Cinnamon White Russian

Cold, creamy and full of coffee and cinnamon flavor, the Cinnamon White Russian cocktail recipe is the holiday nightcap you need this winter. This cocktail uses a homemade cinnamon syrup that’s delicious in coffee, too! 

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Every giant Thanksgiving feast needs a follow-up cocktail. An end-of-meal sipper.

When I think about after-dinner drinks, I always think of White Russians. These creamy coffee cocktails are sweet and go down easy.

WHAT’S IN A WHITE RUSSIAN?

To refresh your memory, a classic White Russian is a mixture of coffee liqueur, vodka and cream.

I usually use half-and-half, but you may use your favorite milk. Even soy or almond milk will work! (And are perfect for those of us with dairy intolerances.)

I’ve made a few versions of White Russian cocktail recipes through the years, including my Birthday Cake White Russian.

I’ve also made a Black Russian – what you get when you leave out the dairy from a White Russian.

This time, I’m changing things up by adding cinnamon to my favorite White Russian cocktail recipe.

CINNAMON WHITE RUSSIAN COCKTAIL RECIPE

Cinnamon makes a lovely addition to a White Russian — times three.

I made a cinnamon simple syrup to mix into the cocktail AND decorated the glass with a cinnamon sugar rim AND added an extra sprinkle of cinnamon over top of the cocktail.

So if you like cinnamon, this Cinnamon White Russian is the cocktail for you. It also happens to be the perfect drink to pair with all of the classic Thanksgiving desserts.

If you have leftover cinnamon syrup, you can stir it into your coffee the next morning, too!

Or just make another Cinnamon White Russian. That is also totally acceptable, especially the day after Thanksgiving!

You’ll need a cocktail shaker to mix this cocktail, and maybe some cute old-fashioned glasses.

I keep my cinnamon simple syrup in a mason jar in the fridge. And I use real cinnamon sticks, too. Also, this is my favorite ice cube tray!

CINNAMON COCKTAILS

I love cinnamon, and I especially love cinnamon in cocktails. This time of year, cinnamon cocktails are ideal for serving at Thanksgiving dinner or holiday parties. Or just for sipping while you watch classic Christmas movies.

In addition to this Cinnamon White Russian, two of my other favorite warm cinnamon cocktails are Stovetop Apple Cider and Mulled Wine.

If you want to keep things iced, try my Maple Leaf Cocktail, Apple Cider Bourbon Jell-O Shots, Spiced Apple Cider Rum Punch, or Autumn Spice Martini.

And of course, you can always make Homemade Spiced Rum and add it to just about anything you like.

I’m super sad that today’s the last day of Blogsgiving, but I will be spending the weekend perusing all the recipes — Part 1 and Part 2 — looking for a dessert recipe I can make for my family’s Thanksgiving this year.

You can also see a lot of the recipes on our Pinterest board! It’s always so fun to work with Meghan and I can say for sure that Blogsgiving was a big success this year! Happy Blogsgiving! // susannah

Cinnamon White Russian

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 1 cocktail, easily multiplied

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Description

Sweet and spicy, the perfect holiday after-dinner cocktail

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Ingredients

For cinnamon simple syrup

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cinnamon sticks

For cinnamon sugar rim

• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cinnamon White Russian

• ice
• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua
• 1 ounce heavy cream or half-and half (or your milk of choice)
• 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) cinnamon simple syrup

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Instructions

Make cinnamon simple syrup

1. In a small saucepan on medium-high heat, combine sugar and water. Add cinnamon sticks. Stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture is clear, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Store in an airtight, glass container with cinnamon sticks.

Make the cinnamon sugar and rim the glasses.

1. In a bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon until evenly mixed. Pour onto a plate or into a shallow bowl that’s big enough for the glass.
2. To rim the glass, brush a small amount of the simple syrup around the outer rim of an old-fashioned or rocks glass. Roll the outer edge of the glass in the cinnamon sugar until coated. Set aside.

Make the cocktails.

1. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, coffee liqueur, heavy cream and cinnamon simple syrup. Shake vigorously, then pour into prepared cocktail glass. Serve immediately.