Food Archives - A Beautiful Mess

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Shot

Elsie Larson — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:01:00 +0000

Learn to make this tasty shot recipe using only three ingredients. When you combine vanilla vodka, pineapple juice and grenadine, you will create this beautiful gradient shot that tastes just like pineapple upside-down cake.

More shot recipes: Green Tea Shot, Gummy Bear Shot, White Tea Shot, Washington Apple Shot, Jello Shots, Lemon Drop Shot, Scooby Snack Shot, Mexican Candy Shot.

Ingredients

Vanilla Vodka – I recommend vanilla vodka because it gives your shot more of a cake flavor.
Pineapple Juice – Adds flavor and sweetness.
Grenadine Syrup – You can use store bought or our homemade grenadine recipe.
Maraschino Cherry – Is an optional garnish.

Directions

In a shot glass, pour in vodka, then pineapple juice, then grenadine syrup.

The grenadine syrup will quickly settle at the bottom of your shot. You can pour it over a spoon to get an even cleaner gradient color (I didn’t find this necessary).

Slice maraschino cherries on the bottom to garnish the side of your shot glass with.

Cheers!

Tips for Making

Vanilla vodka is encouraged. If you don’t have vanilla vodka at home, you can make your own by steeping a vanilla bean in some vodka for about a week.
Choose a pineapple juice without much pulp for better clarity in your shot.
If you have never tried making homemade grenadine, it’s easy and so much more fresh than store-bought syrup. We love to make our own cocktail syrups here (simple syrup, margarita mix and sour mix are just a few!).
Even though it seems intuitive to pour the grenadine layer first, the best ombre coloring is achieved when you slowly pour in the grenadine last.

Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With

More pineapple recipes you might enjoy:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Shot made of?

Paloma Cocktail

Elsie Larson — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:02:00 +0000

If you love a Margarita but sometimes find them too sweet, a classic Paloma might be your perfect drink. This tequila-based drink uses grapefruit juice and lime. It has just the right balance of sweet and tart citrus.

The Paloma is Mexico’s national drink and most popular cocktail. We definitely recommend ordering this popular cocktail next time you are out. Today, let’s learn a perfect Paloma recipe at home.

More recipes: Ranch Water, Mexican Mule, Mexican Candy Shot, Homemade Margarita Mix, Green Tea Shots, Basic Jello Shots.

Ingredients in a Paloma

Tequila – Tequila blanco is the base of this drink.
Grapefruit Juice – Fresh squeezed if you have it.
Sparkling Water – Any kind of club soda will do.
Agave Nectar – For a little added sweetness.
Fresh Lime Juice – Adds a little extra flavor.
Course Salt – For the rim. I always keep this salt on hand.

A traditional Paloma is made with grapefruit soda (instead of grapefruit juice and sparkling water). I like this recipe as well, but having tasted both I strongly prefer the grapefruit juice version as it tastes fresher and a little more flavorful.

Instructions

Begin by prepping the salt rim. I use a little honey or agave to cover half of the outer rim of a glass. Dip into course salt to prepare the rim, ensuring that none goes into the glass.

In a cocktail shaker, combine your tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave. Shake with ice for 10-15 seconds.

Pour into a glass filled with ice. Top the glass with sparkling water and stir.

Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

What does a Paloma taste like?

A Paloma cocktail tastes like a grapefruit version of a margarita. It’s a bit less sweet and lighter with the addition of sparkling water. It’s a delicious tequila cocktail.

History of a Paloma cocktail

Paloma translates to “Dove” in Spanish. This drink likely originated in the 1950s, made first by bartender Don Javier Delgado Corona in Tequila, Mexico. It may have been named after the popular folk song “La Paloma.” However this cocktail was created, we’re glad it was and has now stood the test of time with decades of popularity.

Tips for Making

Salting the rim is not necessary, but I love what it adds to this cocktail. I never skip it. I like to use course kosher salt or margarita salt.
Fresh grapefruit juice is worth the effort and more delicious for sure. That said, I use store-bought juice often. No one will judge you.
If you don’t have tequila blanco available, you can substitute it for lightly aged reposado tequila. We don’t recommend anejo tequila (anything that has been aged for a long time).
My favorite glass to serve a Paloma in is a simple rocks glass.
If you don’t have agave nectar, you can substitute for honey syrup or simple syrup.

