This Pumpkin Spice White Russian turns the classic coffee-cream cocktail into a fall favorite. Silky pumpkin spice cream, vodka, and coffee liqueur over ice with a graham rim—dessert-in-a-glass for sweater weather.
About This Pumpkin Spice White Russian
We first served this at a post-pumpkin-patch party in Huntington. The grill was off, the bonfire was on, and everyone wanted “something cozy.” One round of Pumpkin Spice White Russians later and the blanket pile suddenly had a waitlist. It’s the classic White Russian—vodka + coffee liqueur + cream—made autumn with a quick pumpkin-spice cream you can shake right in the tin.
Tools You’ll Need
- Rocks glass (old fashioned)
- Shaker tin (for the pumpkin cream)
- Jigger & bar spoon
- Ice
Ingredients (1 cocktail)
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlúa)
- 1.5 oz pumpkin spice cream* (see below)
- Ice, graham-cracker rim (optional)
- Whipped cream & star anise or cinnamon stick (optional garnish)
*Pumpkin spice cream (yields ~6 oz): 3 oz heavy cream, 1 oz pumpkin purée, 1 oz simple syrup, 0.5 tsp pumpkin pie spice, pinch of salt. Shake hard until smooth. (Dairy-free: use barista-style oat milk or coconut cream.)
Steps
- Rim & ice. Rim a rocks glass with crushed graham (optional). Add fresh ice.
- Build. Add vodka and coffee liqueur to the glass; stir to chill.
- Float cream. Slowly pour pumpkin spice cream over the back of a spoon to float.
- Garnish. Top with whipped cream and a star anise or cinnamon stick.
Bartender Tips
- Texture: Shake the pumpkin cream well so the purée fully integrates—no grainy sips.
- Sweetness: Adjust simple syrup in the cream to taste; coffee liqueurs vary.
- Neat swirl: For the marbled look, don’t over-stir after floating the cream.
Variations
- Spiced Rum Russian: Swap vodka for aged rum (caramel-pumpkin vibes).
- Maple Russian: Add 0.25 oz real maple syrup to the coffee liqueur.
- Dairy-Free: Use coconut cream or barista oat milk; add a pinch more spice.
When to Serve
Perfect for fall dinners, Halloween parties, and Friendsgiving dessert hour. It also works great as a signature welcome cocktail—garnish tray + pre-batched pumpkin cream.
Hosting this season? Use our Alcohol Calculator, or hire a bartender. See more Fall Cocktail Recipes and browse the Cocktail Recipes hub. Save for later: Pumpkin Spice White Russian on Pinterest.
Vodka, coffee liqueur, and a quick pumpkin-spice cream (pumpkin purée, cream, simple syrup, pumpkin spice). Build over ice, then float the cream for that marbled look.
Yes of course. A good substitute is to use coconut cream or barista-style oat milk. Shake with pumpkin purée and spice to keep it silky, then float as usual.
No. Build vodka and coffee liqueur in the glass over ice, then shake only the pumpkin cream to smooth it before floating.
Crushed graham crackers with a little cinnamon. Dip the glass rim in maple syrup or simple syrup, then into the crumbs.
Batch the pumpkin cream in advance (refrigerate up to 48 hours). Build spirits in each glass and float the cream to order so the layers stay clean.
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