Pumpkin Spice White Russian
Our Pumpkin Spice White Russian is a twist on the traditional White Russian Cocktail. Bringing autumn flavors into this classic dessert cocktail, we used three simple ingredients to create a deliciously sweet, coffee flavored libation that provides the perfect boozy finish to any autumn meal. Our version of the White Russian takes it up a notch by frothing the creamer and garnishing with a cinnamon stick and a sprinkling of pumpkin spice.
Visit the Pimp Our Recipe section of this blog to find out how to make this a non-dairy beverage, or how to turn it into a spiked espresso cocktail. Want to know more about the history of the White Russian cocktail? Check out our Blog Comments & Tips for details.
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RECIPE
(Check out our Step by Step Instructions below the recipe card.)
Recipe updated as of 3/29/22
PUMPKIN SPICE WHITE RUSSIAN
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add Starbucks pumpkin spice creamer to a small narrow glass (about 4 - 5 ounce juice glass). Using an electric frother (see Note #1), froth the creamer until it doubles in size.
- Fill a double old-fashioned cocktail glass ¾ full with ice cubes. Add vodka and Kahlúa coffee liqueur, and stir to chill.
- Pour the frothed creamer very slowly over the ice cubes (use a spoon to add all the foam) to allow it to float on top of the vodka and Kahlúa mixture. Optional garnishes are a sprinkle of pumpkin spice and a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t have an electric frother, no worries. Just pour the creamer slowly over one of the ice cubes, and serve. The frothed creamer simply gives it a luxurious mouthfeel, but will not impact the flavor of this cocktail.
- This may seem like a subtle and sweet cocktail, but it packs a punch! Please drink responsibly.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
396.08Fat (grams)
3.20Sat. Fat (grams)
2.04Carbs (grams)
35.09Fiber (grams)
0.00Net carbs
34.39Sugar (grams)
35.09Protein (grams)
0.03Sodium (milligrams)
14.47Cholesterol (grams)
0.10Nutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods. Garnishes are not included in the nutritional calculations.
Step by Step Instructions
PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
STEP 1
Add 1 ounce Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Creamer to a small narrow glass (about 4 - 5 ounce juice glass). Using an electric frother (see Notes below), froth the creamer until it doubles in size.
Note: a) For the non-dairy version of this recipe, visit the Pimp Our Recipe section in our Blog below. b) If you don’t have an electric frother, no worries. Just skip this step and use un-frothed creamer in Step 3 instead. The frothed creamer simply gives it a luxurious mouthfeel, but will not impact the flavor of this cocktail.
STEP 2
Fill a double old-fashioned cocktail glass ¾ full with ice cubes. Add 2 ounces vodka (your favorite brand), and 1 ounce Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur, and stir to chill.
Note: We used this jigger for accurate measuring.
STEP 3
Pour the frothed creamer very slowly over the ice cubes (use a spoon to add all the foam) to allow it to float on top of the vodka and Kahlúa mixture. Optional garnishes are a sprinkle of pumpkin spice and a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately as is, or stir with the cinnamon stick, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
a) Serve stirred with un-frothed creamer and no garnish.
b) Serve unstirred with a cinnamon stick and sprinkle of pumpkin spice.
c) Serve lightly stirred with a cinnamon stick and sprinkle of pumpkin spice (this is our preferred method of serving).
Note:
This may seem like a subtle and sweet cocktail, but it packs a punch! Please drink responsibly.
Blog Comments & Tips
The Perfect Dessert Cocktail for Coffee Lovers!
Believe it or not, a Belgian barman actually created both the White Russian and Black Russian cocktails! In 1949, the barman, Gustave Tops, developed these sweet and boozy beverages in honor of the US Ambassador to Luxembourg. This drink inherited the “Russian name” because Russian vodka is the base ingredient in this drink. If you have ever seen the film The Big Lebowski, you know this was his favorite cocktail in the movie. Due to the film, White Russians gained significant popularity in the late 1900s.
I first enjoyed this Pumpkin Spice White Russian cocktail at one of our Halloween bashes a couple of years ago. We had a wonderful bartender who worked with me to create a few signature cocktails for our crazy Halloween Disco Costume Party. The evening was so much fun, and I’m pleased to say that everyone enjoyed all our signature cocktails. This one in particular, was a hit!
Although I prefer cocktails that are not sweet, this one is truly an exception. It replaces the need for a dessert at the end of the meal, and gives you that warm spiced flavor. The thing about dessert drinks is that they tend to leave your palate in a state of sugar shock. Although the ingredients we used do contain sugar, we didn’t add any extra. So, if you love coffee, like vodka cocktails, and feel the need for a dessert cocktail, this definitely fits the bill!
We played around with a few versions in the PMR Test Kitchens and came up with another for coffee lovers. Take a look at the Pimp Our Recipe section below for some ideas.
How do you ensure the best results from our recipe?
Our 4 tips to making a good Pumpkin Spice White Russian cocktail:
Use a good quality vodka, Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur, and Starbucks brand Pumpkin Spice Creamer (we are not being paid for these plugs). It’s really important to use the right ingredients, as they make a difference in the cocktail.
Work quickly when you pour in the vodka and Kahlua. You don’t want to dilute the drink with the ice before you serve the cocktail.
To give it that luxurious feel, froth the creamer. If you don’t have an electric frother, no worries. Just pour the un-frothed creamer slowly over the ice cubes to float it on top!
If you want to make it feel special, serve it with a cinnamon stick. It adds a bit of a spice kick to your cocktail, and it looks festive.
It’s time to customize and Pimp Our Recipe.
Pimp Our Recipe:
Make it Less Sweet: Instead of using 1 ounce of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Creamer, use ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) of the creamer instead. If you don’t mind it being a bit more boozy, then increase the vodka to 3 ounces, instead of 2 ounces. This will definitely make it stronger, but it will be less sweet (we should mention that you should drink responsibly).
Make it with Stronger Coffee Flavor: Make the cocktail as directed, but add 2 ounces of cold strong coffee (or espresso) with the vodka and Kahlúa in Step 2.
Make it Dairy Free: If you can find the Starbucks Non-Dairy Pumpkin Spice Creamer, then substitute the dairy Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Creamer with an equal amount (1 ounce) of non-dairy pumpkin spice creamer.
Make it for a Crowd: Simply increase the amounts by the number of guests. Then in a large glass pitcher, add the Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur and your favorite vodka, stir, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve. When serving, give your vodka mixture a stir, then line up your glasses, and fill them with ice. Pour the Kahlúa/vodka mixture into each glass, stir, and top off with Starbucks brand Pumpkin Spice Creamer, garnish, and serve!
Enjoy and let us know what you think by commenting below, rating our recipes, subscribing, following, and liking us on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube! Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates on new recipes and tips & tricks.
Santé!
Mich
Footnote: Remember to work quickly after you add the vodka and Kahlúa, so you don’t dilute the cocktail.
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