Paloma Variations

Paloma with Grapefruit Soda – You can use a sweetened grapefruit soda (like Jarritos or Squirt) in place of club soda and grapefruit juice. Omit agave syrup if you use this variation.
Mezcal Paloma – Create a smokier, more intense cocktail by replacing tequila with mezcal.
Spicy Paloma – Muddle some sliced jalapeño peppers in the grapefruit juice before mixing the rest of your cocktail. Serve with a jalapeño on top.
Pink Paloma – Choose ruby red grapefruit juice to create a pink cocktail.

Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With

Other recipes you may like:

Mexican Food – Taco Dip, Taco Soup, Rotel Cheese Dip
Small Plates – See 30+ Easy Finger Foods

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a Margarita and a Paloma?

Rum Runner

Elsie Larson — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 14:01:00 +0000

There’s nothing like a classic tropical cocktail and a Rum Runner is one of the best ones out there. This drink uses both light and dark rum as well as fruit flavored liqueurs to create a balanced sweet and strong cocktail.

More cocktail recipes: Mint Mojito, Pina Colada, Gimlet, Aperol Spritz, Blue Hawaiian, Appletini, Green Tea Shot.

As is common with tropical drinks, there are many variations of the Rum Runner recipe online. This recipe is tested and approved—it’s absolutely delicious and unique from other drinks in its category.

Ingredients

Light Rum – This drink is traditionally made using both light and dark rum.
Navy-Strength Rum – This refers to the higher proof of this dark rum.
Banana Liqueur – Such as Giffard Banane Du Bresil.
Blackberry Liqueur – I used Chambord.
Pineapple Juice – For added sweetness and fruit flavor.
Lime Juice – To balance your cocktail.
Grenadine – You can use store bought or make your own grenadine.
Pineapple Wedge – Optional garnish.
Maraschino Cherry – Optional garnish (I used these cherries).

What is a Rum Runner?

The Rum Runner cocktail recipe originated in the 1970s at Holiday Isle Tiki Bar on Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Many stories even trace the Rum Runner’s origin back as far as the 1950s. As legend has it, the bartender invented this drink simply by having an excess of rum and trying to use up ingredients on hand. Throwing random ingredients on hand into a blender, this recipe was born. The term “run runners” comes from bootleggers who smuggled alcohol during the Prohibition era. Earlier drinks are recorded by the same name, but the 1970s version is the one still widely used today.

The resulting drink is very strong tropical drink. The Rum Runner has been a popular bar staple ever since.

Directions

Begin with a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Add both rums, banana liqueur, blackberry liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice and grenadine to the cocktail shaker.

Shake for 10-15 seconds.

Strain the drink into a rocks glass filled with ice.

Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry if you like. Enjoy!

Tips for Making

This drink has a lot of special ingredients, so substituting one or even two is fine if you need to. We recommend keeping the base of the two rums and more than one fruity liquor to balance the taste.
Almost any fresh fruit makes a good garnish for this drink, but the best options are pineapple, an orange slice, blackberries or maraschino cherries.
I used my favorite crystal rocks glasses to serve this drink. These glasses are useful for dozens of different cocktail recipes. Another popular choice is a hurricane glass.
You can substitute pineapple juice for orange juice for a little vitamin C.

Other recipes you may like

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Rum Runner made of?

Gummy Bear Shot

Elsie Larson — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 14:09:00 +0000

The Gummy Bear shot is an adorable novelty shot recipe that tastes just a gummy bear. This recipe is inspired by a favorite childhood candy with an adult twist. This is the perfect playful shot recipe to make for your next celebration.

Create this iconic candy-inspired shot using a mix of fruity liquors. Your friends will love this cute shot.

More shot and drink recipes: Lemon Drop Shot, Green Tea Shot, Basic Jello Shots, Chocolate Cake Shots, Mexican Candy Shots, Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shots.

Ingredients in a Gummy Bear Shot

Cherry Vodka – The base of your drink.
Peach Schapps – Adds a nice peach flavor to your shot.
Pineapple Juice – Adds more tropical flavor to this recipe.
Lemon-Lime Soda – Such as Sprite. Just a splash to add some bubbles.
Gummy Bears – Are an optional garnish (and so cute!)

I served my shots in these simple shot glasses along with my favorite brand of gummy bears.

Vodka Gummy Bears

To take this recipe to the next level, make vodka soaked gummy bears to use as a garnish. Soak gummy bears in vodka at room temperature for 8 hours, or overnight. Remove excess vodka and use the new (plumper) vodka gummy bears as garnish for this shot.

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, combine one ounce cherry vodka and one ounce peach schnapps. Next, add pineapple juice and ice.

