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If you love a classic White Russian, this version adds a fluffy, coffee-forward twist. Homemade “whipped” coffee for café style, mixed with the classic White Russian ingredients of vodka, Kahlúa, and milk. Make it for holiday nights, after-dinner cocktails, or anytime you want something creamy, cold, and just a little bit fun.
Why You’ll love this recipe
- Classic creamy cocktail, but lighter in feel thanks to airy whipped coffee.
- Simple ingredients you probably have on hand; no special equipment beyond a whisk or mixer.
Ingredient Notes
- Instant coffee or espresso powder: Use instant (not ground coffee) so it whips properly. Superfine sugar whips faster; brown sugar adds a little molasses note.
- Vodka + coffee liqueur: Neutral vodka keeps coffee flavors upfront and coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa) adds sweetness.
- Cream or milk: Half-and-half or heavy cream for classic richness; oat or coconut milk for dairy-free (oat: barista-style foam, coconut: thicker/creamier).
Recipe Inspiration
Well, I finally caved and made the whipped coffee that I’ve seen pretty much everywhere around the internet. I hesitated for quite a while, but once I had this recipe concept for a whipped coffee cocktail, I knew I had to try it.
So I did, and you know something? It’s so easy and actually pretty darn fun.
If you somehow haven’t yet seen the “whipped coffee” I’m talking about, you can read more about it here. It’s so simple. You just take hot water, instant coffee, and a touch of sugar and whip the three ingredients together until it looks similar to whipped cream. It’s served over ice milk and is currently the coffee drink everyone is talking about. I know it seems odd, and trust me, it is odd, but sometimes odd things work…and this works.
The truth is, I actually enjoy instant coffee a lot. It’s how I first started drinking (and loving) coffee a few years back. I’ve since upgraded my method of brewing coffee (hello to my beloved Breville espresso machine), but every now and then a cup of instant coffee is still enjoyed.
Soo, long story short, I had this idea to top a classic White Russian with whipped coffee. I hesitated at first, but then I just went with it…and here we are today.
The Details
Whip the coffee: Just whip hot water with instant coffee powder and a touch of honey or sugar until glossy, thick peaks hold their shape. If it’s not thickening, double-check you’re using instant coffee and keep whisking; chill the bowl if your kitchen is warm. I was kind of shocked this worked, but trust me, it does. It’s creamy, light, and extra fluffy.
Build the drink: Add ice to a rocks glass, pour a good splash of vodka and coffee liqueur, then cream and a little vanilla too. Pour over some milk, stir, then dollop on the whipped coffee and let it slowly sink into the cocktail. Stir again to marble.
Sweetness control: Taste and adjust—use less whipped coffee for a stronger, less sweet sip; more for a dessert-like finish.
And that’s it. Enjoy your frothy, Whipped Coffee White Russian.
Variations and Swaps
- Decaf: Use decaf instant coffee for the whip; base stays the same.
- Dairy-free: Swap dairy for creamy oat milk or canned coconut milk; still deliciously frothy.
- Mocha twist: Whisk in a little cocoa with the coffee whip for chocolate notes.
- Spiced: A pinch of cinnamon or cardamom complements the coffee and cream.
- Lighter option: Use milk over cream; the drink will be thinner and less rich.
My recommendation? This drink may be a bit over the top, but hey, it’s Saturday and we’re living life from home…anything goes. Soooo, let’s just make a fun White Russian and have a great Saturday night!
Can I use brewed coffee or cold brew instead of instant?
You’ll need instant coffee to create the fluffy whip. If you love cold brew, keep it in the base (in place of part of the cream) and still whip the coffee with instant for the topper.
How can I make this dairy-free?
Use a creamy non-dairy milk (oat is great for body, use coconut for extra richness). The coffee whip stays the same.
Can I make it less sweet?
Yes! Use a lighter hand with the whipped coffee and/or choose a less-sweet coffee liqueur. You can also add a splash more cream or milk to soften the sweetness.
My whipped coffee deflated—what now?
Chill it for a few minutes and whisk again to bring back volume. If it’s still soft, it’ll taste great! Just spoon it on and give the drink a stir.
But, just in case this isn’t your thing, here are a few other recent Cocktail Saturday drinks:
Lastly, if you make this frothy Whipped Coffee White Russian, 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!
