Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Irish cream
- ¾ ounce vanilla vodka
- ¾ ounce gingerbread simple syrup
- ¼ ounce hazelnut liqueur
- ¼ ounce cream
- Ice
- Ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Irish cream, vanilla vodka, gingerbread simple syrup, hazelnut liqueur, and cream.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
Variations and Substitutions
The beauty of the gingerbread martini is there is no standard recipe, so you can easily customize each one to your personal taste.
- Add a small dash of molasses for a thicker, more prominent gingerbread taste.
- Use spiced rum in place of vanilla vodka for a stronger spiced flavor.
- Omit or add more cream based on how creamy you want your martini to taste.
- Include a dash or two of cinnamon or vanilla bitters for a richer flavor.
- A quarter-ounce of allspice dram adds a boost of flavor.
- Include a quarter to half-ounce of coffee liqueur for a deeper flavor.
Garnishes
Like the gingerbread martini recipe, garnishes can very much be dependent on personal taste and preference, just don't skip it altogether. Garnishes are just as critical an ingredient in cocktails as the spirits.
- Use a regular or charred cinnamon stick.
- Float one or two whole star anise cloves.
- Make a rim with crushed gingerbread cookies.
- Consider topping with whipped cream, sprinkling gingerbread crumbs on top.
- Drizzle a single drop of molasses on the bottom of the glass.
About the Gingerbread Martini
The gingerbread martini doesn't have as storied a history as other cocktails. However, that doesn't stop it from being closely related to others. When using cream with the inclusion of coffee liqueur, it's not far off from an espresso martini. In fact, the two together make for another unique and tasty dessert cocktail.
With some added ice and a rocks glass, the gingerbread martini quickly turns into a delicious dessert-style drink, just add a little extra cream for a complete cocktail. Consider serving this drink either way, just for you or several at once for a group.
More Than Just a Cookie
When you're in the holiday spirit but don't think you can take one more bite, the gingerbread martini is the solution. The spiced molasses flavors aren't just for cookies, they're a flavor that works well in a cocktail. Shake up this festive treat for your next dessert cocktail.