Shake for 10-15 seconds.

Pour into a shot glass and add a splash of lemon-lime soda.

Add a gummy bear for garnish. I added one to the edge of each glass (cut a slit in the bottom using a knife). You can also add gummy bears to the inside of your shot if you wish—it’s totally optional.

Tips & Tricks for Making

For a white gummy bear shot, use pineapple vodka and be sure to use pineapple juice. The rest of the recipe is the same. Fun fact: The white gummy bear is pineapple flavored.
If you want a more neutral color shot, choose an uncolored cherry vodka. My shots are red because of the color from the cherry vodka.
If you don’t have cherry vodka on hand feel free to use unflavored vodka or another fruity flavor. You could add a splash of grenadine if you want some red color.
You can batch this recipe in advance, just save the lemon-lime soda to add when you are serving.
For an ever sweeter shot, add a sugared rim.
Substitutions: You can sub cherry vodka for raspberry vodka. Pineapple juice can be subbed for cranberry juice or peach juice. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can use a mixing glass with ice.

More cute party recipes you may like

Birthday Cake Cookies
Birthday Cake Pops
Birthday Cake Shot
Cookie Dough Dip
Looking for a mocktail? Try our virgin mojito recipe

If you enjoy our recipe, please remember to leave us a 5-star rating. If you’re building your home bartender skills, try making your own sour mix and simple syrup.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What are gummy bear shots made of?

Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Emma Chapman — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 14:02:00 +0000

This chicken Alfredo recipe is a staple at our house! Creamy, flavorful noodles with perfectly baked chicken on top. This meal takes less than 30 minutes to make from start to finish and feels like restaurant quality.

And I love making chicken Alfredo at home because you can customize the serving size to your preferences and this meal is made with all basic ingredients. This is one dinner everyone in the family will love!

Related: Next up, learn to make homemade tomato sauce, pesto and vodka sauce.

The components of this meal are baked chicken and Alfredo sauce over cooked noodles. I’m going to put the whole thing together for you in this one post with the printable recipe card below. And if you want to take this recipe to the next level, you could learn to make fresh pasta.

Ingredients

Chicken breast – one or two depending how much protein you want
Olive oil
Seasoning salt
Fettuccine noodles
Butter – unsalted
Heavy whipping cream
Garlic
Italian seasoning
Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper

If you want to add some chopped parsley on top, go for it!

Directions

Start by baking the chicken. Add half the olive oil to a baking dish and rub around the bottom (where the chicken will touch). Then, add the chicken and pour the remaining oil on top. Rub it around so the entire top of the chicken breast is covered.

Sprinkle on the seasoning salt and pepper.

Bake at 450°F for 14-18 minutes. Check to make sure the chicken is done (the interior should reach 165°F). Then, allow to rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting or serving.

Next, boil the fettuccine noodles according to the package directions.

Then make the sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter and lightly saute the minced garlic in the butter for 1-2 minutes.

Next, stir in the heavy whipping cream and Italian seasoning. Stir so everything gets warm and well combined.

Then stir in the Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese melts and the mixture becomes a sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Toss the cooked (drained) noodles in the sauce. Then add to plates. Top with sliced baked chicken.

Tips & Substitutions

The best way to check that your chicken is done is to use a meat thermometer and make sure the thickest part of the chicken has reached 165°F.
You could choose to make air fryer chicken instead of baked if you like.
In the recipe card below, I’m suggesting one chicken breast for two servings, but you could bake two or more chicken breasts at the same time if you want to add more protein to this meal.

Serving Suggestions

This meal is great all on its own, but if you’d like a vegetable side, try:

Chicken Alfredo Recipe

a restaurant-quality meal in under 30 minutes

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword alfredo, chicken

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 18

Total Time 28

Servings

Calories 1196kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

1 chicken breast
½ tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon seasoning salt
6 ounces fettuccine noodles
¼ cup butter unsalted
¾ cup heavy whipping cream
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Instructions

Start by baking the chicken. Add half the olive oil to a baking dish and rub around the bottom (where the chicken will touch). Then, add the chicken and pour the remaining oil on top. Rub it around so the entire top of the chicken breast is covered.
Sprinkle on the seasoning salt and a little pepper.
Bake at 450°F for 14-18 minutes. Check to make sure the chicken is done (the interior should reach 165°F). Then, allow to rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting or serving.
Next, boil the fettuccine noodles according to the package directions.
Then make the sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter and lightly saute the minced garlic in the butter for 1-2 minutes.
Next, stir in the heavy whipping cream and Italian seasoning. Stir so everything gets warm and well combined.
Then stir in the Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese melts and the mixture becomes a sauce. Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Toss the cooked (drained) noodles in the sauce. Then add to plates. Top with sliced baked chicken.

