This Gingerbread White Russian Recipe is a cozy winter treat to warm you from the inside out! Filled with coffee, vodka, and coconut cream, it’s a vegan version of a classic alcoholic drink. Gingerbread spices add a festive touch.

side view of vegan white Russian cocktail with gingerbread spices on dark tray

What is a White Russian?

A White Russian is a cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream served in an Old Fashioned glass. Interestingly, it is not actually Russian in origin; this name comes from its primary ingredient of vodka. Its first iteration was called a Black Russian; the addition of cream gave it the name it has today.

This drink went out of fashion for many years but was brought back into the spotlight with the move The Big Lebowski in 1998. A White Russian is the drink of choice for the main character in this movie (“The Dude”).

What is a Gingerbread White Russian?

A Gingerbread White Russian cocktail has the same base as a classic White Russian. To give this drink a holiday twist, warming winter spices are added to the standard cocktail mixture.

What spices are in gingerbread?

The classic gingerbread flavor many of us love is made up of the following spices:

Ground ginger
Allspice
Cinnamon
Nutmeg.

Some other blends include black pepper and allspice, but these are not essential.

Ingredients Needed for this Recipe

2 oz vodka (.25 cups)
1 oz. Kahlua (or strong coffee for a vegan version)
5 TBS coconut cream
1/4 tsp nutmeg, plus more for sprinkling
Pinch allspice
Pinch cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 TBS maple syrup (optional, depending on your sweetness preferences)

How to Make a Vegan Gingerbread White Russian

Combine vodka and Kahlua/coffee in a rocks glass, stirring to combine.
In a small bowl, combine coconut cream with nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon ginger, and optional maple syrup. Whip with a whisk or fork to combine. Pour on top of vodka/coffee mixture. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and enjoy.

Instead of the traditional inclusion of heavy cream, use coconut cream. It’s the perfect substitute, with a slightly sweet taste and the perfect texture to complement a cozy winter drink.

To make a vegan White Russian, you simply combine vodka, coffee, and this coconut cream. That’s it!

To add an additional holiday feel, I like adding some additional warming spices. A mixture of ground ginger, allspice, and nutmeg team up for the coziest cocktail. If you like sweeter drinks, feel free to add the optional maple syrup.

Looking for more cozy cocktails? Try one of these next!

Classic Hot Toddy

Sparkling Gin Cranberry Fizz

Dark Red Sangria

Gingerbread White Russians

Author: Emily
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
Diet: Vegan

Print Recipe

Description

This Gingerbread White Russian Recipe is a cozy winter treat to warm you from the inside out! Filled with Kahlua, vodka, and coconut cream, it’s a vegan version of a classic alcoholic drink. Gingerbread spices add a festive touch.

Ingredients

Scale

2 oz vodka (.25 cups)
1 oz. Kahlua (or strong coffee for a vegan version)
5 TBS coconut cream
1/4 tsp nutmeg, plus more for sprinkling
Pinch allspice
Pinch cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 TBS maple syrup (optional, depending on your sweetness preferences)

Instructions

Combine vodka and Kahlua/coffee in a rocks glass, stirring to combine.
In a small bowl, combine coconut cream with nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon ginger, and optional maple syrup. Whip with a whisk or fork to combine. Pour on top of vodka/coffee mixture. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and enjoy.

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Drink
Method: Stirring
Cuisine: American