Homemade Candy Cane Infused Vodka makes a great gift as well as a staple peppermint vodka for wintertime cocktails. The Candy Cane Cocktail will be the hit of your winter entertaining too!
Pulling off a seasonal cocktail to WOW doesn’t have to be hard.
In fact you can infuse your own liquor to make it completely unique and special.
Candy Cane Peppermint Vodka is the first easy step. It’s easy and fun to make, and delicious to drink.
Candy Cane Cocktails are the star of holiday entertaining.
Complete with a candy cane rim to the cocktail glass, it will be the star of your holiday parties.
Candy Canes
Nothing screams ‘Christmas’ more than candy canes.
Dating back to the 1600’s, they were originally candy sticks fashioned into the shape of a shepherd’s crook, all white with no peppermint flavoring.
In the early 1900’s candy canes took on the familiar peppermint flavoring and stripes, though the historical reasons for that change remain a bit of a mystery.
Fast forward to today and we are iterating candy canes one more time: infusing them to make Peppermint Vodka.
It’s very easy recipe that’s perfect for gifts and winter cocktails.
Homemade Peppermint Vodka Made with Candy Canes
My first attempt at making a candy-infused vodka with candy corn. It sounds like it might be disgusting but it turned out fantastic.
It’s a buttery, orange vodka without the sickening sweetness normally found when eating candy corn.
Candy canes and vodka are a match made in liquor heaven.
Together they make a minty-fresh, light infused vodka without any heavy sugary flavor.
I personally think sugary cocktails are a ticket to the Hangover Express.
With this peppermint vodka it’s the Polar Express instead.
Candy Cane Vodka Ingredients
There are only three ingredients in this DIY peppermint vodka:
Vodka
Choose a plain, unflavored vodka for this infusion.
Vanilla Vodka
Adding the vanilla vodka gives a warm balance to the minty flavor. Purchased vanilla vodka can be used or you can infuse your own too!
Candy Canes
Be sure to select a peppermint flavored candy canes for the best results.
Supplies for Making Candy Cane Infused Peppermint Vodka
What Type of Candy Canes to Use for Candy Cane Vodka?
Our testing results say using classic red and white peppermint candy canes give the best flavor and color results.
See the Pro Tips below for more notes.
How to Make Candy Cane Peppermint Vodka – Step-by-Step
For a detailed printable recipe refer to the recipe card at the end of the blog post.
Making liquor infusions is very easy. This will take less than 5 minutes to put together.
STEP 1: Pour the vodkas into a jar.
STEP 2: Add broken up candy canes (the liquid should cover the candy canes).
STEP 3: Place in a cool, dark location for 3-4 days. Shake periodically to mix any candy sediment into the liquid.
STEP 4: When the vodka flavor is to your liking, strain through 2 layers of cheesecloth (removes any undissolved candy cane). Seal in a jar in a cool, dark location until using.
PRO TIPS for Making Candy Cane Infused Peppermint Vodka
A few tips before grabbing your Mason jar.
- The candy canes will dissolve in probably less than an hour. Allow the infusion sit undisturbed for about 4 days to let the flavors to fully develop.
- Also these beautiful, all natural, organic candy canes lost the gorgeous pink luster when infused leaving a dingy, wash-water hue vodka. I added a few drops of natural pink coloring from India Tree Dyes (all vegetable based dyes; available at Whole Foods Markets) to perk it up.
- If you use an artificially colored candy cane you will most likely find its color to remain in the infused vodka.
- Do not use green and red striped candy canes. They will create a dingy colored vodka.
CANDY CANE VODKA – PRINTABLE GIFT LABELS
Download a sheet of FREE printable Candy Cane Vodka gift labels! It’s a great way to turn this easy liquor infusion recipe into a surprise holiday gift.
Candy Cane Cocktail
Candy Cane peppermint vodka pairs perfectly with chocolate flavors for a candy cane martini you’ll love!
This drinks like a martini, not a liquored-up milkshake.
It’s fresh, with clean flavors, and no weighty presence like the beloved egg nog which coats your senses with a bit of a holiday film (I too have a festive recipe for Egg Nog but with the amount of spiking it bestows, it also is not heavy).
Candy Cane Cocktail Ingredients
This candy cane martini is a delicious peppermint-chocolate cocktail! Perfect for holiday sipping!
- Candy Cane Vodka
- Crème de Cacao, clear (no color)
- Angostura Bitters
- Candy Canes (to turn into cocktail glass rimming sugar)
NOTE: do not select non-clear Crème de Cacao or you’ll have a brown cocktail.
Candy Cane Rimming Sugar
It’s very easy to make your own rimming sugar for the cocktail glasses:
- Put candy canes into a blender or mini chopper.
- Process the candy canes until making a granulated sugar.
If you haven’t done it before, here is how to rim the cocktail glasses: How to Rim a Cocktail Glass.
Supplies for Candy Cane Cocktail
- Mini Chopper (to pulverize candy canes for the rim)
- Cocktail Glasses
More Infusions and Holiday Cocktails You’ll Love
- Sparkling Vodka Cranberry Punch
- Homemade Spiced Pear Vodka
- Homemade Coffee Liqueur (Kahlua)
- Homemade Crème de Menthe
- Cherry Bounce Recipe – An Easy Homemade Cordial Recipe
- Homemade Apple Spiced Vodka (with printable gift tags)
- Homemade Lemon-Infused Vodka
- DIY Pomegranate Lime Vodka & 17 Homemade Infusions and Liqueurs {DIY gift ideas}
Try These Recipes Too
- How to Make Simple Syrup: 8 Recipes and Suggested Uses
- How to Make Orgeat Syrup + How to Use It
- Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix (with printable gift tags)
- Chocolate Martini on Fire!
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Originally published: December 4, 2012
Suzy says
This is such a fun and festive drink to make! Saving this for our holiday parties!
Ohiogirl says
This looks awesome!
Fast question – if I don’t have vanilla vodka – could I just add some vanilla extract? Or will the brown make it muddy looking? I think you can buy clear imitation vanilla extract – maybe that? Has anyone tried this substitute?
Toni Dash says
I’ve only made it with homemade vanilla vodka. If you have a vanilla bean and vodka you can make it easily.
I do think regular vanilla would affect the color. If you are going to go to the trouble to buy clear vanilla extract I would suggest instead buying vanilla vodka, or a vanilla bean to make your own vanilla vodka and make the recipe as described for best results.
Laura says
So festive and fun!
Aimee Shugarman says
OMG this is the best holiday drink. Had to sample it before our party tonight…so good.
Kristyn says
What a great holiday drink, that everyone loves! I love the color!
Anna says
This cocktail is sure to put you in the holiday mood! Delicious and so festive!
Julie Blanner says
How fun and festive! This will be great for our holiday party. Can’t wait to try them.
April says
Oh, I am HERE for this recipe. Yum!
Lauren Kelly says
We made these last year for a friend’s holiday party and I can’t wait to make them again this year!
Maayke says
What a great idea! I love homemade gifts and I think my sister will love this.
Anita says
I’ve never thought of making my own flavored vodka. This one is so simple, and the taste indeed screams Christmas, which is a good thing. 🙂
Kelly Anthony says
Such a festive cocktail! Perfect for serving at any upcoming holiday party. I really like your idea of using vanilla vodka to give it that extra flavor.
Annissa says
What a fun idea! I’ve never tried infusing liquor before. A perfect start for a holiday party!
Rachael Yerkes says
love this so much!
Heidy L. McCallum says
This sounds like my kind of drink and after the day I am having it would be welcomed in a nice large pitcher. I bet this would be perfect for the holidays too. Putting on my list of new recipes to test out.
Matt says
Very cool looking drink! So clever as well. I don’t drink alcohol myself, but I have friends that do, they will love this! Thanks!
lisa says
what a fun beverage for Christmas time! thanks for sharing
Iziar says
will you marry me?
Toni Dash says
LOL.
Adam says
Just started this recipe. Important tip: do NOT use candy canes that have both red and green stripes. The result is muddy grey vodka.
Oops. I should have thought of this, but it just didn’t cross my mind.
Toni Dash says
Oh no! Fortunately it is a quick infusion so hopefully you can start again without losing too much time. I’ll note this in the recipe for others who try it. Thanks Adam!
Lynda S. says
So tasty even when it’s not Christmas time. Love the peppermint thanks for sharing!
Classique Elite Series says
Hi, I love how your recipes are all put together and they look so tasty! 😀
[email protected] says
This looks totally fun! I rarely use vodka in drinks, but this looks so super! And I don’t think infusing gin with candy canes would work all that well. 😉 Really excellent drink – thanks.
Toni Dash says
It’s definitely of the ‘novelty’ variety of infusing but a girl has to give in to holiday temptation every now and again. I really liked the result too. Heavily sweet drinks are not my thing. This is very fresh!
Brooks at Cakewalker says
My word, you are the Merry Mixologist! Spot on, my friend.
Toni Dash says
I’ll bear the title with aplomb Brooks! This was fun and loved the way it turned out!
Dave says
Now this is a recipie I can relate to! Keep up the great research!
Toni Dash says
Glad you liked it Dave! Easy, fun and festive.
Meeling says
Love the finished color and the sound of the cocktail. You are going to turn my pantry into a regular distillery with all your tempting concoctions!! 😉
Toni Dash says
I too loved the finished color! AND that the contents are natural. It’s always a gamble to me to try infusing something like this but really loved the fresh result. My pantry is overflowing with Mason jars Meeling; it’s a danger of curiosity I suppose!