Description
A festive and flavorful Gingerbread Martini, perfect for the holidays! This cocktail combines vodka, gingerbread liqueur, Irish cream, and warming spices for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce gingerbread liqueur (such as Hiram Walker)
- 1 ounce Irish cream liqueur (such as Baileys)
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cloves
- Ice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Lemon wedge (for rimming the glass)
- Gingerbread cookie (optional)
- Cinnamon stick (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Glass: In a shallow dish, combine the brown sugar, ground ginger, and ground cinnamon for the rim. Mix well.
- Rim the Glass: Rub the rim of a martini glass with a lemon wedge. Dip the rim into the brown sugar mixture, rotating to coat evenly. Set aside.
- Combine Ingredients: In a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, gingerbread liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, simple syrup, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves.
- Add Ice: Fill the cocktail shaker with ice (about ¾ full).
- Shake Vigorously: Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
- Strain: Remove the lid and strain the martini into the prepared glass.
- Garnish (Optional): Garnish with a gingerbread cookie or cinnamon stick.
- Serve Immediately: Serve cold and enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust Sweetness: Reduce simple syrup or gingerbread liqueur for a less sweet martini. Add more for a sweeter one.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves to your taste.
- Vodka Choice: Vanilla vodka adds a nice flavor.
- Gingerbread Syrup Alternative: If you can’t find gingerbread liqueur, you can make your own gingerbread syrup. Combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan. Add a few slices of fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick, and a few cloves. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is infused with the spices. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Strain the syrup before using.
- Irish Cream Substitute: Substitute with a mixture of heavy cream and a splash of coffee liqueur.
- Non-Alcoholic Version: Replace vodka with sparkling apple cider or ginger ale. Use gingerbread syrup instead of gingerbread liqueur and omit the Irish cream liqueur.
- Presentation: Consider using edible glitter to decorate the rim of the glass. You can also drizzle a little molasses around the inside of the glass before pouring in the martini.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the brown sugar rim mixture ahead of time and store it in an airtight container. You can also mix the liquid ingredients (without the ice) in a pitcher and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just be sure to shake it well with ice before straining into the glasses.
- Gingerbread Crumble Rim: Instead of the brown sugar mixture, you can use crushed gingerbread cookies for the rim. Simply crush the cookies into fine crumbs and use them in the same way as the brown sugar mixture.
- Whipped Cream Topping: For an extra decadent treat, top your gingerbread martini with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes