It's that time of year! If you enjoy a classic espresso martini, you'll LOVE this festive twist: A peppermint espresso martini! It's just like a peppermint mocha, but boozy!
I have a confession – I don't usually like peppermint. Like, at all. So, I was SHOCKED at how much I loved this espresso peppermint martini!
This peppermint espresso martini recipe is so festive and perfect for coffee lovers. It's strong, slightly sweet, creamy, and decadent! It is the perfect cocktail for a holiday party or just to enjoy as the perfect after-dinner drink while sitting by your Christmas tree. You won't regret it! (Unless you have too many, lol.)
If you happen to have a peppermint hater among you but still want a yummy, festive cocktail, try my Mistletoe Margarita to get into the holiday spirit!
Table of Contents:
🎥 Watch the video of this recipe
🍸 Why you'll love this Peppermint Espresso Martini
- It is perfectly balanced. Just a little peppermint balances perfectly with the other strong flavors without being overpowering!
- Creamy and sweet, but strong! A drop of heavy cream takes this to the next level, frothy, and mellow.
- Festive & Unique! It's perfect for the holiday season! Plus, it's a unique twist to the traditional espresso martini by using peppermint and Irish whiskey!
🥘 What you need for this recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Irish Whiskey - Hear me out, whiskey goes with espresso SO. MUCH. BETTER than vodka or gin! If you want to use vodka, gin, or tequila, that's fine too. For extra sweetness, you could even try a vanilla vodka instead of regular vodka. But the Irish whiskey really does make this over-the-top delicious and the perfect drink for cold weather.
- Cold Espresso - I don't recommend instant espresso for this recipe. A shot of espresso per drink is best. No espresso machine? No problem! You can substitute plain, unsweetened cold brew for an equally delicious cocktail.
- Coffee Liqueur - I recommend using Mr. Black's coffee liqueur, but Kahlua or another brand works too.
- Peppermint Schnapps - I think this is the best way to add peppermint flavor to a festive martini, but only a small amount is needed. If you can't get your hands on schnapps, you can use ¼ ounce of peppermint extract.
- Simple Syrup - Homemade or store-bought. Take it up a notch with Vanilla Bean Syrup!
- Heavy Cream - A splash of cream takes this to the next level. I really think this makes a big difference in flavor and texture. You could also use milk or a non-dairy milk alternative.
- Candy Canes or Peppermint Candy - Crush for candy cane rim. You could also add a mini candy cane for extra garnish.
Tools and Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Jigger
- Martini Glass
📋 How to make a Peppermint Espresso Martini
Step 1: Prepare the Martini
Optional: Place 1-2 candy canes in a ziploc bag and use something hard to crush the candy into small chunks or fine pieces for the rim of your martini glass. Then, pour 2-3 tablespoons of simple syrup on a plate and dump the candy chunks on a separate plate. Roll the rim of the chilled martini glass in the syrup, then repeat in the candy chunks until the rims are fully coated in candy cane pieces. Set glasses aside.
Measure out all necessary ingredients.
Add a handful of ice cubes to the cocktail shaker.
Step 2: Make the Cocktail
Add all of the liquid ingredients to the cocktail shaker. Close the lid tightly.
Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Then, strain into the martini glass.
Serve cold and enjoy!
As an extra step, top with a mini candy cane!
💭 Expert Tips & Tricks
- Pro Tip: If you don't have a cocktail jigger, here's a cheat sheet: ¼ cup = 2 oz. 1 tablespoon = ½ oz. ½ tablespoon = ¼ oz. 2 tablespoon = 1 oz.
- Hear me out, whiskey goes with espresso SO. MUCH. BETTER than vodka or gin! If you want to use vodka, gin, or tequila, that's fine too. But the Irish whiskey really does make this over-the-top delicious.
- You can use cold brew (not concentrate) in place of espresso!
Recipe FAQs
This might be controversial, but I find Irish whiskey to be the best liquor for an espresso martini! The conventional method is vodka, but gin can work too. Try the whiskey next time!
I like to use Mr. Black's coffee liqueur, but Kahlua or any other coffee liqueur works great!
It's very easy to make an espresso martini frothier, but it takes some work. The answer is to shake it much harder and for much longer. To create a frothy top, the cocktail shaker should be so cold that your fingers hurt. That's how you know it's ready!
Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Creamy Peppermint Espresso Martini
Equipment
- Cocktail jigger
- Martini Glass
Ingredients
- 2 oz Irish whiskey or liquor of choice, vodka or tequila are traditional.
- 1 oz Espresso or cold brew (not concentrate)
- ½ oz Coffee liqueur
- ¼ oz Peppermint schnapps more to taste.
- ¼ oz Simple Syrup more for the rim
- ¼ oz Heavy cream or milk or milk alternative
- Candy canes crushed up for the rim.
Instructions
- Optional: Place 1-2 candy canes in a ziploc bag and use something hard to crush the candy into small chunks or fine pieces. Then, pour 2-3 tablespoons of simple syrup on a plate and dump the candy chunks on a separate plate. Roll the rim of the martini glass in the syrup, then repeat in the candy chunks until the rims are fully coated in candy cane pieces. Set glasses aside.
- Measure out all necessary ingredients.
- Add a handful of ice cubes to the cocktail shaker.
- Add all of the liquid ingredients to the cocktail shaker. Close the lid tightly.
- Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. Then, strain into the martini glass.
- Serve cold and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Pro Tip: If you don't have a cocktail jigger, here's a cheat sheet: ¼ cup = 2 oz. 1 tablespoon = ½ oz. ½ tablespoon = ¼ oz. 2 tablespoon = 1 oz.
- Hear me out, whiskey goes with espresso SO. MUCH. BETTER than vodka or gin! If you want to use vodka, gin, or tequila, that's fine too. But the Irish whiskey really does make this over the top delicious.
- You can use cold brew (not concentrate) in place of espresso!
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