Two glasses of layered holiday cocktails are garnished with cinnamon sticks and star anise, with caramel sugared rims. The drinks are surrounded by mini pumpkins and pinecones, caramel candies, whole star anise, and a plaid cloth, on a dark serving tray.

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 😉

Two caramel Rumchata white Russian cocktails with pumpkin spice, served in caramel sugar-rimmed glasses, topped with cinnamon sticks and star anise. Surrounded by mini pumpkins, caramel candies, and a cozy autumn-themed plaid cloth. Text overlay describes the drink.

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my privacy policy for more information.

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.

A collection of ingredients is displayed on a white surface. These include bottles of Caramel Kiss Smirnoff, RumChata, Kahlúa, and caramel Hershey's syrup, along with a small jar of pumpkin pie spice, a bowl of brown sugar, and a container of cream. Small decorative pumpkins are scattered around.

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.

A hand dipping the rim of an inverted glass into a plate of caramel sauce (top image) and then into a plate of sugar (bottom image). In the background are a bottle of caramel Hershey's syrup, mini pumpkins, and a fall-themed plaid cloth.

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.

A layered cocktail in a glass with a caramel sugar rim and garnished with a cinnamon stick. The drink has distinct layers of cream and Kahlua. Several spices, such as star anise and cloves, are scattered around the glass on a dark surface.

* Note to my readers. I strive to bring home cooks reliable recipes you can count on. Every recipe on this site is tested and made by me personally in my own kitchen and given to my harshest recipe tester critics for invaluable feedback. This site does not review its own recipes or participate in paid reviews nor does it purchase recipes and photos from third parties. Photos are taken of each recipe and not artificially generated. All reviews are real trustworthy reviews and if you make a recipe and have feedback, please feel free to contact me.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
A layered cocktail in a glass with a caramel sugared rim, topped with a cinnamon stick and star anise. The drink has a creamy layer, a darker layer beneath, and spices sprinkled on top. Small autumn-themed decorations are placed around the glass on the table.

Caramel RumChata White Russian with Pumpkin Spice


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Lisa
  • 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

Units Scale
  • 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

  1. Fill a small plate with caramel sauce and a second small plate with brown sugar.
  2. Place the rim of the glass upside down onto the plate with the caramel sauce and gently spin it around to coat it.
  3. Then place the glass onto the plate with the brown sugar to allow the sugar to stick to the caramel.
  4. Add a large ice cube or a handful of ice to the glass.
  5. Pour 1 oz ounces of  Kahlua, followed by the vodka, RumChata, and heavy cream over ice.
  6. Garnish with an cinnamon stick or star anise and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice.
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Two glasses of creamy spiced cocktails garnished with cinnamon sticks, star anise, and a sugared rim sit on a black slate surface. The scene is accentuated with scattered pine cones, mini pumpkins, and plaid fabric, suggesting a cozy, autumn setting.

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.

Two glasses filled with a layered white Russian featuring a creamy white base, a pumpkin spice top, and garnished with cinnamon sticks and star anise. The rim of each glass is coated in caramel and sugar, and the setting includes small pinecones and spices.

Looking for more great recipes and kitchen talk? Subscribe so you never have to ask what’s on the menu. Delicious recipes delivered straight to your inbox 😉 Plus you will receive access to all my free printables! These are only available to my awesome subscribers as my way of thanking you for your continued support!

Did you enjoy this Caramel RumChata White Russian with Pumpkin Spice? Hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on social media Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok or Facebook I would love for us to be friends!

Did you love this recipe? Give it a five star rating and Tag @garrison.street.eats on Instagram and hashtag it #garrisonsteats

Two glasses of RumChata White Russian with caramel sit on a rustic slate platter, garnished with star anise, cinnamon sticks, and sugar-rimmed edges. Surrounding the glasses are small pumpkins and autumn-themed decorations. Text above reads, "RumChata White Russian with Caramel.

This post, Caramel RumChata White Russian with Pumpkin Spice, appeared first on Garrison Street Eats.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star