Ingredients
These ingredients come together to form a powerhouse of flavor:
-
🍸 2 oz vodka – use vanilla vodka for even more flavor
-
☕ 1 oz coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa) – gives rich, dark notes
-
🥛 1 oz heavy cream or half-and-half – makes it creamy and luxurious
-
🌿 ½ tsp vanilla bean paste or extract – for warm vanilla aroma
-
🍬 ¼ oz vanilla syrup (optional) – adds sweetness and depth
-
🧊 Ice cubes – for shaking or serving
-
🍦 Optional: whipped cream or shaved white chocolate for garnish
-
🍪 Optional: crushed vanilla wafers or cookie rim
Instructions
Step 1: Chill your glass
Put a short rocks glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to get it frosty.
Step 2: Mix the base
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine:
-
2 oz vodka
-
1 oz coffee liqueur
-
½ tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
-
Optional: ¼ oz vanilla syrup for added sweetness
Step 3: Shake or stir
You can either shake well for 15 seconds or stir gently, depending on how frothy you want it.
Step 4: Pour into glass
Discard the ice water from your rocks glass. Fill it with fresh ice. Strain the cocktail into the glass.
Step 5: Float the cream
Slowly pour 1 oz cream or half-and-half over the back of a spoon into the drink. This creates a gorgeous layer on top.
Step 6: Garnish and serve
Top with a vanilla bean pod, a dusting of white chocolate, whipped cream, or crushed vanilla cookie around the rim.
Notes
These rich, dessert-style cocktails are incredibly flexible, but some tips help them shine:
-
Use high-quality vanilla—bean paste is better than extract for true flavor
-
Layering cream over the back of a spoon gives it that stunning float
-
The colder the glass, the better the drink—this is meant to be served icy cold
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Protein: 1 g