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This Candy Cane Martini is a delicious way to celebrate Christmas! Made with homemade peppermint vodka it’s an easy cocktail recipe for any holiday party. You can make it a creamy candy cane cocktail too!

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candy cane martini in a martini glass with crushed candy canes on the rim


Crisp or Creamy Candy Cane Martini

Every time I have a party I make a themed cocktail. I’ve done Hawaiian Mimosas for luaus, Lemon Cupcake Martinis for birthday parties, and I plan to serve French 75 Champagne Martinis this New Year’s Eve.

Peppermint is one of my favorite holiday flavors, so it was natural that this year I’ll be serving Candy Cane Martinis at Christmas parties!

Regardless of which martini recipe you make, you need peppermint vodka to make them. Sure, you can buy peppermint vodka at most grocery stores this time of year, but did you also know it’s easy to make your own? Infusing vodka with flavor is super simple and you can use that large bottle you buy at Costco so it’s way cheaper than buying a flavored brand.

peppermint vodka in jar

How do you make peppermint vodka?

It’s simple, with just two ingredients!

To make peppermint vodka, simply add 2 cups of vodka to a large jar and add 4-5 candy canes. You can use any flavor candy cane (or any size). Let the candy canes soak in the vodka until they dissolve, which won’t take very long (a few hours).

Once you have a jar of peppermint flavored vodka you can easily add it to cocktail recipes all season long.

Candy Cane Martini #1 is a cocktail that tastes like chocolate and peppermint!

Ingredients to make candy cane martinis

Ingredients in Candy Cane Martini

  • Peppermint Vodka – make your own or buy it at the store
  • Vanilla Vodka – adds great flavor! Regular can be substituted, or whipped vodka
  • Peppermint Schnapps – Adds extra peppermint flavor
  • Creme de Cocoa – This is chocolate liqueur and adds a hint of chocolate to the peppermint martini

How to make a Candy Cane Martini

  • To rim your martini glasses with crushed peppermint candy, simply dip the martini glass in water then dip in a bowl of crushed candy canes.
  • Simply mix the peppermint vodka with vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, and creme de cocoa to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Pour into cocktail glass.
ingredients for creamy candy cane martini

2 Ingredients in a Creamy Peppermint Martini:

  • Peppermint Vodka – again you can use homemade or buy it
  • Baileys Irish Cream – a nice creamy liqueur

How to make a Creamy Martini

  • Simply mix them together in equal parts in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a mini candy cane.

No matter what cocktail you serve, your guests are sure to love them. Why not serve both? These are perfect for Christmas!

chocolate martini in martini class with a candy can on the rim

How to make a pitcher of Martinis

When I’m serving a crowd at a holiday party, I like to mix up a pitcher of the martinis (about 4 or 5 times the recipe) and then simply shake them over ice before serving. It’s much easier and less messy to make them ahead of time.

Expert Tips

  • You can make homemade peppermint vodka or just buy some at the store.
  • When crushing candy canes for the rim of the glass, place them in a bag and bang them with a rolling pin but be sure to do this on a cookie sheet or cutting board. The bag will get holes in it!
  • Adjust all the alcohol to taste – these can get strong quick!
  • How do you get peppermint to stick to a martini glass? Dip the rim of the glass in corn syrup or honey then in the candy and it will stick!
candy cane martini in a martini glass with crushed candy canes on the rim

Candy Cane Martinis

5 from 19 votes
Candy Cane Martinis are made with peppermint vodka. Make your own homemade peppermint vodka then make a candy cane martini or a creamy candy cane martini!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Soaking Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Yield 2 people
Serving Size 1 drink

Ingredients
 

For the peppermint vodka

  • 2 cups vodka
  • 5 candy canes plus more for rimming glasses

For the Candy Cane Martini (serves 2)

  • 2 ounces peppermint vodka
  • 2 ounces peppermint schnapps
  • 4 ounces vanilla vodka
  • 2 ounces creme de cocoa

For the Creamy Candy Cane Martini (serves 2)

  • 3 ounces peppermint vodka
  • 3 ounces Baileys Irish Cream
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Instructions

  • To make the peppermint vodka: add vodka and candy canes to a jar. Seal and let sit until candy canes are dissolved (about 2-4 hours). May make up to 1 week ahead; store in refrigerator.
  • Rim 2 martini glasses with crushed candy canes: dip the glass in water then in a pile of crushed candy canes.
  • To make the Candy Cane Martini: Add both vodkas, schnapps, and creme de cocoa in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into martini glasses.
  • To make the Creamy Candy Cane Martini: add vodka and Irish cream to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into martini glasses.

Recipe Video

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Sugar: 19g
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Drinks
Cuisine American

Other candy cane recipes perfect for Christmas:

Other favorite Martini Recipes:



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

5 from 19 votes (18 ratings without comment)

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40 Comments

  1. The worst thing that ever happened to me was having a hangover ONCE when Doodle was 2. OMG, never again. My tolerance went waaaaay down after I had a kid; ugh and I used to be so cool (?). I could definitely handle one of these martinis! SO awesome, Dorothy, and great pictures!!

  2. OMG I’m in adult treat heaven! These look awesome. Merry Christmas sweetie, hope you and your family have an awesome holidays. hugs

  3. These look very, very good:) Man, I really wish I had some candy canes right about now. Guess the hubs will be making a stop at the store on the way home from work!

  4. OH MY GOD. Can we start drinking already? And I mean now, not in like, five hours or something. Yes, I know it’s 8:30. Exactly my point. I need that damn martini!

  5. How clever! I love it! (and i’m totally the same way about booze. Lil’ bottles all the way. Enough to make 1-2 cocktails with them, and no big investment!)