White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Allison · 16 Comments

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You will love sipping on this smooth and creamy White Russian. An easy coffee flavored co*cktail with a fun twist!Try adding my special ingredient to make it taste like dessert.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (1)

It should come as no surprise that a White Russian is one of my favorite co*cktails. It tastes like an iced coffee (one of my most favorite things ever) and it is one-third cream. Yes, CREAM, my friends. This is a sweet, cold and creamy co*cktail that you are bound to fall in love with!

My mind has shifted into holiday mode. I’m dreaming of pumpkin bread, sweet potato casserole, chilly weather and crunchy leaves. I’m ready to sit next to a warm fire sipping on a White Russian. Who’s with me?!

MORE co*ckTAILS: APEROL SPRITZSTRAWBERRY SANGRIAAPPLE CIDER SANGRIASTRAWBERRY MARGARITAGRASSHOPPERFROZEN MARGARITAHOT BUTTERED RUM

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2)

I consider a White Russian a year-round co*cktail (any time is a good time for spiked coffee goodness!), but I especially think of it as a holiday co*cktail. The classic flavors, the touch of decadence, and the fact that calories don’t count during the holidays. It’s perfect for these last few months of the year.

White Russian Recipe

Let’s talk about how to make a traditional White Russian, then I’ll get to sharing my favorite version (pssst… there’s ice cream involved).

  • Vodka
  • Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
  • Cream

Add the vodka and Kahlua to a glass filled with ice, then add a generous splash of cream and give it a stir. The ratios are often 1 part vodka, 1 part Kahlua and 1 part cream, but when I am making White Russians at home, I change it up a bit.

The first change I make is swapping the cream for half and half or whole milk. Although cream is delicious, I find that half and half or whole milk still adds plenty of richness without making it too heavy.

I usually follow a ratio of 1 part vodka, 2 parts Kahlua and 3 parts half and half. This creates a nice creamy co*cktail that has plenty of coffee flavor without too much of a punch from the vodka.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (3)

A fun twist

Now, if you wanted to (hint: you do) you could skip adding the ice to your White Russian and instead plop a big fat scoop of vanilla ICE CREAM into it. Guys, please try this at least once. It’s like a spiked coffee milkshake (without dirtying a blender), and it is so dang delicious! Note: instead of using vanilla ice cream, you could also use coffee, chocolate or caramel ice cream. Swoon.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (4)

My recipe makes a single serving. You can easily increase the portions to make multiple co*cktails, or even a whole pitcher. Use the ratio 1 part vodka, 2 parts Kahlua, 3 parts whole milk/half and half/cream to make the quantities needed. And of course, adjust to suit your taste. That’s the beauty of making co*cktails at home, you can get them just the way you want them everytime.

I’ll leave you with one last little warning: These White Russians are dangerous. They are smooth and tasty and they go down easily. Too easily. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya! Enjoy!

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (5)

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Recipe

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (6)

White Russian Recipe

You will love sipping on this smooth and creamy White Russian. An easy coffee flavored co*cktail with a fun twist!

4.84 from 6 votes

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Course: beverage

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 multiply as needed

Calories: 312kcal

Author: Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

  • 1 part vodka
  • 2 parts Kahlua (coffee liqueur)
  • 3 parts half and half, cream or milk, I prefer half and half
  • Ice cream, optional

Instructions

  • Combine vodka and Kahlua in an ice filled glass. Slowly add the half and half. Taste and adjust the proportions to suit your taste.

Video

Notes

For one co*cktail, I often use a 1oz liquid measuring cup for each "part".

For a large batch use a ½ cup liquid measuring cup for each "part"; this will make four 6-ounce co*cktails.

Feel free to leave out the ice and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your co*cktail.

Nutrition

Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 112mg | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 138IU | Calcium: 96mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (7) Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

This post originally appeared on Real Housemoms where I am a contributor.

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Comments

  1. Jackie

    I can’t drink anything that is made with milk products. If I want to make a drink with Kahlua give me some suggestions excluding the milk products !

    Reply

    • Allison

      You could try this with a plant based milk.

      Reply

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White Russian Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (8)Hi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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FAQs

What does The Dude call a White Russian? ›

Throughout the movie, it appears as the beverage of choice for the protagonist, Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski. On a number of occasions he refers to the drink as a "Caucasian".

