Homemade Peppermint Vodka is the key to making the best minty fresh cocktails for the holidays. Infuse peppermint candies with vodka for a sweet spirit you can enjoy in a mixed drink or as a shooter. Makes a great Christmas gift!
When it comes to the holidays, there is one thing that stands out above the rest.
Sure, yes, the love and the charitable giving and the Christmas spirit. All of that, absolutely, of course.
But… We’re on a food blog, remember?
The best part of Christmas is the SWEETS.
From gingerbread houses decked out with hundreds of colorful candies to antique tins filled with Christmas cookies and peppermint truffles, I’m here to tell you that this is the season for us sweet tooths.
Everyone has a favorite Christmas candy, right?
This is one of our favorite winter vodka cocktails. Check out the full list!
My grandmother adores a box of chocolates. My fiancé has a penchant for those orange-flavored chocolate oranges. And me?
You’re going to laugh at me, but mine is black licorice.
In my family, we all share a weird love for black licorice, and it’s my absolute favorite thing to find in the bottom of my stocking.
But when I was a kid, I loved candy canes. Those peppermint sticks were always such a treat!
I can’t say I’ve eaten many candy canes in the last few years beyond the crushed candy cane rim and garnish on this Peppermint White Chocolate Martini. (I still love them, I just never buy them because I’ll never eat them all!)
Us peppermint lovers can look to this Homemade Peppermint Vodka for a sweet liquor for cocktails and baking.
Infuse vodka with pieces of candy canes or starlight mints for a sugary, minty spirit that you can mix into all your favorite holiday drinks and desserts.
Its pink hue may look medicinal, but don’t forget that candy makes the world a better place this time of year.
While Homemade Peppermint Vodka can be great on its own as a shooter, you can also sub it for peppermint vodka or peppermint schnapps in most recipes.
Try it in this Chocolate Peppermint Fondue or a Boozy Peppermint Hot Chocolate.
Or better yet, make yourself a Candy Cane Martini or mix it into a White Russian!
If there’s anyone in your life who loves peppermint at Christmastime, this Homemade Peppermint Vodka would make a great present.
Decant it into a mason jar or pop-top bottle and tie it with a red ribbon for super sweet gift they’ll love all season long.
Better yet, gift it with a batch of peppermint goodies, like these Candy Cane Cupcakes or Candy Cane Fudge.
Like any candy fiend, your mint-loving friends will thank you!
What kind of vodka should you use?
If you already have a favorite vodka, go with that!
The best kind of vodka you can afford is going to give you the best taste for this Homemade Peppermint Vodka.
Cheap vodka is more likely to have that alcoholic smell and taste that’s not-so-nice to sip. I usually use Tito’s for all my vodka cocktails, but even a mid-range bottle like Smirnoff or Absolut can do the trick.
What kind of peppermints should you use?
You’re going to want to use a hard candy for the best results.
Those restaurant freebie starlight mints are what I used, but you could just as easily put together a batch of broken candy canes.
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Homemade Peppermint Vodka
Ingredients
- 2 cups Vodka
- 30 Peppermint Candy
Instructions
- Fill a bowl or jar(s) with the peppermint candies. Top with vodka. Cover and let sit 4-5 hours, or overnight. For strongest flavor, let sit 3-4 days.
- Strain into a bottle, filtering out any candy particles. Discard any undissolved candy. Store in an airtight container.