Caramel RumChata White Russian with Pumpkin Spice
The holiday season is upon us and nothing says celebration like a classic white Russian cocktail with a twist of delicious RumChata, caramel, and pumpkin spice. With only a few simple ingredients this easy cocktail recipe is ready in minutes! With a creamy base, coffee flavor, caramel notes, and a little fall spice, this is a perfect after-dinner drink or holiday cocktail. Full recipe card below 😉
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What is a White Russian?
A white Russian is a classic cocktail typically made with equal parts heavy cream, vodka, and coffee liqueur. This simple drink is an old time classic that happens to be my mom’s all time favorite. But there are many different ways to put a spin on this classic white Russian recipe. There is also a black Russian, which omits the heavy cream and a mudslide which includes Irish cream liqueur and heavy cream.
My version of this simple cocktail recipe came about one evening when I was craving creamy drinks and saw the RumChata just sitting on the bar. So I decided to try out a new recipe by adding a combination of RumChata and caramel vodka creating a delicious fall cocktail. Even though this was a bit of an experiment, it turned out to be the perfect combination for this time of year.
Ingredients
This easy four part cocktail is a classic drink with a fun twist perfect for any occasion. Below are my notes for making a caramel RumChata white Russian.
Kahlua – This is a Mexican coffee liqueur made from rum, sugar, and coffee beans. It is also one of the key ingredients to a white Russian cocktail because of its strong coffee flavor.
Vodka – For this recipe I decided to use caramel flavored vodka to make it more applicable to the fall season. And it was a good choice! If you don’t have caramel vodka you could add caramel syrup and use plain vodka or vanilla vodka.
RumChata – If you are new to RumChata drinks let me first start by telling you what it is. RumChata is a cream liqueur made from Caribbean rum and cream. I personally think it tastes like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and is quite good on the rocks. By adding it to my new version of a fall white Russian, it gives it those warm and cozy notes.
Heavy Cream –  Like a traditional white Russian, this version is made with heavy cream or heavy whipping cream. Because of the thick consistency, it separates from the alcohol when made correctly. Technically you can use half and half or whole milk, but it will not have the same rich flavor or visual effect as cream.
Pumpkin Spice – As the name suggests, it is typically used in pumpkin pie, but also used in a variety of other recipes. I think it adds a bit of extra fall essence to this RumChata cocktail. I used a store bought version but you can make your own with a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and ginger.
Ice – This cocktail is best served chilled. I usually refrigerate my ingredients prior to mixing but I recommend adding ice cubes too. When I make cocktails with ice I often use large ice molds or ice spheres because they don’t melt as fast and water down your drink.
Glasses – While you can serve this in any type of cocktail glass you want, a white Russian is typically served in a rocks glass.
Garnish – A caramel RumChata white Russian pairs really well with cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice, and a caramel sugar rim. I used all of these items and mine were delicious.
The Correct Way to Mix
One of the visual signatures of a white Russian is the separated or swirl effect of the layers. To achieve this it must be made correctly. Pour the Kahlua and vodka over ice first. Then add the cream components and do not stir unless you want to mix the layers. I usually stir mine before drinking. Since this recipe also contains RumChata, it will mix a little more than normal because there are two cream based components.
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Caramel RumChata White Russian with Pumpkin Spice
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
The holiday season is upon us and nothing says celebration like a classic white Russian cocktail with a twist of delicious RumChata, caramel, and pumpkin spice. With only a few simple ingredients this easy cocktail recipe is ready in minutes! With a creamy base, coffee flavor, caramel notes, and a little fall spice, this is a perfect after-dinner drink or holiday cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 Large Ice Cube or a Handful of Ice
- 1 oz Kahlua
- 1 oz Caramel Vodka
- 1 oz RumChata
- 1 oz Heavy Cream
- Caramel Sauce for rimming
- Brown Sugar for rimming
- Pumpkin Spice
- Cinnamon Stick or Star Anise for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a small plate with caramel sauce and a second small plate with brown sugar.
- Place the rim of the glass upside down onto the plate with the caramel sauce and gently spin it around to coat it.
- Then place the glass onto the plate with the brown sugar to allow the sugar to stick to the caramel.
- Add a large ice cube or a handful of ice to the glass.
- Pour 1 oz ounces of  Kahlua, followed by the vodka, RumChata, and heavy cream over ice.
- Garnish with an cinnamon stick or star anise and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice.
- Prep Time: 5
- Category: Drinks
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
When to Serve Caramel RumChata White Russians
This simple recipe makes a delicious cocktail and is perfect for a Halloween party, cocktail hour, holiday party, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, or a lazy evening in. The warm and creamy flavors are a delicious combination that will have you asking for another.
Looking for more tasty cocktail recipes? Check out my apple cider mimosa, blueberry Moscow mule, cranberry Christmas cocktail, chocolate martini, or my adult hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps.
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