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Ditch the eggnog and try something new this holiday season! This festive Irish Cream Peppermint Cocktail is a delicious twist on traditional Christmas drinks. Rich Irish cream meets cooling peppermint liqueur and smooth vodka for a delightful and festive cocktail that is sure to whip up holiday cheer! 

Straight on shot of a Peppermint Holiday Hustler Cocktail garnished with a fresh mint sprig with crushed candy canes surrounding the cocktail glass; there are jar of candy canes and an additional cocktail blurred in the background.

Update: This recipe was originally published in December 2015. I made edits to the article below to include more information about this peppermint drink.  

Happy Christmas Eve’s Eve, friends! I’m hoping most of you have your holiday food menu planned out, so I thought it would be a great idea to share a fabulous cocktail perfect for Christmas or Christmas Eve – peppermint cocktails with baileys Irish cream!

Angled shot of a Peppermint Holiday Hustler Cocktail garnished with a fresh mint sprig with crushed candy canes surrounding the cocktail glass; there are jar of cranberries and silver acorns blurred in the background and an additional cocktail in the foreground.

Table of Contents

About these peppermint cocktails

Ya’ll this libation is deliciously legit. It is the perfect nightcap as you kickback and enjoy the company of your loved ones, after you have devoured your holiday meal.

This holiday hustler is creamy, smooth, peppermin-tastic, and has the consistency of a thin milkshake.

It tastes exactly like the inside of an Andy’s mint or like a boozy version of a Shamrock Shake.

Not only is this peppermint drink a party for the taste buds, it also is festively fun and gorgeous. Just look at that minty green color!

#SlurpFest.

If you want to get really Christmas-y with it, I suggest adding a candy cane to the glass as a stirrer. And if you really want to indulge, a little whipped cream on top never hurt anybody. 😉

Why you’ll love this cocktail recipe

If the idea of a boozy shamrock shake gets you excited, this peppermint holiday cocktail is about to blow your mind! Here’s why you’ll love these Baileys christmas drinks:

  • Delicious twist. Ditch the Christmas eggnog for this holiday peppermint drink instead! It’s rich and creamy with ample peppermint flavor and a kick of smooth boozy delight. 
  • Holiday cheer. Instantly add a pop of festive cheer and color to your holiday parties with this peppermint green minty cocktail.
  • Minimal ingredients. You only need 5 ingredients and a blender to make this exciting peppermint Christmas drink.
  • Easily doubled. While this recipe makes a single serving, you can easily double it or make as many of these Baileys Irish Cream holiday drinks as you need. 
Angled, up-close overhead shot of a Peppermint Holiday Hustler Cocktail garnished with a fresh mint sprig with crushed candy canes surrounding the cocktail glass.

Ingredients in Irish cream Christmas drinks

These gorgeous Irish Cream christmas drinks are so easy to make and will create a lasting impression on your party guests. Here’s everything you need:

  • Peppermint Baileys Irish Cream – This peppermint-infused Irish Cream is what gives these holiday drinks their minty flavor. Substitution: Use regular Bailey’s Irish Cream instead and add peppermint extract or peppermint schnapps. 
  • Green Creme de Menthe – This is what gives these Irish Cream Christmas drinks their peppermint-green color. Substitution: Use green-colored Creme de Menthe syrup instead, NOT the colorless syrup. 
  • Chocolate hazelnut vodka – Use vanilla vodka instead if you can’t find chocolate hazelnut vodka. 
  • Almond milk – I use original plain-flavored almond milk. Substitution: Use regular milk instead, or half-and half or heavy cream for added indulgence! 
  • Mint – A mint sprig for garnish is an easy way to add a touch of flare to these Irish cream Christmas drinks. 

Recipe variations

  • Irish Cream liqueur. Use regular Bailey’s Irish Cream with 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract or peppermint schnapps if you can’t find Peppermint Baileys Irish Cream. 
  • Creme de Menthe. Use a green colored Crème de menthe syrup instead of the green Creme de Menthe liqueur, if you prefer. Either way, you need one of these options to add that beautiful green color to your Baileys Xmas drink. 
  • Presentation. Rim each glass with melted white chocolate and crushed candy canes for Christmas or peppermint-flavored green sanding sugar for St Patrick’s day! Top each glass with whipped cream and a candy cane as a stirrer if you want to make a serious impression!
Angled overhead shot of a Peppermint Holiday Hustler Cocktail garnished with a fresh mint sprig with crushed candy canes surrounding the cocktail glass and an additional cocktail tucked in the upper right corner of the frame.

How to make baileys christmas cocktail

Tips for the best peppermint Christmas drink

  1. If you can’t find Peppermint Irish Cream, you can substitute plain Irish Cream and add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.
  2. Crème de menthe is a sweet, mint flavored liqueur, and it’s what gives this cocktail it’s minty green color, so I do not advise you skip it. However, there are Crème de menthe syrups that you can substitute if you would like, just make sure you are using the green colored variety and NOT the colorless syrup!
  3. Milk: You can use regular milk or your favorite milk substitute in this recipe. I typically use Original (plain flavor) Almond milk to make this peppermint holiday cocktail. If you’re looking for a rich and indulgent Christmas drink, I recommend using half-and-half or heavy cream.

