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    Home » Recent Posts » Cocktail Recipes

    Holiday Spice Martini (without Pumpkin)

    Modified: Mar 23, 2025 · Published: Nov 6, 2019 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

    186 shares

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    Jump to Recipe

    Warm spices - without a hint of pumpkin - make this Holiday Spice Martini with is the perfect drink to sip throughout the fall and right into the Holiday Season.

    Holiday Spice Martini
    Jump to:
    • What's in a Holiday Spice Martini?
    • How to Make a Holiday Spice Martini
    • Make Your Cinnamon Simple Syrup
    • FAQs and Substitutions
    • Happy Hour Snack Pairings
    • Try These Holiday Cocktail Recipes
    • Print the Recipe
    • Holiday Spice Martini

    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 Holiday Spice martini, and leaving in all the spicy goodness.

    What's in a Holiday Spice Martini?

    Ingredients for Holiday Spice Rumchata Martinis
    • Vodka 
    • RumChata 
    • Brandy
    • Half and half or heavy cream
    • Cinnamon simple syrup
    • Orleans bitters
    • Cinnamon
    • Sugar
    • Nutmeg

    How to Make a Holiday Spice Martini

    Prepare your Coupe or Martini Glass

    A martini glass rim being dipped into cream

    Wet rim of glass with a little half and half.

    A martini glass rim being dipped in cinnamon sugar

    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 Orleans bitters in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.

    Vodka being poured into a cocktail shaker
    Rumchata being poured into a cocktail shaker

    Shake it up!

    Strain into your prepared glass.

    Pouring a holiday spice martini into a glass

    Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.

    Enjoy!

    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.

    A jar full of cinnamon simple syrup.

    FAQs and Substitutions

    What is Rumchata?

    Rumchata is a sweet, rum based liqueur that's full of cream, vanilla, and cinnamon. It's delicious to sip straight over ice or use in a dessert cocktail like this one!

    Can I use lowfat milk instead of cream?

    Yes. You can use milk, but it will reduce the creaminess of the drink. If you decide to change the recipe to milk, use whole milk. This drink isn't nearly as good with 2%, 1%, or fat free milk. (Trust me, I've tried.) 😉

    What can I use instead of Orleans Bitters?

    If you don't have Orleans bitters on hand or don't like the anise taste in Orleans bitters, substitute aromatic bitters to compliment the cinnamon in the RumChata.

    Happy Hour Snack Pairings

    Savory Spiced Nuts
    Savory Spiced Nuts
    Crab Rangoon Dip
    Crab Rangoon Dip

    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 a Coquito (Puerto Rican Coconut Eggnog).

    Peppermint Mocha Martinis.
    Peppermint Mocha Martini
    A coupe glass of gingerbread martini with a cookie sitting at the base of it.
    Gingerbread Martini

    Print the Recipe

    Print

    Holiday Spice Martini

    Holiday Spice Martini
    Print Recipe
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    5 from 1 review

    Warm spices - without a hint of pumpkin - make this Holiday Spice martini the perfect drink to sip throughout (and beyond) the Holiday Season.

    • Author: Katy McAvoy
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 0 min
    • Total Time: 5 min
    • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
    • Category: Cocktails
    • Method: Cocktail Shaker
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 oz vodka 
    • 1 oz Rumchata 
    • ½ oz brandy
    • 1 oz half and half or whole milk
    • ½ oz cinnamon syrup
    • 3 dashes Orleans bitters
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • ½ tsp sugar
    • Ground nutmeg

    Instructions

    Prepare your coupe or martini glass:

    Combine cinnamon and sugar in a shallow dish.

    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.

    Shake it up!

    Strain into your prepared glass.

    Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.

    Enjoy!

    Equipment

    Image of 3 Piece Cocktail Shaker

    3 Piece Cocktail Shaker

    Buy Now →
    Image of Martini Glasses

    Martini Glasses

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    Image of Orleans Bitters

    Orleans Bitters

    Buy Now →

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cocktail
    • Calories: 272
    • Sugar: 8.5 g
    • Sodium: 56.7 mg
    • Fat: 5.8 g
    • Carbohydrates: 22.6 g
    • Fiber: 8.3 g
    • Protein: 2.3 g
    • Cholesterol: 17.8 mg

    Did You Make This Recipe?

    Leave some stars or a review! And don't forget to share a photo and tag me (@katymcavoy) on Instagram. I can’t wait to see what you make!

    I love when you share my recipes!

    186 shares

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour. Since 2017, she's been crafting recipes for easy-to-make cocktails and delicious snacks while sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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    1. Tina says

      November 15, 2023 at 5:46 pm

      Like having Christmas in a cup!! New favorite drink!

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        November 16, 2023 at 7:06 am

        Agreed! I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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