Description

Shake up a Peppermint Bark Martini! This creamy, festive cocktail tastes just like the classic holiday candy. Your new Christmas favorite!

Ingredients

Precision is key in a cocktail, as the balance of flavors is paramount. Using high-quality ingredients will elevate your Peppermint Bark Martini from good to truly sublime.

The Core Spirits & Liqueurs:

2 oz Vodka: Use a high-quality, unflavored vodka. A premium brand like Grey Goose, Tito’s, or Ketel One provides a clean, neutral canvas that allows the other flavors to shine without any harsh alcohol bite.
1.5 oz White Crème de Cacao: This is the essential ingredient for the “white chocolate” flavor base. It’s a sweet, syrupy liqueur with a distinct chocolate flavor. Ensure you get the clear version, not the dark, to maintain the cocktail’s signature snowy white color.
1 oz Peppermint Schnapps: This provides the primary peppermint flavor. You can use a standard, widely available brand like DeKuyper Peppermint Schnapps. For a more refined and less syrupy peppermint note, consider using a peppermint-flavored vodka and adjusting the ratios slightly.
1 oz Dark Crème de Cacao (For the Rim and Drizzle): This is used not in the shaker, but for garnishing. Its deep, bitter-chocolate flavor provides a beautiful visual and gustatory contrast to the sweet, white body of the drink.

The Creamy Element:

2 oz Heavy Cream or Half-and-Half: Heavy cream (double cream in the UK) will yield the richest, most luxurious, and thickest texture. Half-and-Half (single cream) will result in a slightly lighter, but still wonderfully creamy, cocktail. For a dairy-free version, a rich, barista-style oat milk or canned coconut cream can be excellent substitutes.

The Essential Sweetener & Flavor Enhancer:

0.5 oz Simple Syrup (Optional): This is your tool for customization. The cocktail is often sweet enough from the liqueurs, but if you have a pronounced sweet tooth, this extra touch will perfect it for you. You can make a Peppermint Simple Syrup by steeping crushed candy canes in warm simple syrup for an even more intense mint flavor.

For the Garnish & Presentation:

Crushed Candy Canes or Peppermint Candies: You will need about 2-3 candy canes, finely crushed. This is for the iconic rim and for sprinkling on top.
Dark Chocolate, grated or finely chopped: A high-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa works well) for garnishing.
Chocolate Sauce or Syrup: For creating an artistic drizzle inside the glass before pouring.
Ice: A full scoop of fresh, clean ice for shaking. This is crucial for proper dilution and chilling.

Instructions

Now that you have your ingredients ready, let’s dive into the steps for making this delightful Peppermint Bark Martini. It’s as easy as pie, and I promise you’ll feel like a mixology superstar!

Step 1: Prepare Your Glassware – The Frosted Rim
Begin by chilling your martini glasses. Place them in the freezer for at least 15-20 minutes before you start. A frosty glass is non-negotiable for a premium cocktail experience. While they chill, take your crushed candy canes and spread them out on a small plate. On a second plate, pour a small amount of the dark crème de cacao. Take your chilled glass and carefully dip the rim first into the dark crème de cacao, then into the crushed candy canes, twisting gently to form a perfect, festive rim. Set the glass aside.

Step 2: Create the Chocolate Drizzle
Using either the dark crème de cacao, a store-bought chocolate syrup, or melted dark chocolate, create an artistic drizzle on the inside of the prepared martini glass. Hold the glass at an angle and slowly rotate it while drizzling the chocolate from a spoon or a squeeze bottle. This creates a beautiful visual effect once the white cocktail is poured in and adds a burst of dark chocolate flavor with every sip.

Step 3: Combine the Liquid Ingredients
Now, it’s time to build the cocktail. Take a Boston shaker (or any cocktail shaker) and add the 2 oz of vodka, 1.5 oz of white crème de cacao, and 1 oz of peppermint schnapps. Next, pour in the 2 oz of heavy cream. If you are using the optional 0.5 oz of simple syrup, add it now.

Step 4: The Vigorous “Dry” Shake
This is a pro-technique for creamy cocktails. Secure the lid on your shaker tightly and shake the mixture without ice for about 10-15 seconds. This is called a “dry shake,” and it’s essential for emulsifying the cream with the spirits, creating a smoother, frothier, and more integrated texture, preventing the cream from separating.

Step 5: The Iced Shake for Perfect Dilution and Chill
Now, open your shaker, add a generous scoop of fresh ice, and secure the lid again. Shake this mixture vigorously for a full 20-30 seconds. You should feel the shaker become very cold. This second shake with ice is critical to properly chill the drink and provide the necessary dilution from the melting ice, which tames the alcohol and harmonizes the flavors.

Step 6: The Strain and Pour
Remove the lid from your shaker and use a Hawthorne strainer (or the built-in strainer of your shaker) to strain the cocktail into your prepared martini glass. Strain it carefully to ensure no ice chips or unincorporated cream make it into the pristine white drink. You should see a lovely, frothy head on top.

Step 7: The Grand Finale Garnish
For the final touch, sprinkle a pinch of the remaining crushed candy canes and some grated dark chocolate directly onto the frothy surface of the drink. For an extra touch of drama, you can place a small, whole mini candy cane on the rim as a stirrer and visual accent.

Notes

Cocktail Shaker (Boston shaker or Cobbler shaker)
Hawthorne Strainer (if using a Boston shaker)
Jigger or Liquid Measuring Cup for accuracy
Martini Glasses
Small plates for rimming

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Category: Drinks
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 500
Sugar: 35g
Sodium: 25mg
Fat: 15g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Protein: 2g