A Gingerbread Martini is a fun and festive cocktail for the Holidays. It's sweet, spicy, decadent, and perfect for a Christmas Party or Holiday Celebration.
Jump to:
- Why I Love This Recipe
- What Alcohol to Use for a Gingerbread Martini
- How to Make a Gingerbread Martini
- How to Garnish and Decorate this Cocktail
- Tool for Grating Fresh Nutmeg
- Recipe FAQs
- How to Make Gingerbread Syrup
- Other Uses for Homemade Gingerbread Syrup
- How to Quickly Make Whipped Cream
- Expert Tips for this Recipe
- More Holiday Cocktail Recipes to Try
- Gingerbread Martini
Why I Love This Recipe
This Gingerbread Martini has homemade gingerbread syrup which is AMAZING. The syrup recipe is included and since you will have some extra syrup, I put some ideas for how to use it up below. If you want some of the cupcakes in the picture, take a look at this recipe: Candied Ginger Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!
What Alcohol to Use for a Gingerbread Martini
- Vodka: Vodka is the perfect base alcohol for this drink because it mixes well with others. It's clear and has a clean taste that works with sweet and spicy flavors so it's perfect for gingerbread.
- Kahlua: This coffee liqueur has rum, sugar, and coffee which is the perfect blend of flavors to add depth to this cocktail.
- Tuaca: Tuaca is a yummy liqueur with a spicy and citrusy blend that gives drinks more depth and warmth, perfect for cold weather. If you can't find Tuaca, some alternatives are Licor 43, Gran Gala, Grand Marnier, Vanilla Vodka, or Crème de Vanille.
How to Make a Gingerbread Martini
Prepare your martini glass with crushed gingerbread cookies around the rim using honey, simple syrup, or water to help it stick to the glass. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until nice and cold.
Strain the liquid into the prepared glass. Add candied ginger or a gingerbread cookie for garnish. If desired, you can grate fresh nutmeg on top for the perfect finish.
How to Garnish and Decorate this Cocktail
- Crush up gingerbread cookies in a plastic bag. You can use a heavy rolling pin, a mallet, or anything heavy to break up the cookies.
- To get the cookies to stick to the rim, use honey, simple syrup, or water. Place the crushed cookies on a plate or shallow dish and dip the rim into the cookies.
- Add colored sprinkles for even more pizzazz and holiday fun!
- I love a gingerbread cookie or a piece of candied ginger as a garnish. You can buy candied ginger at most grocery stores or you can make your own!
- Top with freshly grated nutmeg or cinnamon stick (use the tool I recommend below!)
Tool for Grating Fresh Nutmeg
To grate the fresh nutmeg, I love to use this nutmeg grater tool shown below. It's small, cute, inexpensive, and has a little pocket on top to store your nutmeg seed! If you don't have one you can use a Microplane instead.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make a non-alcoholic gingerbread martini by omitting the vodka and liqueurs and using coffee in their place. You can also add a splash of ginger beer or ginger ale for additional ginger flavor.
This cocktail is a dessert cocktail so it will be quite sweet. However, if you prefer a less sweet gingerbread martini, reduce the amount of gingerbread syrup or use unsweetened whipped cream. You can also add more vodka or regular coffee to balance the sweetness.
Yes, if you can find gingerbread-flavored liqueur, you can use it as a substitute for the gingerbread syrup. You may want to substitute for the Tuaca liqueur so that the drink doesn't have too much alcohol or adjust quantities to balance the drink.
How to Make Gingerbread Syrup
- Combine the water, honey, molasses, ginger, and cinnamon in a saucepan on the stove. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat stirring constantly. Continue to boil and stir for 3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Allow the mixture to cool completely and then strain out the solids before transferring to a glass container that seals.
Other Uses for Homemade Gingerbread Syrup
- Make another cocktail like my Gingerbread White Russian!
- Add it to your coffee or latte in the morning
- Put it in your tea instead of sugar
- Pour it over pancakes or waffles
- Drizzle over ice cream
- Put it on your morning oatmeal
How to Quickly Make Whipped Cream
Hand Mixer: Place a mixing bowl in the freezer for 15 minutes. Once chilled, remove the bowl and add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoon confectioners powdered sugar.
Beat on medium speed until the cream starts to thicken and then increase the speed to high. Continue to mix until nice and thick. Check for sweetness and add more powdered sugar if desired. Store covered in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Expert Tips for this Recipe
- Make the gingerbread syrup and whipped cream ahead of time. Both can be stored in the fridge and will work better when chilled for this cocktail.
- Serve immediately! This cocktail is best when served right away. As the cocktail settles it will separate a little, but it will still taste great!
- To get the rim garnish to stick, use honey, simple syrup, or water. A rimming bowl makes this even easier, but you can also use a small plate.
More Holiday Cocktail Recipes to Try
If you get a chance to make this Gingerbread Martini Cocktail Recipe, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Gingerbread Martini
Equipment
Ingredients
Gingerbread Martini
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounces Tuaca Liqueur
- 1 ounces Kahlua Liqueur
- 1 ounces gingerbread syrup (see recipe below)
- 2 tablespoon fresh whipped cream (or store-bought)
Cocktail Garnishes
- gingerbread cookie or candied ginger for garnish
- crushed gingerbread cookies for glass rim
- colored sprinkles for rim
- fresh grated nutmeg for garnish
Gingerbread Syrup
- 1⅓ cup water
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced or grated
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Gingerbread Martini
- Prepare the glass with crushed gingerbread cookies around the rim using honey, simple syrup, or water to help it stick to the glass.
- Add all of the cocktail ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain the liquid into the prepared glass. Add the candied ginger for garnish and grate fresh nutmeg on top. Cheers!
Gingerbread Syrup
- Combine water, honey, molasses, ginger, and cinnamon in a saucepan on the stove. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat stirring constantly. Continue to boil and stir for about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla.
- Allow the mixture to cool completely and then strain out the solids before transferring to a glass container that seals. The syrup will last for 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
Notes
- I like to grate frozen ginger in most of my cooking. It's so quick and easy and you don't have to worry about peeling it or anything. I always have frozen ginger root in my freezer and when a recipe calls for ginger, it's right there ready to go!
- Fresh whipped cream is so delicious and easy to make. Add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream to a bowl and whisk on medium speed with a hand mixer. After the cream starts to thicken, add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ cup confectioners powdered sugar. Continue to mix until nice and thick. Store covered in the fridge for 2-3 days
- Make the gingerbread syrup and whipped cream ahead of time. Both can be stored in the fridge and will work better when chilled for this cocktail
- Serve immediately! This cocktail is best when served right away. As the cocktail settles it will separate a little, but it will still taste great!
- To get the rim garnish to stick, use honey, simple syrup, or water. A rimming bowl makes this even easier, but you can also use a small plate.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Kasy Allen says
This is a fantastic holiday drink recipe - yummo!
Emily says
Thanks, Kasy! I hope you get a chance to make it this holiday season.
Debra says
Loved this...totally adding to the Thanksgiving menu.
Emily says
I'm so glad to hear it, Debra!
kerri says
oh man. this gingerbread martini is going to make the perfect addition to our holiday drink menu!
Emily says
It's the perfect addition to any holiday celebration, thanks, Kerri!
Chef Dennis says
What a perfect drink for the fall season! I can't wait to try it!
Emily says
Thanks, Dennis, you are going to love this one!
Magali says
Great recipe! Thank you!
michele says
Perfect for the holidays!
Amy says
There's such a thing as gingerbread syrup??? Where have I been? This sounds amazing!
Emily says
There is! I promise you, Amy, you are going to love it!!
Audrey says
Perfect for the holidays!!
Alexandra says
The very best festive drink - I love it! Cheers!
Emily says
Cheers!!
Sue says
Love this gingerbread martini - this will be on my Christmas menu for sure!
Emily says
It's the perfect cocktail for the holidays!
Laura says
Perfect for fall. Loved it.
Emily says
Thanks, Laura, I'm so glad you enjoyed it.