Peppermint Espresso Martini.

A festive twist on the classic espresso martini. Made with homemade peppermint syrup, vodka, Kahlúa, and freshly brewed espresso, this cocktail is smooth, rich, and subtly minty — just enough peppermint without overpowering the coffee. The perfect treat to cap off a holiday evening.

Finally… a Christmas cocktail! This year, I broke our usual holiday cocktail tradition. I wanted so badly to keep up with Christmas Cocktail Saturday, but it just wasn’t in the cards this year. I’ll try again next year!

With Christmas just a few nights away, I figured there was still time to share at least one fun and festive holiday drink.

Meet the Peppermint Espresso Martini — inspired by the new Merry Mint Mocha candle and the same cocktail I served at our holiday cookie swap!

Here are the details

The Ingredients 

• honey
• fresh mint leaves
• crushed candy canes
• Vodka
• Kahlua
• Espresso

What you’ll need:

You’ll need a small saucepan to make the mint syrup, plus a cocktail shaker, some ice, and your fanciest martini glass — best served in a chilled cocktail or martini glass.

The Steps

Step 1: Make the Peppermint Syrup

Simmer the honey or granulated sugar with water until dissolved. Add the fresh mint leaves, then remove from the heat and let the mint steep, infusing the syrup with a light peppermint flavor.

Strain out the mint and let the syrup cool completely. This recipe makes enough syrup for about six cocktails.

Step 2: Rim the Glass

Dip the rim of your martini glass into the peppermint syrup, then invert it into crushed candy canes to coat the edge.

Tip: Rim your glasses ahead of time and freeze them until ready to use.
Pro tip: A chilled glass is key when making an espresso martini — it keeps the drink cold and helps preserve that frothy top.

Step 3: Make the Martini

Add the peppermint syrup, vodka, Kahlúa, and a shot of freshly brewed espresso to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously.

You’ll end up with a smooth, lightly sweet martini with just the right balance of espresso and subtle hints of mint. Simple to mix, but so delicious.

The Key to the Perfect Espresso Martini

That signature frothy top is everything. While it might seem tricky, it’s actually very easy to achieve. Shake the cocktail vigorously with ice for a full minute — the harder you shake, the more froth you’ll get.

Once shaken, strain through a fine-mesh strainer, holding back the ice, and pour into your chilled martini glass.

It’s incredibly simple to make, yet feels extra special — exactly the kind of cocktail I want on a holiday night. Cue the Christmas playlist.

Enjoy!

Looking for other easy after-dinner holiday drinks? Here are my favorites: 

Vanilla Espresso Martini

Spicy Pomegranate Moscow Mule

Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned

Spiced Cranberry Rosé Spritzers

Lastly, if you make this Peppermint Espresso Martini, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!