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Pumpkin Spice White Russian

Are you looking for a delicious Thanksgiving cocktail? Look no further than the pumpkin spice white Russian! This tasty twist on the classic white Russian will surely be a hit with your friends and family this holiday season. It’s easy to make, uses all of the cozy flavors of fall, and will make your celebration special.

Creamy white Russian in the wider glass in front of the bubble glass with small pumpkins
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

I have always been partial to white Russian cocktails. They remind me of my youth and the holidays. In my family, white Russians were always a must-imbibe on Thanksgiving. Drinking them is like drinking potent, melted mocha milkshakes.

If only they sold pumpkin-flavored liqueur back then! I would have chugged down pumpkin spice white Russians like a champ, even more than I used to chug down the classic white Russians because I LOVE pumpkin.

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The melding of the Kahlúa, vanilla vodka, pumpkin, and half & half is so delicious you’ll have to remind yourself that it is not a creamy melted milkshake but a potent cocktail! So sip, don’t chug. Don’t be like Young Lainey and chug like a champ.

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Helpful tips

  • I love my double old-fashioned glasses, but you can also use rocks glasses if you prefer.
  • You don’t have to use half & half for this cocktail. It does make it ‘richer,’ but if you want to cut some calories, you can substitute it with milk.
  • If you don’t care about calories, then light cream is also delicious and rich. I wouldn’t use heavy cream though. That would be too rich.
  • If you don’t have vanilla vodka, you can use either regular vodka or caramel vodka, if you have it.
  • There are a few pumpkin-flavored liqueurs out there. Use what you can find. You don’t have to get the brand pictured below.
  • Just for fun, I mixed the cocktails two ways: in a glass and in a cocktail shaker. Either way is fine. I prefer the cocktail shaker but if you want to build yours in a glass, you’ll just have to mix the pumpkin spice white Russian with a spoon to meld the flavors together.
  • You can garnish this cocktail in a few different ways. I choose to mix equal parts of sugar and cinnamon on a small plate. Then I dip a little simple syrup on my finger and rub it around the rim of the two glasses. Next, I roll the rim in the cinnamon sugar, shake it off, and place the glasses upright. You can also use pumpkin pie spice instead of sugar and cinnamon.
  • Or you can stick a cinnamon stick in each glass.
  • If you are going to build the white Russian directly in the glass, be careful not to pour each ingredient over the cinnamon-sugared rims.

I decided to build one of these fall cocktails in the glass and the other in a cocktail shaker, but you can craft them however you prefer.

two glasses filled with a creamy cocktail with small pumpkins in the back
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

How to make a pumpkin spice white Russian

Pre-step

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Gather two garnished double old fashioned glasses (see helpful tips above) and measuring glass.

After measuring each ingredient, pour it into the shaker (or glass, if you want to build the cocktail that way.)

Step one

Gather the ingredients – pumpkin liqueur, vanilla vodka, a coffee liqueur like Kahlúa, and half & half.

Pumpkin spice liquor, Kahlua, vanilla vodka and cream on a table
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step two

Measure 4 ounces of pumpkin liqueur – 2 ounces per cocktail.

Step three

Measure 4 ounces of vanilla vodka – 2 ounces per cocktail.

Pumpkin pie liquor and vodka measured out
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step four

Measure 3 ounces of Kahlua – 1 1/2 per cocktail.

Step five

Measure 2 ounces of half & half – 1 ounce per cocktail.

Kahlua and cream measured out
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Step six

Add fresh ice to the glasses.

Place the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain, pour, and divide the liquid between the two glasses.

Let’s look at that back glass in a vertical view. The cocktail looks glorious in it. I love the bubble in the base of the glass.

I bought this glass at Crate & Barrel.

Vertical view of the white Russian in the shorter glass in front of the bubble glass
Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

Yum. Remember to sip and not chug! 🙂

I hope you enjoyed this pumpkin spice white Russian cocktail recipe. It’s so yummy.

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Square photo of the pumpkin spice white Russian

Pumpkin Spice White Russian

This pumpkin spice white Russian recipe is wonderful around the holidays. The vanilla vodka, Kahlúa and half and half really complements the light pumpkin taste and makes it a fun and delicious sipping cocktail.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pumpkin spice, pumpkin spice white Russian, white Russian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2 Cocktails
Calories: 340kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces Pumpkin Liqueur (any brand)
  • 4 ounces vanilla vodka (or caramel vodka)
  • 3 ounces Kahlúa
  • 2 ounces half & half (or milk for fewer calories)

Garnish

  • cinnamon
  • sugar

Instructions

  • Mix together a small amount of cinnamon and sugar. Wet the rim of the glasses with a small amount of simple syrup. Roll the rims of both glasses in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Shake glass and place upright.
    cinnamon, sugar
  • Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice
  • Add pumpkin liqueur, vodka, Kahlúa and half & half
    4 ounces Pumpkin Liqueur, 4 ounces vanilla vodka, 3 ounces Kahlúa, 2 ounces half & half
  • Cap shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain and divide liquid between the two glasses being careful not the touch the sugared rims
  • Sip
  • Smile
  • Enjoy
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Notes

Helpful Tips
    • I love my double old-fashioned glasses, but you can also use rocks glasses if you prefer.
    • You don’t have to use half & half for this cocktail. It does make it ‘richer,’ but if you want to cut some calories, you can substitute it with milk.
    • If you don’t care about calories, then light cream is also delicious and rich. I wouldn’t use heavy cream though. That would be too rich.
    • If you don’t have vanilla vodka, you can use either regular vodka or caramel vodka, if you have it.
    • There are a few pumpkin-flavored liqueurs out there. Use what you can find. You don’t have to get the brand pictured below.
    • Just for fun, I mixed the cocktails two ways: in a glass and in a cocktail shaker. Either way is fine. I prefer the cocktail shaker but if you want to build yours in a glass, you’ll just have to mix the pumpkin spice white Russian with a spoon to meld the flavors together.
    • You can garnish this cocktail in a few different ways. I choose to mix equal parts of sugar and cinnamon on a small plate. Then I dip a little simple syrup on my finger and rub it around the rim of the two glasses. Next, I roll the rim in the cinnamon sugar, shake it off, and place the glasses upright. You can also use pumpkin pie spice instead of sugar and cinnamon.
    • Or you can stick a cinnamon stick in each glass.
    • If you are going to build the white Russian directly in the glass, be careful not to pour each ingredient over the cinnamon-sugared rims.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 39.38g | Protein: 0.94g | Fat: 3.56g | Saturated Fat: 2.13g | Cholesterol: 10.49mg | Sodium: 20.13mg | Potassium: 36.85mg | Sugar: 38.2g | Vitamin A: 100.36IU | Calcium: 29.77mg
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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.

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12 Comments

  1. I had NO idea there was such a thing as pumpkin liqueur – guess what I’m off to go get so I can make this festive cocktail!!! Can’t wait!

  2. This is the MOST amazing cocktail for fall and our Thanksgiving family gathering! Sipping on this delicious concoction is the only way I can get through the party! LOL

    1. Haha! Thanks Jessica. It certainly used to help me get through the ones when I was a lot younger! 🙂 And even now! 😉

  3. this.looks.so.good!!! I love Kahlua and with the pumpkin spice must be divine! can’t wait to try! (q- where do you get your photography backgrounds?? I love the black!)

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