This chai white Russian cocktail has all the great flavors of the classic plus a delicious Holiday spin from chai spice-infused cold cream.
For more flavorful Holiday drinks with warm and cozy spices, also check out this pumpkin spice Irish coffee and this spiced eggnog.
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Chai Russian ingredients:
This chai white Russian is made with coffee liqueur, chai-spiced cream (recipe below), vodka and ice cubes. (You can usually find several different brands of coffee liqueur in a liquor store. Some common brands are Kahlua and Kapali.)
What's in chai-spiced cream?
The chai-spiced cream is made with fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom seeds and heavy cream.
For more delicious chai spice dessert flavors, also check out this rum raisin bundt cake!
How to make it:
See full ingredients & instructions in the recipe card below!
Infusing cold cream with chai spices is very easy to do but it does take a little bit of time. (The cream and the spices need to chill in the fridge for 12 hours.)
Step 1 (optional). If you have a mortar and pestle, add the cloves, peppercorns and cardamom seeds to it and lightly crush them. This will help release their flavors. If you don't have mortar and pestle, simply skip this step and use the whole seeds.
Step 2. Peel, then thinly slice the piece of fresh ginger.
Step 3. Add all spices to the cream.
Step 4. Make sure the spices are submerged in the cream. Cover, then transfer the mix into the fridge and chill for 12 hours. After the chill time, strain out the spices.
How to serve it:
When you’re ready to make the drinks, add ice cubes to each glass. Pour equal parts coffee liqueur, vodka and chai-spiced cream over the ice.
Frequently asked questions:
A white Russian cocktail is a classic, three-ingredient alcoholic drink. It's made with coffee liqueur (such as Kahlua), vodka and cream (or sometimes half and half). The proportions of the ingredients can differ between different white Russian recipes but the three main ingredients are usually the same.
The white Russian cocktail apparently got its name from the fact that vodka is one of the main ingredients. It did not actually originate in Russia.
Whether or not you mix a white Russian is up to you! The drink looks prettier when layered but I personally think it tastes better when mixed.
More delicious coffee liqueur desserts:
- Dark Chocolate Espresso Pots de Creme (no-bake)3 Hours 15 Minutes
- Coffee Cream Puffs (Coffee Choux Buns) with Coffee Glaze1 Hours 20 Minutes
See more dessert recipes →
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating or comment! Thanks!
Full Printable Recipe
Chai White Russian
Equipment:
- measuring cups and spoons
- mortar and pestle (optional)
- knife and cutting board
- liquid measuring cup OR bowl
- plastic wrap
- sieve
Ingredients:
For the chai-spiced cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream, cold
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 10 whole cloves, lightly crushed*
- 1 - inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, lightly crushed*
- ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds, lightly crushed*
For the white Russians:
- 1 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua
- 1 cup vodka
- 1 cup chai-spiced cream (from the recipe above)
- ice cubes
Instructions:
For the chai-spiced cream:
- Add all ingredients to a liquid measuring cup or bowl, cover and chill in the fridge for 12 hours.
- Strain out the spices.
For the white Russians:
- Add a few ice cubes to each glass.
- Add equal parts of coffee liqueur, vodka and chai-spiced cream to each glass.
Notes:
Nutrition Information (Estimated):
Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.
Julia
Nicole this drink looks AMAZING. I actually am going to try this for Thanksgiving day and look forward to everyones reaction. Yum!! Also your pictures are absolutely spectacular. I've now spent almost an hour reading all of your photography posts, oops! Thanks for sharing all of your tricks, it helps!!
Nicole B.
That is so great to hear, Julia! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and let me know how your guests liked the drink. :)
Amanda | The Chunky Chef
Ohhhhh, anything Chai has my name written alllll over it :) That pouring shot... WOW! I definitely need to work on my action shots... this is just stunning :D
Nicole B.
Thank you so much, Amanda! I should do more action shots myself, they always add an extra dimension of deliciousness. :)