FAQs: frequently asked questions

Below you’ll find the most common questions and answers about making these cocktails with peppermint. If you have a question you’d like answered, please drop it in the comments section below!

What kind of Irish Cream should I use?

The Irish cream Christmas drinks recipe specifically calls for peppermint Baileys Irish Cream. This brand already includes peppermint flavoring, so you don’t need additional peppermint extract or schnapps. However, if you can’t find peppermint Baileys, you can use regular Baileys Irish Cream and add a touch of green Creme de Menthe for a similar flavor.

How much Green Creme de Menthe should I use if I’m not using peppermint Baileys?

Start with a small amount, around ¼ teaspoon, and add more to taste. Remember, Creme de Menthe is quite potent, so a little goes a long way.

Can I substitute the Creme de Menthe with something else?

While Creme de Menthe provides the classic minty taste, here are some alternatives:

  • Peppermint extract: Use a very tiny amount (around 1-2 drops) due to its concentrated nature.
  • Crushed candy canes: Muddle a few candy canes in the glass before adding other ingredients for a subtle peppermint flavor and a festive touch.

What kind of garnish should I use?

You can garnish this Christmas peppermint cocktail any way your heart desires. A candy cane, mint sprig, chocolate shavings, or whipped cream with a cocoa powder sprinkle all complement the drink.

Tip: For a beautiful presentation, rim the glass with crushed candy canes before pouring the drink. This adds a festive touch and a delightful textural contrast to this creamy baileys Christmas cocktail.

Can I make this drink non-alcoholic?

Unfortunately, due to the use of Irish Cream and Creme de Menthe, this specific recipe isn’t easily adaptable to a non-alcoholic version. However, you might explore other festive mocktail recipes featuring peppermint flavors.

Straight on, up-close shot of the top of a Peppermint Holiday Hustler Cocktail garnished with a fresh mint sprig.

Serving peppermint christmas cocktails

Rich and creamy, this indulgent holiday cocktail pairs best with deserts. Below are some of my favorite pairing options to inspire:

Storing christmas cocktails with peppermint

It’s best to prepare this Irish Cream Holiday Cocktail just before serving.

However, you can pre-mix the cocktail ingredients together – just exclude the ice – and store the drink in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. Be sure to thoroughly shake the ingredients together and add ice just before serving.

Straight on shot of a Peppermint Holiday Hustler Cocktail garnished with a fresh mint sprig with crushed candy canes surrounding the cocktail glass; there are jar of candy canes, jar of cranberries and an additional cocktail blurred in the background.

This cocktail is a fabulous alternative if you are sick and tired of eggnog, or if you are like me and detest eggnog. I urge you to add this Peppermint Holiday Cocktail to the desert portion of your Holiday evening, I pinkie promise you are going to gulp it up!

Until next time, Cheers and warmest wishes for a very Merry Christmas, friends!

Cheyanne

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The best Peppermint Holiday Cocktail recipe and step-by-step video👇

Straight on, landscape shot of a Peppermint Holiday Hustler Cocktail garnished with a fresh mint sprig with crushed candy canes surrounding the cocktail glass; there are jar of candy canes and an additional cocktail blurred in the background.

Peppermint Holiday Cocktail

4.88 from 8 votes
Author: Cheyanne Holzworth
Total Time: 5 minutes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
This Holiday Hustler Cocktail is smooth, creamy and tastes exactly like the inside of an Andy’s mint. It’s gorgeous color makes it perfect to serve to the adults at your Christmas gathering! 

Ingredients 

  • 2 ounces Saint Brendan’s Peppermint Bark Irish Cream
  • 1 ounce Green Crème de Menthe
  • ½ ounce Chocolate Hazelnut Vodka
  • 3 ounces Original Almond Milk
  • 1 cup Ice
  • Mint Sprig for garnish

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Pour into desired glass and garnish with mint sprig.
  • Optional – top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.

Video

Notes

*Yield: Roughly 1 1/2 Cups
  1. If you can’t find Peppermint Irish Cream, you can substitute plain Irish Cream and add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.
  2. The Crème de menthe is a sweet, mint flavored liqueur, and it’s what gives this cocktail it’s minty green color, so I do not advise you skip it!  However, there are Crème de menthe syrups that you can substitute if you would like, just make sure you are using the green colored variety and NOT the colorless syrup!
  3. While I used Original (plain flavored) Almond Milk in my cocktail, you can absolutely use regular milk.  Or, if you are looking for an even more indulgent, rich drink, you can use half-and-half!
 

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal    Carbohydrates: 26g    Protein: 2g    Fat: 8g    Saturated Fat: 4g    Sodium: 112mg    Sugar: 23g    Calcium: 102mg
Course: Cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine: American

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*Recipe adapted from Saint Brendan’s.

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