What is the difference between a Colorado bulldog and a White Russian? ›

Differences Between the Colorado Bulldog and the White Russian. Topping the drink with cola is the main difference between these two very popular bar drinks. You'll also notice that the Colorado Bulldog pours equal amounts of vodka and coffee liqueur (often Kahlúa), while the White Russian prefers a 2:1 ratio.

What is the difference between a blind Russian and a White Russian? ›

In contrast to the classic White Russian, the Blind Russian trades the traditional cream for Irish Cream Liqueur.

What is the difference between a White Russian and a Caucasian drink? ›

A White Russian is made with vodka, coffee liqueur and cream served with ice. A Caucasian is the name used by the Big Lebowski (in the movie of the same name) for a White Russian. A White Russian is also the name for a person from Belarus (the name of the country in Russian literally means White Russia).

What is a substitute for cream in a White Russian? ›

You can substitute the cream for half and half instead for a lighter option. Half and half will allow the White Russian to deliver the same flavor as the traditional recipe and won't feel as heavy. If you want to eliminate cream altogether, you can use milk.

How to make White Russian without Kahlua? ›

Make it a mocktail: If you are looking for a non-alcoholic vegan white Russian, look no further! Substitute the Kahlua with DaVinci Coffee Liqueur Syrup and 1 shot of espresso instead of vodka. This version will taste more like coffee, but is seriously DELICIOUS!

Can you mix Baileys with co*ke? ›

The carbondioxide in the cola will react with the cream in the baileys, this results in the cream solidifying in your stomach which can suffocate you in high quantities.

Can you drink straight Kahlua? ›

It can be served straight up or on the rocks depending on your preference. You can also add Kahlua to your favorite coffee drink. Pour some in a cup of hot coffee for an enjoyable beverage. Additionally, you can even add it into chocolate milk or any other type of creamy beverage you like.

What drink is similar to a White Russian? ›

The Black Russian is the big brother of the equally famous White Russian. It's a simple yet tasty drink, combining Kahlúa coffee liqueur and vodka in a truly unforgettable way.

What drink does the dude make? ›

During the course of Ethan and Joel Coen's The Big Lebowski, Jeffrey “the Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) downs nine White Russians, thus making the sweet, creamy drink synonymous with the film.

What's in a White Russian vs Black Russian? ›

The Black Russian is a simple, two-ingredient co*cktail that consists of vodka and coffee liqueur. It's the forebearer to the more popular White Russian, which follows the same base but includes cream.

Can you clarify a White Russian? ›

The mixture is then clarified in a centrifuge, creating a White Russian crossed with clarified milk punch. “I don't feel like I need to drink a whole co*cktail with a lot of cream in it,” Amirault recalls thinking. But milk-washing added lactic acid without the cream and preserved the plush texture.

What is The Dude's favorite drink? ›

The White Russian abides. If that sentence makes any sense to you at all, it's likely because you know the White Russian as the favorite co*cktail of one Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, the protagonist of the Coen Brothers' excellent cult comedy The Big Lebowski.

Does Kahlúa go bad? ›

For Kahlúa Original, we recommend a shelf life of 4 years. Actually, the product will be good for many more years, but the coffee impact fades over time so it won't give you the full flavor impact. Also, if you were to receive an old bottle of Kahlúa, you have to make sure it has never been opened or tampered with.

What kind of vodka is good for White Russian? ›

Cake and whipped cream vodkas, or espresso, chocolate, and vanilla vodkas are also great choices. Kahlúa is the most popular coffee liqueur used in a White Russian, but Firelit, New Deal, or Leopold Bros.

What is the other name for White Russians? ›

Sometimes they're referred to as “White Russians,” other times, jokingly, “Caucasians.” Usually they're made with cream, but occasionally, in a pinch, powdered non-dairy creamer.

What is the other name for White Russia? ›

The phrase White Russia is the literal translation of the word Belarus (Russian: белый – white, Русь – the Rus). In earlier times the countries belonging to the Rus were given many epithets or qualifying adjectives.

What's the famous line from The Big Lebowski? ›

1. "I'm The Dude. So, that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or, uh, Duder, or El Duderino, if you're not into the whole brevity thing.”

Why does the dude drink White Russians? ›

In 1997, the Coen Brothers were inspired to make White Russians the drink of choice for The Dude, the instantly iconic protagonist of The Big Lebowski, in part due to Jeff Dowd, one of the inspirations for the character, and his own (brief) love of them. As Dowd told HuffPo, “Do I drink White Russians all the time?

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