Peppermint Martini – A Couple Cooks

The creamy Peppermint Martini combines vodka, peppermint schnapps, and chocolate liqueur for a straightforward winter or Christmas cocktail. High with crushed peppermint candies on the rim for a festive look!

As a eternally mint lover, right here’s one in all my favourite winter cocktails: the Peppermint Martini! I really like making signature drinks for the vacations, and this one is the definition of festive.

Who wouldn’t desire a drink that tastes like liquid sweet canes? It’s creamy and minty recent, an intriguing mixture of peppermint schnapps and chocolate liqueur. It’s the right enjoyable Christmas cocktail to serve with a ramification of appetizers or a cookie tray!

What Makes This Peppermint Martini Particular

In contrast to many dessert drinks, this martini isn’t overly sugary for my part (and I’m not a fan of overly sugary drinks). The stability between mint and chocolate is excellent, and the cream offers it physique with out making it really feel heavy.

The Peppermint Martini is a spin on a flavored vodka martini utilizing peppermint schnapps because the star ingredient, which provides you a sweet cane taste with out tasting synthetic (like in my Peppermint White Russian or Peppermint Patty Drink).

Key Substances

Listed here are the important thing substances you’ll want for this drink:

Peppermint schnapps: That is what makes the drink! I use 30 proof or 60 proof schnapps, which has simply the correct amount of peppermint taste. In the event you can solely discover the 100 proof model, it’s very robust so use half the quantity referred to as for and regulate to style (see the recipe beneath).
Vodka: Use any mid-range vodka. I normally use Titos.
Creme de Cacao: This chocolate liqueur brings cocoa notes to enhance the peppermint. It’s what offers many of the sweetness within the drink, so there’s no want for extra easy syrup. (See my fast information to Creme de Cacao.)
Heavy Cream: Creates that creamy texture that makes this really feel like a special-occasion drink.

Making the Peppermint Rim

This Peppermint Martini is nice as is, however when you’re entertaining it’s good with a peppermint sweet rim! Right here’s tips on how to do it:

Crush the peppermint candies and add them a plate. Place them in a plastic bag and use the underside of a jar, can, or rolling pin to interrupt them into items.
Add a pool of grenadine to a different plate. Grenadine syrup is the glue that holds on the sweet. Place the outer fringe of the glass within the grenadine and rotate. Maintain the place of the glass fixed and rotate the stem so that you get a fair coating. (You should utilize water too, however grenadine works higher.)
Place the rim within the crushed candies and rotate. Then, do the identical factor within the crushed sweet! The grenadine glues the crumbs to the rim.

Dairy-Free / Vegan Choice

To make this a dairy free or vegan Peppermint Martini, substitute full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream! It comes out with a slight coconut taste, nevertheless it’s not overwhelming. The coconut fats works nicely as an alternative choice to the dairy fats. (Don’t use cream of coconut: the drink will come out a lot too too candy!)

Ingredient Highlight: Peppermint Schnapps

Peppermint schnapps is what makes this Peppermint Martini! It’s a transparent alcohol made by including peppermint flavoring to a transparent grain spirit. You possibly can substitute white Creme de Menthe if in case you have it readily available. Right here’s what to find out about any such schnapps:

What ABV is peppermint schnapps? Peppermint schnapps is bought in three totally different ABV ranges: 15% ABV (30 proof), 30% ABV (60 proof), and 50% ABV (100 proof). Evaluate it to 40% ABV of arduous alcohol like vodka.
What does peppermint schnapps style like? The flavour is sort of a sweet cane, with a spicy, boozy end. The energy tastes nearly like mouthwash!
Are there any substitutes? White creme de menthe can work in its place: it has a gentler, extra balanced mint taste. Simply ensure to not get the inexperienced Creme de Menthe (which makes the signature inexperienced colour in a Grasshopper)!

When to Serve This Cocktail

This Peppermint Martini works nice as a Christmas cocktail and it’s additionally good for Valentine’s Day cocktails in February (with out the peppermint rim). It’s finest after dinner as a dessert drink, however it could work with appetizers too. Listed here are just a few serving solutions: