This easy Kahlua White Russian recipe takes less than 5 minutes to make. You’ll be sipping a creamy, classic cocktail in no time. With coffee liqueur and a little vodka, you'll enjoy this tasty drink all year long!
Make this Kahlua White Russian next time you want to sip something flavorful with just the right amount of coffee flavor! This refreshing drink is perfect for happy hour and enjoying with friends. It’s one of my favorite vodka recipes and it couldn't be easier to make.
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Why You Need to Make a White Russian with Cream
I get it. You may not feel like cream is a great cocktail ingredient. But you're wrong! Especially because this drink has Kahlua, a tasty coffee liqueur. And cream is a classic pairing.
While I always try to keep my home bar small, and free from one-off specialty bottles, Kahlua is something that can be used over and over.
Related post: Coffee White Russian with Cold Brew
There are tons of other Kahlua recipes and cocktails to make that aren't Russians. Including fudge and dinner ideas!
This drink is just 3 ingredients and can be made straight in the glass. No shaker is required making it great for mixing at home. And it's great to sip any time of year.
Ingredients
You'll need vodka (these are my favorite vodkas for making Moscow Mules but will work great for a White Russian drink recipe too) or just use what you already have at home. A little Kahlua and heavy cream and you're almost ready to sip.
While Kahlua does have a touch of sweetness, you can always add some simple syrup (omg, this cinnamon vanilla simple syrup would be AMAZING), maple syrup, or agave.
See recipe card for quantities. You'll love that it's fairly easy to keep these White Russian ingredients on hand.
How to Make a White Russian with Kahlua
1. Add ice to a short cocktail glass
2. Add vodka over ice
3. Add the Kahlua coffee liqueur
4. Add the heavy cream
Taste, then add sweetener as needed.
You don't have to stir, but you can. It really is the best way to ensure that all these yummy flavors mingle together in one sip.
Variations
While this is the standard White Russian recipe with Kahlua, there are several variations you can make to suit your flavor preferences.
- Skip the cream and use regular milk instead. The texture will be a little bit thinner if the idea of heavy cream was too much for you.
- Make it non-dairy. You can use whatever non-dairy alternative you prefer. Like my Milk Punch, almond milk would be great.
- I prefer my White Russian Cocktail recipe with Kahlua but you can also use Bailey's for a slightly different flavor.
- A vanilla vodka would be a tasty swap in this recipe.
- You can skip the vodka and use rum or whiskey instead.
- You can add chocolate syrup (like I do with my large batch White Russian recipe) or cinnamon to add another layer of flavor.
- And if you aren't into a cold drink, you can serve this warm. Just take care you don't scald the cream.
But my favorite variation is White Russian Cupcakes!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally it's made with vodka and Kahlua (rum-based coffee liqueur). But you can use whatever you prefer! Try a taste test and see if you like it with whiskey, spiced rum or even tequila.
You can use coffee but it will taste a bit different as Kahlua is sweetened and coffee isn't unless you add the sugar yourself. You can make your own Kahlua by using coffee. Or you can make a Coffee White Russian with cold brew.
You can stir a White Russian or not. It's totally up to you. You could even shake it with ice in a cocktail shaker if you wanted to. When shaking with ice, it slightly whips the cream making it feel extra luscious in your mouth. I say give it a try and see if you prefer one over the other. While there are "rules" in making cocktails, my opinion is to try things and keep doing what you like best.
Kahlua is a coffee liqueur made with a rum base. It's a great way to add coffee flavor to all kinds of recipes. You can read more about Kahlua here.
You'll love this classic White Russian with Kahlua recipe! It's perfect for happy hour, Netflix nights or any party!
More easy cocktail recipes
- Black Russian Recipe
- Coffee White Russian with cold brew
- Coconut Rum White Russian
- Bad Moms Movie inspired Large Batch White Russian
- White Russian Moscow Mule
- Slushy Vodka Sunrise cocktail
- Coke Cocktails are delicious!
- Cinnamon Whiskey Mule (a fun twist with Fireball)
- Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade Recipe
- Fireball and Ginger Ale (A 2 ingredient cocktail that is SO yummy!)
- Baileys Irish Cream Cocktails
SAVE THIS AND PIN IT FOR LATER!
Kahlua White Russian
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce Kahlua
- 1 ounce heavy cream
Instructions
- In a short cocktail glass with ice, add vodka, Kahlua and heavy cream.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Skip the cream and use regular milk instead. The texture will be a little bit thinner if the idea of heavy cream was too much for you.
- Make it non-dairy. Almond milk would be great.
- Don't have Kahlua? You can use another coffee-liqueur or Bailey’s for a slightly different flavor.
- A vanilla vodka would be a tasty swap in this recipe.
- You can skip the vodka and use rum or whiskey instead.
- You can add chocolate syrup or cinnamon to add another layer of flavor.
- And if you aren’t into a cold drink, you can serve this warm. Just take care you don’t scald the cream - heat slowly).
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