Hot White Russian

At a glance

What stands out: Reliable for the holidays or any chilly day, this hot white Russian dessert cocktail is cozy while still packing a bit of a punch and is a great adult alternative to hot cocoa.

How long it takes: less than 10 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: small saucepan, serving mugs
Servings: 1 (but you can easily increase the recipe to make as many servings as you like)

As we write this post, the weather outside is frightful. It is. The outside thermometer reads 5°F and the windchill is -9°F! BRRRR! A warm dessert drink sounds like a good idea to us right now as we cuddle up under a fleecy blanket and watch the snow fall.

Hot White Russian Dessert Cocktail

Fun twist on the classic. This cocktail recipe isn’t identical to a regular white Russian because it’s hot, and we also add extra coffee. If you’re liking the white Russian theme, try this delightful twist: white chocolate white Russian with vodka, white chocolate liqueur, coffee liqueur, and Irish cream liqueur. Totally tasty!

Slightly lightened up. We use whole milk instead of cream. We find that whole milk is plenty creamy for us in this recipe, along with the other ingredients, but if you’d like to make yours using heavy cream, go for it. We wouldn’t recommend skim milk for this particular recipe because it won’t give you the same creaminess and has a higher tendency to curdle when heated.

Dessert drink. This dessert-type drink is so good served with cookies (milk and cookies, right?) Maybe snickerdoodles, one of our favorite cookies.

What goes in

• Hot coffee – Make sure to brew it nice and strong. You could also use espresso.
• Kahlúa – This is a common coffee liqueur but there are different brands if you’d prefer.
• Whole milk (or heavy cream) – You could also make the drink with skim milk for a lightened-up version if you’d like but be aware that skim milk curdles more easily when heated.
• Vodka – Add as much vodka as you like or leave it out entirely. Just remember that Kahlúa also contains alcohol so this is definitely an adults-only hot chocolate.
• Whipped cream – For a real dessert experience, top your white Russian with from-scratch whipped cream. It’s totally optional (but you’re going to want it). Canned whipped cream is okay, too.

Increase the Recipe

The recipe is written in parts so that you can easily make a big batch for a group if you’re hosting a holiday party. Be sure to refer to the tips at the end of the recipe card if you want to increase the recipe.

Mini History Lesson

A bit of history about the original white Russian: Originally made in Brussels, Belgium, the drink was created in honor of the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. Obviously not a Russian drink, it’s so named because vodka is a main ingredient. (Consider that little bit of information a gift from us to you. Use it to impress your guests with your memorable knowledge of trivia at your next cocktail party!) Source: Wikipedia

• Yield: 1
• Prep: 2 minutes
• Cook: 5 minutes
• Total: 7 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 oz. (½ cup) freshly brewed coffee (2 parts)
• 2 oz. (¼ cup) Kahlúa (1 part)
• 2 oz. (¼ cup) whole milk (1 part)
• 1 oz. (2 tablespoons) vodka (½ part)
• whipped cream for topping, optional

Method

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients and heat until warm (we recommend 150 to 155°F). Do not boil.
2. Pour into mug(s) and serve immediately, topped with whipped cream, if desired.

Notes

To increase: The recipe is written for one drink, with 1 part = ¼ cup. To double the recipe, use ½ cup as a part which will make three 6-ounce servings or two 9-ounce servings (1 cup coffee, ½ cup Kahlúa, ½ cup milk, ¼ cup vodka). Multiply parts as needed to serve your group.

Milk choices: If you’re feeling in the mood for decadence, use cream instead of whole milk. Skim milk is not recommended for this recipe.