Ingredients
- 1/3 cup crushed peppermint candy (about 10 starlight mints or 3 regular candy canes)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups ice, divided
- 8 oz (1 cup) vanilla vodka
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) peppermint schnapps
- 5 oz (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) rum cream liqueur, such as RumChata
Instructions
- Crush the candy. Unwrap the peppermint candy and pulse it in a blender (paid link) or food processor (paid link) until it looks like coarse sand. No blender (paid link)? Seal it in a zip-top bag and crush it with a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy pan. Spread the crumbs in an even layer on a small plate.
- Rim the glasses. Pour the lemon juice into a shallow bowl. Dip the rim of each martini glass about 1/4 inch into the juice, let the excess drip off for a second, then press the rim into the crushed peppermint and give it a gentle twist to coat.
- Chill the glasses. Set the rimmed glasses in the fridge for at least 10 minutes while you mix. Cold glasses keep the cocktail icy longer and help the rim set.
- Shake the first martini. Fill a cocktail shaker (paid link) with 1 cup of ice. Add half the vanilla vodka (4 oz), half the peppermint schnapps (2 oz), and half the rum cream liqueur (2 1/2 oz). Seal tightly and shake hard for at least 30 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is frosty and almost too cold to hold.
- Pour. Strain the cocktail into a chilled glass, pouring into the center to avoid washing off the rim.
- Repeat and serve. Dump out the used ice, refill the shaker with the remaining 1 cup of fresh ice, and shake the rest of the vodka, schnapps, rum, and cream liqueur the same way. Strain into the second glass and serve right away.
Notes
Sweeten the rim. Corn syrup, honey, or a swipe of melted white chocolate will hold the candy in place, too. White chocolate adds a cookies-and-cream richness, too.
Shake harder than you think. 30 seconds feels long, but it turns the drink from cold to frosty and gives it that silky, foamy top.
Swap the cream liqueur. No RumChata? Baileys or another Irish cream works for a more chocolatey, coffee-tinged version. For a lighter drink, use 3 oz cream liqueur plus 2 oz half-and-half.
Out of vanilla vodka? Use plain vodka plus 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract per batch. You’ll get the same warm, round flavor.
Dial the mint up or down. Peppermint schnapps vary widely in strength and sweetness. Start with the recipe amount, taste, and add a splash more for a cooler, crisper finish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 martini, about 5 oz, including the candy rim
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg