What could be a better cocktail around the holidays than a rich, sweet Chocolate Candy Cane Martini?
I have to be honest with you here: I don’t know what peppermint has to do with Christmas. I know candy canes come out around the holidays, so is that one type of candy the reason for the seasonal flavor? I don’t get it, but who am I to argue with Starbucks and Pinterest and the entire food blogsphere? Peppermint = Christmas, and I’m getting onboard with that.
Since I didn’t want to be left out on the peppermint fun, I decided to come up with a Christmas cocktail for you this week. This was originally going to be made with peppermint schnapps until it occurred to me that I could try soaking candy canes in vodka instead. (This especially occurred to me when the grocery store didn’t have peppermint schnapps.) I am certainly not the first one to try this, but it IS the first time I’ve ever made any kind of infused vodka.
Turns out, it’s really, really easy. I put four mini candy canes in a glass and added a half cup of vodka.
I could see magic happening immediately, and within 3-4 hours the candy canes were dissolved completely to make a pretty pink, minty treat.
I think you could just pour this chilled candy cane vodka into a cold martini glass and call it a cocktail, but I wanted to add a little more, you know, chocolate.
Luckily, I had a trial sized chocolate liqueur in our cabinet just for this very purpose. Boy oh boy, I’ll be needing to get more of that, and in a bigger bottle this time. Who needs Irish cream when you can have creamy chocolate in your cocktail instead?
So there you have it. Candy cane vodka, chocolate liqueur, and a bit of half and half gives you a creamy, minty, delicious Chocolate Candy Cane Martini perfect for holiday parties or a Christmas Eve nightcap. Cheers!
Chocolate Candy Cane Martini
Making your own candy cane vodka is simple, and it is perfect for this holiday martini.
- Total Time: 4 hours 2 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 4 miniature candy canes or one full-sized candy cane
- 1/2 c. vodka
- 4 oz. chocolate cream liqueur I used Vermeer
- 2 oz. half and half
Instructions
- Place candy canes in a glass container, and pour vodka over the candy. Cover and allow to sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 4-24 hours.
- Place martini glasses in the freezer to chill.
- In a cocktail shaker, add infused vodka, chocolate liqueur, and half and half. Add a few ice cubes, and shake for about 10 seconds. Immediately strain into chilled glasses. (You don’t want to shake or let the drink sit with the ice too long because it will become watered down.) Enjoy!
Notes
If you use a chocolate liqueur that is not cream based (like Godiva), you can double the half and half.
- Prep Time: 240
- Cook Time: 2
Keywords: candy cane martini
You should toast the holidays with these other cocktails too!
Connie says
Drink looks fabulous–will definitely try this Christmas. And BTW the candy cane is symbolic of Christ. I believe the symbols are as follows: The white symbolizes purity or salvation which came through the Messiah. The red symbolizes the blood he shed for the sins of the world. and the three red strips represent the three days Christ was in the Tomb before rising on the 3rd day. and it is shaped in a hook fashion to represent the shepherd’s hook–Jesus is the good Shepherd, or the shepherd of his flock the church
★★★★★
Kore says
It’s candy
Kelly says
Wow, this looks like such a fun and festive drink – so perfect for the holidays :)
Andi says
Thank you, Kelly! I’m not usually a huge peppermint fan, so I was surprised how much I liked this one. Plus it was fun to make infused vodka. I’m going to try it with some other flavors now!
Gloria Phillips says
Andi, your pictures absolutely ROCK! I can’t stop looking at them. But, I too wonder why peppermint is even related to the holidays. Why not the 4th of July?! But, this cocktail is calling my name! Cheers!
Andi says
This seriously made my day, Gloria! Thank you! I still feel like such hack at photography, but I’m getting there :) Have a great rest of the weekend!
Liz says
you made candy cane vodka! Oh, that would be fun :-) Love the photos, Andi. Looks like a tasty drink. I know what I’ll be making this weekend.
Andi says
I thought of you and your candy corn vodka (and gummy bear vodka for that matter) when I was making it! xo