White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Allison · 16 Comments

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You will love sipping on this smooth and creamy White Russian. An easy coffee flavored co*cktail with a fun twist!Try adding my special ingredient to make it taste like dessert.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (1)

It should come as no surprise that a White Russian is one of my favorite co*cktails. It tastes like an iced coffee (one of my most favorite things ever) and it is one-third cream. Yes, CREAM, my friends. This is a sweet, cold and creamy co*cktail that you are bound to fall in love with!

My mind has shifted into holiday mode. I’m dreaming of pumpkin bread, sweet potato casserole, chilly weather and crunchy leaves. I’m ready to sit next to a warm fire sipping on a White Russian. Who’s with me?!

MORE co*ckTAILS: APEROL SPRITZSTRAWBERRY SANGRIAAPPLE CIDER SANGRIASTRAWBERRY MARGARITAGRASSHOPPERFROZEN MARGARITAHOT BUTTERED RUM

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2)

I consider a White Russian a year-round co*cktail (any time is a good time for spiked coffee goodness!), but I especially think of it as a holiday co*cktail. The classic flavors, the touch of decadence, and the fact that calories don’t count during the holidays. It’s perfect for these last few months of the year.

White Russian Recipe

Let’s talk about how to make a traditional White Russian, then I’ll get to sharing my favorite version (pssst… there’s ice cream involved).

  • Vodka
  • Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
  • Cream

Add the vodka and Kahlua to a glass filled with ice, then add a generous splash of cream and give it a stir. The ratios are often 1 part vodka, 1 part Kahlua and 1 part cream, but when I am making White Russians at home, I change it up a bit.

The first change I make is swapping the cream for half and half or whole milk. Although cream is delicious, I find that half and half or whole milk still adds plenty of richness without making it too heavy.

I usually follow a ratio of 1 part vodka, 2 parts Kahlua and 3 parts half and half. This creates a nice creamy co*cktail that has plenty of coffee flavor without too much of a punch from the vodka.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (3)

A fun twist

Now, if you wanted to (hint: you do) you could skip adding the ice to your White Russian and instead plop a big fat scoop of vanilla ICE CREAM into it. Guys, please try this at least once. It’s like a spiked coffee milkshake (without dirtying a blender), and it is so dang delicious! Note: instead of using vanilla ice cream, you could also use coffee, chocolate or caramel ice cream. Swoon.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (4)

My recipe makes a single serving. You can easily increase the portions to make multiple co*cktails, or even a whole pitcher. Use the ratio 1 part vodka, 2 parts Kahlua, 3 parts whole milk/half and half/cream to make the quantities needed. And of course, adjust to suit your taste. That’s the beauty of making co*cktails at home, you can get them just the way you want them everytime.

I’ll leave you with one last little warning: These White Russians are dangerous. They are smooth and tasty and they go down easily. Too easily. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya! Enjoy!

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (5)

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Recipe

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (6)

White Russian Recipe

You will love sipping on this smooth and creamy White Russian. An easy coffee flavored co*cktail with a fun twist!

4.84 from 6 votes

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Course: beverage

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 multiply as needed

Calories: 312kcal

Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

  • 1 part vodka
  • 2 parts Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
  • 3 parts half and half, cream or milk, I prefer half and half
  • Ice cream, optional

Instructions

  • Combine vodka and Kahlua in an ice filled glass. Slowly add the half and half. Taste and adjust the proportions to suit your taste.

Video

Notes

For one co*cktail, I often use a 1oz liquid measuring cup for each "part".

For a large batch use a ½ cup liquid measuring cup for each "part"; this will make four 6-ounce co*cktails.

Feel free to leave out the ice and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your co*cktail.

Nutrition

Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 112mg | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 138IU | Calcium: 96mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (7) Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

This post originally appeared on Real Housemoms where I am a contributor.

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Comments

  1. Jackie

    I can’t drink anything that is made with milk products. If I want to make a drink with Kahlua give me some suggestions excluding the milk products !

    Reply

    • Allison

      You could try this with a plant based milk.

      Reply

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White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (8)Hi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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FAQs

What is another name for a White Russian drink? ›

Many variants of the co*cktail exist, such as a mudslide, Bolshevik, or blonde Russian (made with Irish cream), an Anna Kournikova (named after the tennis player, made with skimmed milk, i.e. a "skinny" white Russian), a white Cuban (made with rum instead of vodka), a black Russian (vodka and coffee liqueur), or a dirty ...