Notes

If you want to add some chopped parsley on top, go for it.

The best way to check that your chicken is done is to use a meat thermometer and make sure the thickest part of the chicken has reached 165°F.

If you want more protein, bake two chicken breasts instead of one for this recipe.

I think 3 ounces of pasta per serving is a good rule of thumb, but you could easily reduce this to 2 ounces per serving if you wanted to.

Nutrition

White Tea Shot

Elsie Larson — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 14:06:00 +0000

The White Tea Shot is sweet and fresh. It has a base of vodka, but tastes like peach and lemon lime soda. It’s a cousin to our favorite, the Green Tea Shot.

With a prep time of mere minutes, this recipe is easy to make for a group. If you’re looking for a fruity flavor shot recipe, give this one a try! Ready to learn the classic White Tea Shot recipe?

More shot recipes: Jello Shots, Lemon Drop Shot, Mexican Candy Shot, Scooby Snack Shot, Gummy Bear Shot, Pineapple Upside Down Cake Shot.

Ingredients in a White Tea Shot Recipe

Vodka – Choose your favorite unflavored vodka. I used Tito’s.
Peach Schnapps – This gives your shot the most flavor and is an essential ingredient.
Sweet and Sour Mix – For best flavor, try our homemade sour mix.
Lemon Lime Soda – To top. This gives the shot a nice fizzy texture and adds some more sweetness.

Is there tea in a White Tea Shot?

Similarly to the Green Tea Shot, there is no loose leaf tea, or tea of any kind in this sweet shot, which is a spin off of the green tea shot, named for having the appearance and color of green tea.

Directions

Begin by mixing equal parts of the vodka, peach schnapps and sweet and sour mix in a cocktail shaker with ice. Use a jigger to measure each ingredient.

Shake for 10-15 seconds.

Pour into shot glasses, the built-in strainer will strain out the ice.

Top each shot with a cold splash of lemon lime soda.

Tips for Making

Garnish ideas: lime wedge, lemon wedge, orange wedge, fresh mint sprig.
Have you ever tried making your own sour mix? It’s fun and really fresh and tasty.
If you don’t have vodka on hand, you can substitute it for white rum, tequila or gin.
Freeze your shot glasses ahead of time for an even colder shot.
Substitutions: If you don’t have sour mix on hand, you can sub for simple syrup with either fresh lemon juice or fresh lime juice added.

White Tea Shot Variations

Green Tea Shot – Swap vodka for Irish whiskey and you’ve got a classic green tea shot.
White Tea shot with rum – Swap to vodka for rum for this variation.

White Tea Cocktail – If you don’t like shots and prefer to sip your drink, you can turn this recipe into a cocktail easily. Just double the recipe and pour it into a cocktail glass instead of a shot glass.

Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With

Other recipes you may like:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a White Tea Shot and a Green Tea Shot?

Kalimotxo (Calimocho)

Elsie Larson — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:05:00 +0000

The Kalimotxo drink (sometimes spelled how it sounds, Calimocho). If you’ve never tried red wine and Coke, today you are in for a treat. I love an easy cocktail recipe and this one is unique!

This refreshing cocktail recipe originated in Spain as a way to save wine that had started to go bad. It’s a great recipe to try when you have an opened bottle that’s been left too long. You can use any cheap red wine for this recipe, including the bottle you just used for your dinner recipe.

Ingredients

Red Wine – Choose any cheap red wine—something you would cook with.
Coke – I used classic Coca-Cola soda. Many people swear by Mexican Coke because it’s made with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.
Orange and Mint – Two choices for an optional garnish. I also love a slice of lemon.

This simple cocktail is best served in a highball glass filled with ice and a straw.

Directions

Fill a highball glass with ice.

Combine equal parts red wine and Coke.

Optional garnishes include orange slices and mint leaves.

What does a Kalimotxo taste like?

Before trying red wine and Coca-Cola, I was skeptical. Sure, I enjoyed coke with rum plenty of times (I love a Cube Libre), so I’m not sure why I was so nervous about this combination. After trying it, I have to say the flavors work so well together. It’s unique and refreshing. Rich red wine mixed with the sweetness of cola is so tasty. It’s a close cousin to sangria.

