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The North Pole, this might just be the most festive drink ever!
When it comes to Christmas, I can’t help but to go all out. I love having fun with Christmas recipes, creating not only the cutest foods, but making them the most delicious too. This fun cocktail is no exception, this drink just screams Christmas and nothing else. It’s sweet and slightly chocolatey with just a hint of peppermint and ginger. Think gingerbread martini meets chocolate martini…basically it’s Christmas in a cup with a hit of vodka…
The key to this cocktail is the molasses and pinch of ginger. It makes the drink sweet, gingery and all things cozy! Well…the Kahlúa is pretty KEY as well, it adds a kick of coffee flavor and pairs really nicely with the creaminess of the drink. If you’re thinking this sounds like a lot for one drink, think again, everything together is truly awesome, and like I said, it’s pretty much like having Christmas in a cup! Still can’t decide if these are more of a cocktail or a dessert, but I’m going with a combo and saying it’s fair game to serve them either before or after dinner! <–I surely did both!
I actually served these up on Thanksgiving Day to my family and they where the perfect sweet drink to keep everyone decorating the tree and going until dinner. Plus, it was also my younger brother’s 21st birthday, therefore, cocktails were obviously needed. The fam has already requested these be made again over Christmas…so our entire family can try them. If you enjoy sweeter cocktails, these are totally what you NEED to be making for your next holiday party. These would be perfect for a night of Christmas tree decorating, or after a day hitting the stores hard. They’re a super fun way to celebrate the season. So relax, kick back, enjoy the tree lights, a nice roaring fire AND, if you’re like me, your favorite Christmas music. Yep, this is your holiday drink. <–DO IT.
The North Pole.
Servings: 4 drinks
Calories Per Serving: 480 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
The North Pole
- 4 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces Kahlúa or more to taste
- 4 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons molasses
- 1/8 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk
- whipped cream candy canes and gingerbread cookies, for serving (optional)
Instructions
The North Pole
- In a cocktail shaker combine the vodka, Kahlúa, chocolate syrup, vanilla, molasses, and ginger. Shake until well combined. Add ice and shake again. Strain into 4 glasses. Top off each glass with heavy cream. Dollop with whipped cream and garnish as desired. DRINK!
PS. and how fun is the name? THE NORTH POLE?!? Love it.
This looks amazing! Question, I just got a peppermint cacao cocktail syrup, if I used that in place of the chocolate syrup would I need to make any adjustments?
Hey Emily,
I have never used that before, but I would go ahead and test it out! I hope you love the recipe. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This is the cutest cocktail! I was wondering if you could also let me know where your glass cups are from?? They are perfect!
Hi Nicole! These glasses are from Crate and Barrel! I will link below! xTieghan
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/harry-rocks-glass/s491810
These sound delicious!!!
Do you think they would be too sweet after a big Christmas Eve dinner? If so, I’ll pick one of your other delicious looking drinks! We are usually full after dinner so I’m just worried it might be too much?
Hi Meghan! It definitely is a heavier drink, but could be a great dessert if you wanted to do that! Otherwise, I would choose a lighter one if you will be full! xTieghan
This drink looks great! Haven’t tried it yet but hope to soon!
How did you do the candy cane top? Whip cream? If so, how do you get it covered with sugar and in
the glass without messing it up?!
Hi Sandy! I hope you love this when you get a chance to try it! With the candy cane, I put icing and sugar on the end and put the hook side in the cup! After I finished with whipped cream! Did this help at all? I hope so! Let me know! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
Merry Christmas!!! I have a couple of questions regarding this great looking drink: is it the regular ginger spice and is the chocolate sauce, chocolate syrup?
Thanks so much! I love all your recipes and enjoy receiving the recipes.
Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2020!
Hi Susan! yes, regular ground ginger and I use chocolate syrup. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
What is the garnish on top of whip cream on this gorgeous drink?!
Hi Marla, it’s a crumbled gingerbread cookie. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Hi, looking at this in 2019 and it looks amazing! Don’t know if you still answer comments but i’ll give it a shot anyways – could I replace the kahlua with Bailey’s instead? How would it be different? Thanks so much for the recipe!
Hey Sarah! You can use Bailey’s! It will be a little different, but still delicious I a sure 🙂 Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! xTieghan
Can you make the recipe in a blender rather than a shaker?
Hi! Yes, you can make in a blender! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
AMAZING DRINK! I can’t wait to serve it at our Christmas party!
Merry Christmas!!!
I hope everyone loves this! Thank you Alexandria!
If I want to make a huge batch for a party can I just add the heavy cream/milk along with everything else or would I omit it. I want something guests can just pour as is and not have to add anything else at the end to (I’m lazy lol)
Hey Lewis! Yes, you should be able to combine everything, including the heavy cream, and make a large batch. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
Just made this and it was delicious. I did not have Kalua so I used Kentucky Straight bourbon cream instead. Next time I’m going to whip the heavy cream then top it with a dallop!
Thank you, always love your recipes!
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you!
Looks delicious!! Can you tell me what the drink is rimmed with and what is on the candy cane?
HI! The drink is rimmed in sparkling sugar and the tip of the pole is a mini marshmallow with sparkling sugar sprinkled on top. Link to the sugar below! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan ?
https://rstyle.me/n/dczpsvb9wzf
Hi Teighan 🙂 I made your cocktail, here is my version, I used brandy instead of vodka and Kahlua and I switched the molasses to maple syrup, since that flows like water here in Quebec! 🙂 Thanks for the recipe. The next time I make it, I will try to decorate it like you did because yours looks fabulous! Also, I used 2% milk…this was NOT a slow-sipper lol…it begs for more! 🙂 Have a Merry Christmas!
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyNcA2dzsBc/WjbBil2J12I/AAAAAAABHYM/sOUzQaJJzHAIv-wiPiGyk8-v3pPxrq5zgCLcBGAs/s1600/20171217_132904.jpg
That is so great! I am really glad you enjoyed this Rain! Thank you!
Looks like a brown color along with the sugar around the brim of the glass…. what is used??
I see the answer in the question answered previously. Thanks!
Great! I hope you love this! Thanks Nancy!
I tried to make this and it was a disaster. Molasses and chocolate syrup get hard and stick to the side of the cocktail shaker when introduced to ice. Maybe it would work better in a blender?
So sorry for the trouble. I have never had this issue. Is your molasses extremely thick or pourable? Again, so sorry for the trouble. Also, yes, this would be great in the blender too. Please let me know if you have other questions. Thanks! 🙂