Chocolate Candy Cane Martini
This chocolate candy cane martini recipe is sweet, festive and a great sipping cocktail. If you love mint cocktails, you are going to love this one. Impress your guests by serving this at your next holiday party.

I’m not a huge fan of peppermint schnapps, as I imbibed too much of it one fateful night in college. But over time, I’ve come to appreciate adding this minty alcohol in cocktails with other ingredients instead of drinking it straight like I did way back then.
The mixture of the chocolate taste of the creme de cacao and the vanilla vodka meld perfectly with the peppermint schnapps.
Want an even mintier taste? Add the optional candy cane as garnish to the cocktail. My advice is to sip it first without the candy addition to see if you’d enjoy having a minty taste or like it just the way it is. 🙂
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How to make a candy cane martini
Pre-pre-step
For the garnish, Crush 1 – 2 candy canes with either the back of a big spoon or with a mortar and pestle.
Place the pieces in a dish and wet the outside of the rim of a martini glass with simple syrup.
Place the martini glass in the crushed candy canes. Shake of the extra candy and place the glass in the freezer.
Pre-step
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Get a measuring glass and glassware.
After measuring out the ingredients, pour into the shaker.
Step one
Get the ingredients – vanilla vodka, creme de cacao, and the dreaded peppermint schnapps. (A)
Step two
Measure 3 ounces of vanilla vodka. (B)
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Step three
Measure out 1 1/2 ounces of creme de cacao. (C)
Step four
Measure out 1 ounce of peppermint schnapps. (D)

Step five
Take the martini glass out of the freezer.
Step six
Cap the shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain the liquid in the frosty glass. Be careful not to touch the candied rim with the liquid.

Look at how cloudy it is. That’s from the microchips of ice you create when you shake the cocktail.

I lift it and take a sip. This holiday cocktail is good.
I hope you enjoyed this candy cane martini recipe.
Other holiday drinks
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
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Holiday Chocolate Candy Cane Martini
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- 1 1/2 ounces creme de cacao
- 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
Garnish
- 1 small candy cane (crushed and put on a small plate to rim the glass)
- 2 small candy canes (this is optional – placing them in the cocktail will make the minty taste more intense. Taste it without or hang them on the rim to taste the cocktail as is.)
Instructions
- Wet your finger with simple syrup and rub it on the glass rim inside and out. Roll it into the crushed candy canes so it completely covers the rim.1 small candy cane
- Place martini glass in the freezer.
- Get cocktail shaker and fill it half way with ice.
- Add vanilla vodka, creme de cacao and peppermint schnapps.2 ounces vanilla vodka, 1 1/2 ounces creme de cacao, 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
- Cap the cocktail shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Get the glass out of the freezer and strain the liquid into the glass. Hang the candy cane on the rim of the glass or add to the drink2 small candy canes
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
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Notes
Helpful tips
Want an even mintier taste, add the optional candy cane as garnish in the cocktail. My advice is to sip it first without the candy addition so you can see if you’d enjoy having more of a minty taste or like it just the way it is.Nutrition
From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.









If you REALLY want to impress, wet your glasses inside and out, dip in the crushed candy canes and place in the freezer until ready. Guaranteed wow factor. I do this for ‘ritas. The frost is gorgeous. Merry Merry Happy Happy.
Awesome tip. I did wet it in and out, but didn’t place it in the freezer. I can’t wait to try it.
Put them upside down in the freezer — that way when you pull them out, you won’t disturb the frost on the bowl of the glass. Might as well go for glam when it doesn’t cost anything, huh???
Absolutely!!! 😉
Great flavours and a fun drink!
Thank you Sasha!
Oh, Elaine!! This cocktail is amazing!! Yum!
Thanks Beth.
This was delightful! It’s all my favorite holiday flavors in one glass! Yum!
Thanks Rebecca!!
Potent cocktail, this one! But great for relaxing during the holiday rush. Cheers!
Thanks so much, Christopher!