This is the quintessential cocktail for the coffee lovers. Our Peppermint Espresso Martini is the perfect blend of boozy, frothy coffee, with a hint of mint! We love to garnish ours with crushed candy canes for a special holiday touch.
Shaken, not stirred, you will love the lightly sweet minty vibes of this coffee-forward cocktail. Be sure to put this holiday-flavored drink on your Christmas list.
What is a Peppermint Espresso Martini?
Peppermint Espresso Martinis are a combination of strongly brewed chilled coffee, shaken with alcohol and a splash of peppermint schnapps (or syrup) and served cold. Like a typical martini, they are also strong in their alcohol content, but you can change up the types used. It's a refreshing coffee-based cocktail, with a hint of mint, that can also be made decaffeinated, if desired.
Jump to:
- What is a Peppermint Espresso Martini?
- Why You Will Love This Peppermint Espresso Martini Recipe
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Peppermint Espresso Martini
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Serve a Peppermint Espresso Martini
- What to Serve with Peppermint Espresso Martinis
- Top Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions About Peppermint Espresso Martini
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Peppermint Espresso Martini Recipe
Here are some other coffee, peppermint, or boozy recipes you might like to try: Peppermint Mocha Recipe, Caramel Mocha Coffee, Baileys and Eggnog, Baileys Hot Chocolate, and our Old Fashioned Hot Toddy.
Why You Will Love This Peppermint Espresso Martini Recipe
- Coffee-Forward: The strong coffee flavor, whether it is decaf or not!
- Freshness: The subtle burst of mint from the schnapps.
- Boozy Punch: The mix of vodka and Kahula offers an additional coffee flavor, with a nice boozy punch.
Ingredients
With only 4 ingredients (and 2 optional for garnishing), you'll just need a quick trip to the store before you're ready to shake this cocktail!
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Vodka: Typically the base of a martini, but can be subbed for gin, if preferred.
- Espresso: Another staple of this cocktail, but can be subbed for strong coffee, if desired.
- Kahlua: A coffee flavored alcohol.
- Peppermint Schnapps: Offers the minty profile with additional boost punch. Can be substituted for peppermint extra or syrup.
- Ice: Used for shaking and chilling the cocktail.
For this recipe, you'll want to have on hand a cocktail shaker, shot glass, measuring spoons, and shallow plates (if rimming your glass).
Substitutions and Variations
There are a few ways you can mix this cocktail up! Whether it is personal preference or using what you have, we can help!
- Peppermint Syrup: If you want to use this instead of Schnapps, you can! Alternatively, you can try a peppermint/mint extract as well. The amounts will vary based on your preferences.
- Coffee: If you do not have espresso you can use your favorite coffee, just brew it stronger than you normally would.
- Decaf Coffee/Espresso: If caffeine actually works on you, and you don't want to be up all night, swap it for a decaf version!
- Gin: If you are a gin martini lover, swap the vodka out for an earthier profile.
How to Make Peppermint Espresso Martini
In just 5 simple steps, you'll have a delicious Peppermint Espresso Martini to enjoy! Check out how easy it is to make.
If rimming a glass, add honey on a shallow plate. Dip the glass upside down, running the edge along the honey, and allow any excess to drip off.
Place the crushed candy canes or sugar on another shallow plate and dip to cover the honey. Shake off any excess. Set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in all ingredients.
Shake until very cold and strain into two martini glasses.
Hint: I like to brew my espresso fresh and then pop it in the fridge to cool before mixing my drink.
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How to Serve a Peppermint Espresso Martini
As I said above, shaken, not stirred is the best way to serve this martini. Shaking it quickly will give you a very chilled, light, and frothy beverage, that is smooth and refreshing and offers a slight level of dilution.
- Glass: Use at least a 6-ounce, long-stemmed martini glass. This ensures the cocktail will stay cold (holding it by the stem), and a large diameter glass allows the flavors to really open up.
- Garnishes: Crushed peppermints or candy canes is a fun way to make it festive, but you can use sugar instead. We use honey as our rimming agent but you can use white or dark chocolate as well.
What to Serve with Peppermint Espresso Martinis
- Chocolate Desserts: All types of chocolate recipes will go well with this martini. Our Cookies from Devil's Food Cake Mix, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Bars are both great options. You can also try chocolate pudding, chocolate covered strawberries, or chocolate mousse.
- Tiramisu Cheesecake: A perfect creamy partner with our Tiramisu Cheesecake made in the Instant Pot.
- Pecan Pie: Try our Costco Pecan Pie (Copycat) recipe for a great dessert pairing.
Top Tip
If you prefer to not dilute the martini at all, you can mix it in another glass, and lightly swirl it to your desired temperature, then pour into your serving glass. You could also pre-pour all your ingredients and chill them in the fridge first.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peppermint Espresso Martini
Here are some questions and answers about making Peppermint Espresso Martinis?
A long-stemmed martini glass will ensure the cocktail stays cold (holding it by the stem), and a large diameter glass allows the flavors to really open up.
This cocktail in particular should be shaken. Shaking it quickly will give you a very chilled, light, and frothy beverage, that is smooth and refreshing and offers a slight level of dilution.
No, ice is not necessary but if preferred you could add some.
To weaken the strength of alcohol you can use less or add more espresso. Alternatively, you can substititue the peppermint schnapps for extract or peppermint strip. On the latter, you can make this cocktail stronger by using less espresso, or additional alcohol.
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Peppermint Espresso Martini Recipe
Equipment
- Shot Glass
- Cocktail Shaker
- Measuring Spoons
- Shallow Plates (if rimming)
Ingredients
- 2- ounce vodka
- 2 shots of espresso about 60mL
- 1.5- ounce Kahlua
- 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
- Ice for shaking
- 2-3 tablespoon honey for rimming (optional)
Garnishing
- finely crushed candy canes or sugar for rimming
- mini or full sizes candy canes
Instructions
- If rimming a glass, add honey on a shallow plate. Dip the glass upside down, running the edge along the honey, and allow any excess to drip off.
- Place the crushed candy canes or sugar on another shallow plate and dip to cover the honey. Shake off any excess. Set aside.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in all ingredients.
- Shake until very cold and strain into two martini glasses.
Notes
- Use decaf espresso or coffee to enjoy this any time of day if you are sensitive to caffeine.
- For extra peppermint flavor, use peppermint vodka.
Nutrition
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