Creamy Christmas Spiced Martini
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Bring the warmth of holiday baking into your cocktail glass with this creamy Christmas Spiced Martini – a sweet-but-balanced blend of vodka, RumChata, brandy, and warm spices.
The flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves evoke that warm holiday feeling in every sip. Whether you’re hosting a festive gathering or enjoying a quiet winter evening, this martini is your shortcut to holiday cheer.
Holidays and warm spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves – seem to go hand in hand. Since those are also known as “pumpkin pie spices,” pumpkin also tends to be added into the mix. (See my Pumpkin Spice Martini for that!)
But I want something to drink WITH a pumpkin dessert that isn’t also pumpkin. So we’re skipping the pumpkin liqueur and pumpkin pureé for this Christmas Spiced Martini, and leaving in all the spicy goodness.
This Christmas cocktail comes together quickly with just a few ingredients, making it perfect for entertaining. The cinnamon simple syrup can be made ahead of time, so you’ll have it ready whenever guests arrive. Just shake everything with ice, pour into a chilled martini glass, and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for a drink that looks as festive as it tastes.
This martini is rich and creamy without being overly heavy, so it pairs well with both appetizers and desserts. Serve it alongside a holiday cookie tray, or with savory bites like my slow cooker savory spiced nuts, pumpkin ricotta pinwheels, or these spiced cranberry and brie bites.
However you choose to enjoy it, this martini is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a delicious addition to your holiday cocktail menu.
What’s in a Christmas Spiced Martini?
- Vodka – Choose your favorite plain vodka for this recipe.
- RumChata – Rumchata is a sweet, rum-based liqueur that’s full of cream, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Brandy – Choose your favorite brandy for this recipe, just make sure it isn’t infused with other flavors like apple or peach.
- Half and half – I’ve tested just about every dairy option possible for this cocktail and half and half works the best. Heavy cream is a bit too thick. You can use milk, but it will reduce the creaminess of the drink. If you decide to change the recipe to milk, only use whole milk.
- Cinnamon simple syrup – Easy made at home in five minutes with only three ingredients, cinnamon simple syrup adds a even more warm flavor to this cocktail
- Aromatic bitters – Angostura is the gold standard in aromatic bitters. It’s full of warm spices and helps keep the sweetness of this drink in check.
- Cinnamon and Sugar – A classic combination we’re using on the rim of the glass.
- Nutmeg (garnish) – Just a dash for some garnish. This can be freshly grated or ground nutmeg – whatever you have on hand.
How to Make a Christmas Martini
Prepare Your Glass
Wet rim of a coupe or martini glass with a little half and half.
Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow dish. Carefully dip the rim in the cinnamon sugar mixture until the rim is coated. Set the glass aside.
Combine Rumchata, vodka, brandy, half and half, cinnamon syrup, and bitters in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.
Shake it up and strain into your prepared glass. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top and enjoy!
Christmas Spiced Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz Rumchata liqueur
- ½ oz brandy
- 1 oz half and half , or whole milk
- ½ oz cinnamon syrup
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 tsp cinnamon, for rim
- ½ tsp sugar, for rim
- ground nutmeg, garnish
Instructions
Prepare your coupe or martini glass:
- Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow dish.1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp sugar
- Wet rim of glass with a little half and half.
- Carefully dip the rim in the cinnamon sugar mixture until the rim is coated.
- Set glass aside.
Make your cocktail:
- Combine Rumchata, vodka, brandy, half and half, cinnamon syrup, and Orleans bitters in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.1 oz vodka, 1 oz Rumchata liqueur, 1/2 oz brandy, 1 oz half and half , 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup, 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Shake it up!
- Strain into your prepared glass.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.ground nutmeg
- Enjoy!
Video
Make Your Cinnamon Simple Syrup
With only three ingredients, cinnamon simple syrup is easy to make, but it does have to be made ahead of time! Get the recipe and instructions over on my Cinnamon Syrup page.
Happy Hour Snack Pairings
Try These Holiday Cocktail Recipes
There are so many delicious cocktail recipes for celebrating the holidays. Try a creamy Peppermint Mocha Martini or Candy Cane Martini. Want more drinks with cinnamon? Shake up a Gingerbread Martini or stir together a Gingerbread Old Fashioned.
Like having Christmas in a cup!! New favorite drink!
Agreed! I’m so glad you liked it!