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4 Ingredient Peppermint Martini

A festive 4-ingredient peppermint martini made with peppermint and vanilla vodkas. This brisk, refreshing drink is sure to be a hit with friends and family.

This is it, our last holiday post. Well, we might have one or two New Year’s posts, but either way, we’re getting close to the end. Why not close out this year’s festivities with a bang?

For today, Kim and I decided to share our peppermint martini. It might be a little on the sweet side, however, it still has all the kick you’d expect from a well-made martini.

Now, if you follow us, then you know we love cocktails and martinis. This is especially true during the holiday season, and I can honestly say this is my new favorite Christmas martini recipe.

It’s not just a peppermint martini, it’s a cream-based version of the drink. Now, that means it’s going to be a little calorie heavy, but I feel like it’s worth the indulgence. 

If you want something a little lighter, try our lemon drop martini. In addition to the half and half, I decided to make this martini with vanilla vodka.

The vanilla flavor mixes well with the dairy and the peppermint vodka. In regards to difficulty, this peppermint holiday drink ranks pretty low on the scale.

There’s not a whole lot to making the cocktail. My only word of caution is this, don’t go crazy when your mixing it together.

There’s no reason to pretend your on stage, just give it a few tilts and call it good. Well, that’s about it for introductions, how about we get started?

Two peppermint martinis in martini glasses, with a candy cane garnish.

Peppermint Martini Instructions:

As always, grab your ingredients and put them into one place. In case you’re wondering, no you don’t need a fancy shaker cup for this drink.

In fact, you could use a large plastic cup and a spoon to mix this peppermint syrup cocktail. Just make sure the cup can hold at least 6-ounces of liquid when filled halfway with ice.

Once you have the shaker or cup, fill it halfway with ice and begin adding your ingredients. Personally, I add them in the following order, peppermint vodka, vanilla vodka, peppermint syrup, and finally, the half and half.

The peppermint martini ingredients like half and half and peppermint vodka.

You may have noticed that I added the heavier liquids last. The heavy liquids will naturally want to sink to the bottom, thus, making it easier for me to mix the cocktail without a lot of effort.

Speaking of mixing, cover your shaker cup and give it a few easy tilts back and forth. Or, use your spoon and stir the cocktail for 10-seconds or so to combine all the ingredients.

A martini glass, rimmed with syrup, being dipped into crushed candy canes.

The last step is to pour the vodka candy cane drink into a martini glass. On the other hand you could create a beautiful cocktail by adding a little garnish.

All you need to do is crush some peppermint candy and pour it onto a plate. Afterward, take a little peppermint syrup or corn syrup and spread it around the rim of the glass.

Take the martini glass, hold it upside, and then dip it into the crushed candy. Viola, you have a gorgeous, decorative glass to serve your cocktail.

Take a look at the picture above for a visual aid. This is optional, so if you decide to skip it, serve the drink as is and enjoy.

A finished peppermint martini, rimmed with crushed candy cane pieces.

Peppermint Cocktail Tips:

Peppermint syrup isn’t always easy to find and we understand. Try using peppermint Schnapps in place of the syrup.

Not only will it provide additional peppermint flavor, the liqueur will add a little more kick to your drink. With that being said, please drink responsibly.

To reduce the calories in this recipe, try substituting milk in place of the half and half. It won’t be as rich and creamy, but it will definitely lower the calorie count.

Dairy can be tricky, or downright troublesome for some people, feel free to use dairy-free options in place of the half and half. Coconut cream is great alternative because of the high fat content.

Some people prefer tropical themed holiday celebrations, if that sounds like you, then take a look at our Florida inspired booze cubes.

Pair this drink with some peppermint truffles or English toffee for a fun treat.

If you like this Christmas martini recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe card. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram searching for Berly’s Kitchen!

The finished peppermint martinis, rimmed with crushed peppermint candy, and garnished with a candy cane.

4 Ingredient Peppermint Martini

5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 Serving

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Ingredients

  • handful ice
  • 1 ounce peppermint vodka
  • 1 ounce vanilla vodka
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint syrup similar to Torani brand (or peppermint schnapps)
  • 4 ounces half and half

Instructions 

  • First, in a shaker half-filled with ice, combine both the vodkas, the syrup, and the half and half.
    1 ounce peppermint vodka
    1 ounce vanilla vodka
    1 teaspoon peppermint syrup
    4 ounces half and half
  • Next, gently shake or stir the ingredients to blend them.
  • Strain into a 6-ounce cocktail or martini glass and serve chilled and neat (without the ice).

Notes

The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients and a serving size of one drink. Additionally, the count does not included any garnishments shown in the photos above. Actual calories will vary. 
 
**The crushed peppermint candies on the rim of the glass are optional!**

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 152mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 401IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Recipe Rating