Tips for Making

Add a dash of bitters to your drink if you have them on hand.
I normally use leftover wine for this recipe, but if you are buying a new bottle the best option is a Spanish red wine also called Rioja.
Don’t knock it till you try it! This recipe is very good and although it’s not common in the U.S. yet, maybe it should be?

History

This drink originated in the Basque region of Spain in the 1920s. The story is that festival organizers added cola to cases of red wine that had gone bad to make them enjoyable again. Necessity is the mother of invention! This drink has been a popular happy hour choice across Europe ever since.

Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With

Other recipes you may like:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce Kalimotxo?

Washington Apple Shot

Elsie Larson — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:08:00 +0000

Let’s learn to make a Washington Apple Shot. This recipe tastes just like a fresh, crisp apple. It’s one of the tastiest shot recipes I have ever tried. It’s a scaled down version of a Washington Apple cocktail (we’ll teach you to make a full-sized cocktail as well).

More shot recipes: Green Tea Shot, Lemon Drop Shot, Jello Shots, Pudding Shots, Chocolate Cake Shot, White Tea Shot, Mexican Candy Shot, Scooby Snack Shot.

Ingredients in a Washington Apple Shot

Canadian Whiskey – I used Crown Royal.
Sour Apple Schnapps – (Also called sour apple pucker or sour apple liqueur) gives your drink a lot of apple flavor.
Cranberry Juice – Makes the drink red. Chilled juice is best.
Club Soda – Just a splash at the end for a bit of sparkle.

I used my favorite decorative shot glasses to serve this drink.

Directions

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the Canadian whiskey, apple schnapps and cranberry juice.

Shake for 10-15 seconds.

Pour into a shot glass and top with a splash of club soda. Cheers!

How to make a Washington Apple Cocktail

To turn this shot recipe into a sippable cocktail, simply double the recipe and serve it into a martini glass instead of a shot glass. This recipe is so tasty—I think it’s great as a full-sized cocktail.

Tips for Making

A chilled shot glass makes any shot more magical, as does a sugared rim.
If you don’t have Canadian whisky on hand, you can substitute for a different type of whiskey.
If you don’t enjoy the sour aspect of sour apple schnapps, you can replace it with a sweeter apple liqueur or apple flavored brandy.
I like the tartness and color the cranberry juice adds, but if you use apple juice instead you can create a green apple shot.
Garnish with an apple slice if you like.

History of a Washington Apple Shot

Washington state is home to some of the most beautiful apple orchards in the U.S. In the late 1980s, a bug destroyed most of Washington state’s apple orchards. A man named Christof Guycoogan had the idea to distill the ruined apples into an apple liqueur. He mixed the resulting liqueur with his favorite drink, Canadian whiskey and cranberry juice, and the Washington Apple Cocktail (and shot) were born!

More Apple Recipes to Try

If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave us a 5 star review. Don’t forget to use our printable recipe card.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Washington Apple Drink and Shot?

Black Russian

Elsie Larson — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 14:06:00 +0000

Have you tried a Black Russian cocktail? It’s a spirit forward, classic cocktail. The Black Russian, made with just vodka and Kahlúa is the original drink, created in 1949, and once heavy cream was added it became the White Russian.

With only two ingredients and a prep time of one minute, this is a simple dessert cocktail to make. It makes an excellent after-dinner drink. It is somtimes garnished with a maraschino cherry or an orange slice.

More recipes: Espresso Martini, Irish Coffee, Chocolate Martini, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot.

Ingredients in a Black Russian

Vodka – Choose a quality, unflavored vodka.
Kahlúa – The classic rum and coffee liqueur. This gives the recipe its coffee flavor.

This drink is best served in a rocks glass. You’ll also want to make large ice cubes for a drink like this.

What does a Black Russian taste like?

This cocktail tastes like coffee and vodka. It is made with Kahlua, which is a coffee and rum liqueur with hints of vanilla. The flavors are a nice balance of spirit, sweet, and bitters.

Directions

Add vodka and Kahlúa to a mixing glass with ice. Stir to chill.

Strain over an oversized ice cube in a rocks glass.

Serve immediately. Cheers!

History

The Black Russian cocktail was first created in the 1940s by bartender Gustave Tops at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, Belgium for Perle Mesta, the ambassador to Luxembourg. American ambassador Perle Mesta was known at the time as a socialite for the lavish parties he hosted.

The drink was not created in Russia, but simply named for the main ingredient of vodka.

