White Chocolate White Russian

At a glance

What stands out: A evenly chilled white chocolate white Russian is sophisticated and beautiful, a wonderfully sweet and creamy dessert drink.

How long it takes: just 5 minutes!
Equipment you’ll need: cocktail shaker, rocks glass
Servings: 1 (but it’s straightforward to mix as many as you like)

White chocolate. White Russian. White Christmas. White chicken chili. White wine. White rice. White queso. More white wine. White chocolate blondies. We're not trying to do away with the rainbow here. We think winter is getting to us or something. When we look out of our windows, all we see is white, white, white.

Get the fireplace going, find some cozy jazz to play, cuddle under a fuzzy blanket, and sip this dreamy, creamy sweet cocktail. You’ll be glad you did!

white chocolate white Russian

Luxurious flavor. With dreamy white chocolate liqueur (think Godiva or Ghirardelli) and the rich coffee flavor of Kahlúa, sipping a white chocolate white Russian is a little like eating a standby chocolates, only from a glass instead of a box. Albeit, with a kick. There is a bit of alcohol involved, too.

A riff on a classic. This cocktail is a variation of a white Russian cocktail, but with the addition of white chocolate liqueur. Typically, a white Russian isn’t stirred or shaken. It’s served on the rocks (over ice) beautifully displaying each layer. This white chocolate white Russian is chilled by shaking it with ice in a cocktail shaker and then strained, much like a martini (or a chocolatini!).

A straightforward recipe. You won’t have a hard time remembering the recipe for a white chocolate white Russian. It’s one ounce of each ingredient! How simple is that! No math necessary. Making two drinks? Simply mix up two ounces of everything. Three drinks, three ounces. If you put a cup of each ingredient in a pitcher, you’ll have enough to make eight cocktails. Straightforward-peasy.

What goes in

• Vodka: Choose your favorite brand. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive vodka since you’ll be mixing it with other ingredients.
• White Chocolate Liqueur: Our favorite is Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur. If you can’t find white chocolate liqueur, white crème de cacao is a good substitute.
• Coffee Liqueur: Kahlúa is probably the most well-known brand but there are other brands, too.
• Irish Cream Liqueur: We like to use Bailey’s.
• Half & Half: Often used for coffee drinks, half & half is 50% cream and 50% milk. Use regular milk if you’re looking to lighten things up, or heavy cream for a truly decadent treat.
• White Chocolate: The glasses are rimmed with melted white chocolate. This is totally optional but it is a glamorous touch, don’t you think?

Ways to change it

• Serve it on the rocks. There are options here. You can shake the cocktail with ice, as described, and pour it into a tall glass with ice (as pictured); you can shake the cocktail with ice and pour it into a smaller glass without ice. If you like the layering idea, skip the shaker, and pour each ingredient, one at a time, to make distinct layers like the classic cocktail. This can be served on the rocks or without ice.
• Make a chocolate white Russian. Add chocolate liqueur or a drizzle of chocolate syrup instead of white chocolate liqueur.
• Lighten it up or make it richer. Use milk or heavy cream instead of half-and-half.
• Make a warm cocktail. If the weather outside is chilly, you might be craving a warm beverage. Try our hot white Russian recipe or spiked hot chocolate.

Make Ahead Ideas

Get ready: Chill your ingredients and make sure you have plenty of fresh ice. Rim the glasses with white chocolate and keep them chilled.

Serving a crowd: To make a batch of cocktails, combine the ingredients in a large container, and shake each cocktail separately or pour the mixture over ice in individual glasses. If the cocktail is stored separately from the ice, it will keep in a covered container for at least a few days.

• Yield: 1
• Prep: 5 minutes
• Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients

To Rim Glass (Optional):

• ¼ cup white chocolate, melted

For Cocktail:

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce white chocolate liqueur (or white crème de cacao)
• 1 ounce coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa)
• 1 ounce Irish cream liqueur (such as Bailey's)
• 1 ounce half-and-half

Method

1. Pour the melted chocolate into a shallow bowl. Dip the edge of a rocks glass into the melted white chocolate about ¼-inch. Chill until ready to use. You should be able to dip 3 to 4 glasses.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, white chocolate liquor, coffee liquor, Irish cream liqueur, and half-and-half.
3. Shake until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into the white chocolate rimmed rocks glass. You can serve the cocktail over ice if preferred (as pictured). Serve immediately.

Notes

Variations: Lighten it up or make it richer, using milk or heavy cream instead of half-and-half.

Skip the shaker. If you like the idea of a classic white Russian which is not shaken, simply pour each ingredient, one at a time, over ice. It will naturally form layers. Usually the bottom layer is coffee liqueur, then vodka, and cream on top.

Serving a crowd: To make a batch of cocktails, combine the ingredients in a large container ahead of time. Pour 5 ounces of the mixture into the cocktail shaker, and shake each cocktail separately, or pour 5 ounces over ice in individual glasses. If the cocktail is stored separately from the ice, it will keep in a covered container for at least a few days.