What is the taste of a White Russian? ›

What should the perfect White Russian taste like? Sweet, fresh, creamy, indulgent… It really depends on the ingredients, so feel free to play around with the recipe.

What do you eat with White Russian? ›

Go for a White Russian with:
  • Sausage rolls.
  • Gluten-free mince pies.
  • Chocolate & raspberry tart.

Can you use coffee creamer for White Russian? ›

Yes! The best white Russian recipe includes a coffee liqueur that gives sweet, slightly bitter notes of mocha. Kahlua and coffee creamers are a great pair for that!

What is a substitute for Kahlúa in White Russian? ›

Kahlua substitutes: Try swapping out the coffee liqueur with crème de cacao or amaretto.

What does The Dude call a White Russian? ›

Sometimes they're referred to as “White Russians,” other times, jokingly, “Caucasians.” Usually they're made with cream, but occasionally, in a pinch, powdered non-dairy creamer. Nevertheless, “The Dude abides” — even when he drinks the one with the mickey slipped in. Read reviews!

What is a good substitute for cream in White Russian? ›

So, I decided to try it with some cashew cream (since it's pretty thick and creamy), which makes it a great replacement for the traditional half-and-half in the classic version (and it's vegan as well!). To make the cashew cream, soak raw cashews overnight, drain and rinse, and add to blender or food processor.

What is The Dude's drink? ›

During the course of Ethan and Joel Coen's The Big Lebowski, Jeffrey “the Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) downs nine White Russians, thus making the sweet, creamy drink synonymous with the film. Despite its name, the co*cktail was actually created in Belgium.

What is the difference between a White Russian and a Caucasian drink? ›

A White Russian is made with vodka, coffee liqueur and cream served with ice. A Caucasian is the name used by the Big Lebowski (in the movie of the same name) for a White Russian. A White Russian is also the name for a person from Belarus (the name of the country in Russian literally means White Russia).

Can you make a White Russian without Kahlua? ›

Berry infused vodka adds another bold dimension to the drink. Cake and whipped cream vodkas, or espresso, chocolate, and vanilla vodkas are also great choices. Kahlúa is the most popular coffee liqueur used in a White Russian, but Firelit, New Deal, or Leopold Bros. are also great choices.

Are you supposed to stir a White Russian? ›

Combine in a rocks glass over ice and stir for 10 seconds or so. Shaking a White Russian is nice too, and certainly gets it colder. Though I prefer the concentrated edge that it gets from stirring.

What is in a Mudslide? ›

The Mudslide—a combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, and heavy cream—is the quintessential boozy milkshake. Sweet, creamy, and rich, its popularity harkens back to a time when we took our co*cktail cues from the laminated menus of chain restaurants.

Why is White Russian so good? ›

The White Russian Is Stupidly Simple

While coffee liqueur and heavy cream give it a rich, decadent texture and flavor, vodka gives the drink serious backbone.

What do you use Kahlúa for? ›

Some popular drinks that can be made with Kahlua include:
  1. White Russian: Kahlua, vodka, and cream.
  2. Espresso Martini: Kahlua, vodka, and espresso.
  3. Mudslide: Kahlua, vodka, Irish cream, and milk.
  4. Black Russian: Kahlua and vodka.
  5. Mind Eraser: Kahlua, vodka, and soda water.
Feb 4, 2023

What's the best vodka for a White Russian? ›

The key is to use something you like the flavor of. Fortunately, you can find good vodka at every price point. The best quality vodkas for the price are Grey Goose and Belvedere. For a budget-friendly vodka, I recommend using Tito's.

What's the difference between a White Russian and a Colorado bulldog? ›

It's like a White Russian, but with a bubbly twist. What's on Denver-area K-9's Christmas wish lists? A White Russian consists of vodka, coffee liqueur and cream, on the rocks. A Colorado Bulldog has the same ingredients plus cola.

What's the difference between a White Russian and a Black Russian? ›

And you can probably guess from name alone what the difference is. A White Russian is swirled with heavy cream, while a Black Russian...isn't. It is simply coffee liqueur and vodka, no white in sight, making it less like a dessert and more like an alcoholic wake-me-up.

Is a White Russian co*cktail the same as an espresso martini? ›

Rich and creamy, the White Russian is the Espresso Martini's delicious older cousin — but unlike the trendy co*cktail, the White Russian leans on heavy cream for its iconic milky hue and soft mouthfeel. The co*cktail comes together quickly with just a few ingredients: vodka, coffee liqueur, and a splash of heavy cream.

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