Frothy Whipped Coffee White Russian
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 372 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon hot water
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
- 1 tablespoon honey or granulated sugar (see note)
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka
- 1 – 1 1/2 ounces (2-3 tablespoons) Kahlua
- 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) whole milk or nut milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. Combine the hot water, instant coffee, and honey in a bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip until fluffy and light, 2-3 minutes. Alternately, you can do this with a hand frother too. 2. Fill a glass with ice. Add the vodka, Kahlua, and a splash of vanilla. Stir. Pour the milk over and stir to combine. Spoon the whipped coffee overtop. Gently stir and enjoy!
Notes
Sweeteners: I love the flavor of honey and it works well, but sugar does whip up prettier and smoother.
If you love a lot of Whipped Coffee on Top: use 2 tablespoons instant coffee, 2 tablespoons hot water, and 1-2 tablespoons sugar.
This post was originally published on April 18, 2020
SUCH a delish take on a white Russian, Tieghan! You’ve made such a big difference in my family’s life during quarantine with your spectacular creativity! I made one batch of this drink for my family and I with Kahlua and ran out, so improvised with my second batch and used Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur) instead. Amazing. I’d recommend trying with Frangelico next time!
Honestly might just have to whip up some instant coffee to have on my booze-less latte in the morning!
Yes love that! I am really glad you enjoyed this recipe, Anne! xTieghan
Hi there! I look at your recipes all the time and have made a few of your drinks. This one looks sooo good and I am planning on making it today. Did you just put cold brew at the bottom of the glass?
Hey April,
All of the ingredients and instructions are listed above, I did not use cold brew:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this with vanilla almond milk (unsweetened), sugar and left out the vanilla. My husband said it was the best drink I’ve ever made. A nice treat as we prepare to celebrate an August Christmas my 14 year old is planning to give us joy and hope amongst fires and a pandemic! Thank you for adding to our joy!
Aw that is super amazing to hear, Jenny! Thank you so much for trying this!! xTieghan
Yum! We ended up using coffee liqueur instead of kahlua and hot brewed coffee from this morning instead of hot water to mix in with the coffee powder. Really good!!!
Thank you so much Lianna!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Where are those glasses from? Love love love
Hey Ana,
Here is the link for the glasses!
https://rstyle.me/+TEl1-SMGu6GPj1MtZRvrww
xTieghan
This was so good and easy to make! I was already obsessed with the whipped coffee over milk for months now but never would’ve thought to put it over a cocktail! Thank you Tieghan for this outside the box yummy concoction
Thank you so much Carmen! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Very good, thx for sharing with us..
Thank you! I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Juliana! xTieghan
Wow your photography is incredible!! Breathtaking ? have you had training in taking pictures? Courses etc..? I’d love to know as you seem to present all your recipes so well !
Hi Lilly! You are so kind! I have not taken any courses in photography… I really just learned by taking a lot of photos and playing around with the settings haha. xTieghan
This drink is amazing! We have made it many times and LOVE it!! Thanks for sharing!!
🙂 Tina
Thank you Tina! xTieghan
Hey, I have another thought on this recipe. Instead of instant coffee, try white coffee. White coffee has almost twice the caffeine as dark roast with a real smooth and very prominent nutty flavor. Just search the internet for “Whole Bean White Coffee”.
Ooo that sounds great! Thank you so much Russell! xTieghan
OMG this is so yummy I have been trying to make since you posted. Question can you save extra. How would you recommend.
Hi Julie,
So sorry but the whipped coffee will not stay frothed so this really wouldn’t keep well if you saved extras. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Such a great idea! We made our usual White Russian (equal parts vodka, kahlua and fat free half & half) over ice) and topped it with the Dalgona made with decaf instant coffee. It was decadent! I was amazed at how long the Dalgona stayed fluffy! So easy and so good!
Thank you so much Gloria! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! I hope you have an amazing day! xTieghan
This was a fantastic drink. Made it exactly as the recipe suggests and it was beautiful, too!
Thank you so much Sandra! I am really happy to hear that! xTieghan
It was delicious! I’ve been meaning to try this dalgona craze and this recipe was the perfect combo for my afternoon sweet tooth! Thanks for posting! I added a bit more almond milk with a dash of pumpkin spice and cinnamon! Yum! ?
Amazing! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you Erika! Thank you! xTieghan
Mine didn’t look as pretty, but boy, it sure tasted good! I also used vanilla vodka and fortunately hdd decaf instant so I could make an after-dinner drink. Patience while whipping is the key. I used my hand mixer and its whisk, as it’s a small amount to make. Don’t cut back on the sweetener or it’s too bitter!
Ooo love that! I am sure it looked amazing and I am glad it tasted well!! Thank you so much Marlene! xTieghan