Tips for Making

This drink calls for one part Kahlua and two parts vodka. For a sweeter drink, you can swap the proportions or do equal pours of both.
You can try seasonal flavored Kahlua spirits to create a festive variation.
Garnish with a cherry or orange slice if you like.

Variations

Black Magic Cocktail – This drink made by combining 1 ounce of vodka and 1 ounce Kahlua with 1/3 ounce of lemon juice served over ice.
White Russian – When you add heavy cream to a Black Russian, it becomes a White Russian.
Brown Russian – This recipe uses equal parts vodka, creme de cacao, heavy cream and chocolate syrup. It’s shaken and poured over ice.
Colorado Bulldog – When you top a White Russian cocktail with cola, it becomes a Colorado Bulldog.

Serving Suggestions

Other recipes you may like:

How to make an Affogato
Easy Peanut Butter Fudge
28+ Air Fryer Recipes
Want a drink with no alcohol? Try a Roy Rogers drink.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Black Russian and a White Russian drink?

White Russian

Elsie Larson — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 14:05:00 +0000

The White Russian cocktail originally came from the Black Russian cocktail when someone added heavy cream to the classic drink in the 1950s. This drink was moderately popular until the 1998 cult classic movie The Big Lebowski helped it to skyrocket in popularity. Few films have influenced cocktail culture as much as “The Dude” has.

This drink is perfect for an after dinner drink. This three ingredient cocktail is easy to master and serve at home. Let’s learn to make a classic White Russian cocktail.

More recipes: Espresso Martini, Irish Coffee, Chocolate Martini, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shot.

White Russian Ingredients

Vodka – Choose a quality, unflavored vodka.
Kahlúa – Classic rum and coffee liqueur. This is the primary ingredient because most of the flavor comes from the Kahlua.
Heavy Cream – Add creaminess to the recipe.

The best glass for a White Russian drink is a rocks glass. You’ll also want to make large ice cubes for a drink like this. The prep time for this drink is only a few short minutes—so taking the time for the ice cube is worth it as it elevates the presentation.

What does a White Russian taste like?

A White Russian is a smooth coffee flavored drink. It tastes like a boozy version of an iced latte, perfectly creamy and easy to sip. If you enjoy an Affogato or a coffee flavored ice cream you will most likely love this cocktail.

Directions

In a rocks glass, pour Kahlúa and vodka and an oversized ice cube.

Top with a splash of heavy cream.

Stir a bit to mix ingredients fully before sipping.

History

The White Russian cocktail is a variation of the Black Russian which was created by bartender Gustave Tops when another bartender in Oakland, California decided to add heavy cream to the drink in 1955. The drink was moderately popular during the next few decades.

In the 1998 the Coen brothers film, The Big Lebowski, changed everything for the White Russian. Very few times in history has an onscreen character had such a big impact on a cocktail’s popularity (think Carrie Bradshaw and her influence on the Cosmo). Ever since 1998 the White Russian has been one of world’s most popular cocktails. Emma and I even visited a The Big Lebowski-themed bar in Iceland and sipped White Russians together.

Tips for Making

Drink this cocktail fully mixed. The photos where the cream and coffee-flavored liqueur are not fully mixed yet are the most compelling and beautiful, but this drink is most delicious once the three ingredients are fully mixed.
Use large pieces of ice that melt more slowly for the best sipping experience. The bigger the ice cubes, the slower they melt.
Heavy cream is advised and half and half will work if that is what you have on hand. We don’t recommend any dairy that is thinner than half and half (whole milk is too watery). If you are going for a dairy-free option, choose a thick vegan creamer.
The best vodka for a White Russian is a quality, mid-priced brand like Titos (my favorite brand), Grey Goose or Smirnoff. Anything fancier is not necessary because the main flavor you will taste in this drink is from the Kahlua.

White Russian Variations

Peppermint White Russian – We love this festive peppermint White Russian.
Pumpkin Spice White Russian – Swap Kahlua for seasonal Pumpkin Spice Kahlua for this seasonal variation.
Vegan White Russian – We’ve got a recipe for a dairy-free White Russian.
Black Russian – Technically, this is the drink that came before the White Russian, but by omitting the heavy cream from this recipe you will have a Black Russian.
Bailey’s Irish Cream – You can swap the heavy cream for Bailey’s if you have it on hand.

Serving Suggestions/Goes Great With

Other recipes you may like:

Turkey Chili
Stuffed Mushrooms
Easy Vodka Sauce
Learn to make Homemade Eggnog.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
For kids, try our Harry Potter Butterbeer recipe.