This Pumpkin White Russian recipe is perfect for the colder seasons. With pumpkin spice being among the most popular flavorings in autumnal drinks, this cocktail is the perfect crowd-pleaser.
It's sweet, rich, cozy, and suitable for both the next Thanksgiving dinner and the upcoming Halloween party. For the latter, you can give it a clever, themed twist.
Ingredients of the Pumpkin White Russian
The White Russian itself is already a variation of the popular Black Russian cocktail, made with Vodka and coffee liqueur.
Apart from the heavy cream required to make a traditional White Russian, this recipe calls for pumpkin spiced syrup to turn the drink into a Pumpkin White Russian.
Vodka and coffee liqueur
A solid mid-shelf Vodka, like the bestsellers from Absolut or Belvedere, is ideal for the Pumpkin White Russian. They are excellent value for money and have a perfect, crisp, and neutral taste.
For the coffee liqueur, you can opt for the standard choice of Kahlúa. Alternatively, you can try the Spanish version, Tia Maria. Both products are fantastic in cocktails, with Tia Maria being a little less sweet and rich.
Especially combined with the sweetness of the syrup, the lower sweetness level and the thinner consistency of Tia Maria create a slightly better balance.
Pumpkin-spiced syrup
Contrary to what many think, pumpkin spice does not actually contain pumpkin. Instead, it is a spice mix that works particularly well when combined with pumpkin.
It usually contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves and is used in pumpkin cakes and other baking goods, mainly in North America.
You can buy pumpkin-spiced syrup from renowned brands like Monin, or you can make your own.
For the homemade version, you need water, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, cloves, and pumpkin pie spice.
The Cream
For a perfectly smooth Pumpkin White Russian, you need the richness of heavy cream. It might be tempting to aim for a lower calorie version and use, for instance, half n half. But that spoils the cocktail.
Cream Cocktails are generally not suited well if you want to reduce calories. So, if you're on a diet, check out these low-calory cocktails instead.
Halloween Pumpkin White Russian
If you want to give your Pumpkin White Russian a Halloween-themed look, you can foam up the heavy cream. Don't turn it into whipped cream, though.
On top of the frothy texture, you can create some pumpkin faces with the help of pumpkin spice and a stencil. For detailed instructions, check out this article with our favorite Halloween cocktails.
More Fall Cocktails
If you want to try some more of our favorites, you can head to this list of the best fall cocktails.
It includes classics like the Boston Sour and the French Connection and festive autumnal creations like Pear and Ginger Punch or the Apple Cider Mimosa.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- ¼ oz pumpkin spice syrup
- 1 oz heavy cream
Instructions
- Add Vodka, coffee liqueur, and pumpkin spice syrup into a mixer with plenty of ice and shake until the shaker feels chilled.2 oz Vodka, 1 oz coffee liqueur, ¼ oz pumpkin spice syrup
- Strain over ice into your cocktail glass and add the heavy cream.1 oz heavy cream