Mocktail
INGREDIENTS
To Rim The Glass
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- 1 tablespoon candy cane - crushed
With Non Alcoholic Spirits
- 1 ounce non alcoholic vodka - Seedlip Spice 94
- 2 ounces non alcoholic coffee liqueur - Lyres Coffee Originale
- 1 tablespoon peppermint syrup - recipe here
- 1 ounce half and half
Without Non Alcoholic Spirits
- 2 ounces espresso - or strongly brewed coffee
- 1 ounce tonic water
- 1 tablespoon peppermint syrup - recipe here
- 1 ounce half and half
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnish
- 1 mini candy cane
INSTRUCTIONS
Rim the Glass
- In two shallow plates, add chocolate syrup to one and crushed candy canes to another.
- Roll the rim of the glass into the chocolate syrup and then the crushed candy canes. Freeze for 5 minutes.
Version #1 – With Non Alcoholic Spirits
- Stir together non alcoholic vodka, non alcoholic coffee liqueur, and peppermint syrup. Add to your chilled glass.
- Top with half and half and gently stir.
Version #2 – Without Non Alcoholic Spirits
- Stir together espresso or strongly brewed coffee, tonic water, vanilla extract, and peppermint syrup. Add to your chilled glass.
- Top with half and half and gently stir.
Garnish
- Garnish with a mini candy cane and sip!
RECIPE NOTES
Peppermint Simple Syrup Substitution:
- 1/8 teaspoon of extract
- 1 drop of essential oil.
- NOTE: Taste test your Peppermint White Russian before adding more of either.
How to make a Peppermint White Russian with alcohol:
- 2 ounces of vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 1 ounce peppermint vodka or peppermint simple syrup
- 1 ounce half and half
- NOTE: Prepare the recipe as written above.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
I’m getting ready to make it, but I can’t find the amount of vanilla extract to add to the espresso. Can you please add that in, or let me know where I’m missing it? Thanks!
Hey John!
Thank you so much for catching that, sometimes those mistakes happen and I am glad you pointed it out. I have added it to the recipe card (an 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract). Keep in mind all vanilla extracts are made differently and taste different as well, so you may have to adjust to your liking. I always recommend buying high quality, pure extract when we are using it in mocktails. You can really ruin a drink if it’s a bad extract.
Please come back and tell me your thoughts!
~Elizabeth
I love mixing drinks and probably this is one of my favorite! It taste so so good!