“Tipsy Elf” Peppermint Mocha Cocktail
The Tipsy Elf Cocktail is a spiked peppermint mocha that’s smooth and chocolatey, with a hint of festive minty flavor!
Tipsy Elf Cocktail (Spiked Peppermint Mocha Recipe)
One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the return of the Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks.
Seriously…I count down the days until it’s back in stores!!
This Peppermint Mocha cocktail is an extra festive spin on my favorite coffee drink. It’s just perfect for cozying up to watch a movie on a cold winter day after the kids are in bed.
Smooth peppermint swirls with rich chocolate for an indulgent treat โ it’s like a dessert in a glass!
I especially love the peppermint on the rim because it adds such a pretty touch and little bursts of minty flavor in the drink.
If you really want to make this like a dessert, you can add those chocolate hazelnut straws. We always have those on hand because my girls love them.
Now that is what I’m talking about!
Related: For more decadent dessert drinks, check out our Frozen Mudslide recipe or our Cheesecake Martini recipe or this fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookie Martini!
For your convenience in recreating our holiday mudslide recipe, I’ve included shop-able ad links to some of the tools we used. Read our disclosure policy here.ย
Ingredients
- Kahlua Peppermint Mocha liqueur โ This may also be labeled as Kahlua Mint Mocha, as it seems like they rebrand it every so often.
- Vodka โ Your favorite type of unflavored vodka
- Heavy cream โ May substitute with milk if needed, though the drink will be slightly less creamy.
- Ice โ for both the cocktail shaker and your glass
- Crushed candy canes โ for the rim of your glass
- Chocolate syrup โ Optional, for even richer chocolate flavor
- Chocolate Hazelnut Straws (Pirouline cookies, or similar) โ Optional garnish
Pssst…there’s a free printable copy of this recipe at the bottom of the blog post. It has exact ingredient amounts and full instructions. I also have photo step-by-step directions coming right up!
Bartender Tools We Used
- Stainless steel 2-piece cocktail shakerย โ This is the style I learned to bartend with and still prefer, but you can use a cocktail shaker with a built-in strainer too. Whatever you’re comfortable with will work!
- Cocktail strainer โ These are super handy to have on hand, for more than just making drinks!
What can I use instead of the peppermint mocha liqueur?
Using Kahlua Peppermint Mocha liqueur brings all of the different flavors to the drink in one ingredient. It combines coffee, peppermint, and chocolate!
However, if you can’t find this particular Kahlua, you can still make this drink! Simply use one of two swaps:
- 2 ounces regular Kahlua, 1.5 ounces peppermint vodka, 2 Tablespoons chocolate syrup + the rest of the ingredients in recipe –OR–
- 2 ounces regular Kahlua, 1.5 ounces plain vodka, 2 Tablespoons chocolate syrup, 1-2 drops peppermint extract + the rest of the ingredients in the recipe
Instructions
To Prep: Crush up a candy cane or peppermint candies into small crumbs and place on a plate. I find it easiest to place the candy in a freezer bag and crush with a rolling pin to keep the pieces from flying everywhere. Pour simple syrup (or honey) onto another small plate, about 1/4 inch deep.
- Dip the rim of each cocktail glass into simple syrup, turn upside down, and place into the plate of crushed candy canes so that they stick to the glass. Use a rolling motion when rimming the glass to help the crushed peppermint to stick better and more evenly.
- Fill each glass with ice.
- Add all of your liquid ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 5- 10 seconds. Over-mixing ย will water down the drink.
- Strain and pour into your prepared cocktail glasses and enjoy!
Video Demo:
Make it a Martini!
This drink tastes absolutely fabulous as a martini and it’s easy to do!
Instead of serving over ice, simply strain into a martini glass. You can also rim the martini glass with crushed peppermints for the same pretty look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this drink dairy free?
Yes! The Kahlua is dairy free (according to the company website) and the only dairy we used in the original recipe is cream.
However, you can substitute with coconut cream or a non-dairy “cream” and still get the same delicious flavor.
Does Kahlua contain caffeine?
Yes, it does. However, it’s a relatively small amount compared to a cup of coffee.
According to the brand’s website, 1.5 ounces of Kahlua contains 5mg of caffeine. By contrast, an 8 ounce cup of coffee contains around 200mg of caffeine.
If you’re especially sensitive to caffeine, this may not be the drink for you. Otherwise, the caffeine in this drink probably isn’t enough to keep you up at night.
Just a note — this recipe is intended for readers 21+ — please enjoy responsibly!
More of our Favorite Holiday Cocktail Recipes:
- Grinch Jello Shots
- Christmas Margaritas
- Sparkling Black Cherry Martini
- Jack Frost Winter Cocktail
- Christmas Morning Mimosas
Peppermint Mocha Cocktail Recipe (Printable Copy):
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“Tipsy Elf” Peppermint Mocha Cocktail
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Kahlua Peppermint Mocha
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 Tablespoon chocolate syrup
- 3 ounces heavy cream
- Ice
- Candy canes crushed, for garnish
Instructions
- To Prep: Crush up a candy cane or peppermint candies into small pieces and spread on a small plate. Pour simple syrup on another small plate so that it is about 1/4" deep.
- Dip each cocktail glass into the simple syrup so that the rim is fully coated, then dip the rim into the crushed candy cane until it sticks to the glass. Allow to set.
- Fill each prepared cocktail glass with ice.
- Add all liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake vigorously for about 5-10 seconds.
- Strain and pour into your cocktail glasses. Enjoy immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Be sure to pin this Christmas Mudslide Recipe on Pinterest:
More of our favorite holiday cocktails:
Sparkling Black Cherry Martini
- Homemade Cosmic Brownies - January 15, 2025
- Heart Shaped Cookie Cake - January 10, 2025
- Mini Heart-Shaped Pizzas - January 9, 2025
This sounds holiday-delicious… or anytime! Could you put the ingredients in the blender and serve it up as a slush or frozen drink? That sounds awesome to me… What say you?
I don’t see why not! I bet that would be amazing!