If you’re looking for a festive, fun way to celebrate the holidays (or anytime you want a sweet peppermint kick), you’re going to adore this Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe. It’s simple, bright, and delivers that perfect minty punch with just two main ingredients. I absolutely love how this turns out—your friends will be asking for the recipe right after the first sip!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Simple Ingredients: Just peppermint disks and vodka are all you’ll need to make this festive shot.
- No-fuss Preparation: You can prep it in under 10 minutes and just let it chill in the fridge.
- Perfect Holiday Crowd-Pleaser: I’ve made this for holiday parties and everyone goes crazy for its refreshing, minty flavor.
- Customizable Fun: You can easily double or halve the recipe based on your party size.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients come together in a perfect combo—the peppermint disks dissolve in vodka to gift you that classic candy cane flavor with a boozy twist. When shopping, look for good quality peppermint disks that melt easily and a smooth unflavored vodka for the cleanest taste.
- Peppermint disks: Choose bright white, hard candy disks; I like to unwrap them carefully so all the flavors infuse properly.
- Unflavored vodka: A decent mid-range vodka works beautifully here since it lets the peppermint shine without overpowering it.
Variations
Just like most cocktails, I love mixing things up sometimes! This Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe is super forgiving, so you can personalize it in ways that suit your taste or dietary needs.
- Make it sugar-free: Use sugar-free peppermint disks if you want to cut down on sugar but still get the same minty vibe—worked great for me when hosting health-conscious friends.
- Add a splash of cream: For a creamy twist, I once added a bit of half-and-half right before serving and it felt like a peppermint White Russian!
- Try flavored vodka: If unflavored vodka isn’t your style, flavored vanilla or even chocolate vodka can bring interesting depths to the shot.
How to Make Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Peppermint Disks
Start by carefully unwrapping your peppermint disks. I found peeling them gently helps prevent any paper bits from mixing into the vodka. Place 10 disks into each mason jar or sealable glass jar. This is where the magic begins—the hard candies will dissolve and infuse their minty flavor into the vodka over time.
Step 2: Pour the Vodka
Divide your bottle of unflavored vodka evenly between the jars—about half a bottle in each. It’s easiest if the vodka is cold straight from the fridge, but room temperature works too. Seal each jar really well. I like to give mine a gentle shake, turning them upside down a couple of times just to get the candy moving.
Step 3: The Waiting Game (Fridge Time!)
This is where patience pays off! Pop your jars into the fridge for about 5 days. The candy disks will slowly dissolve, turning the vodka into a smooth, mint-infused treat. I usually give the jars a gentle shake every day to help speed up the dissolving process. Trust me, it’s worth the wait!
Step 4: Shake & Turn to Mix
After the candies have completely dissolved, you might notice a white layer settled at the bottom. Here’s the trick I discovered: turn the jars upside down for about an hour, then shake them thoroughly. This mixes everything back together for an even flavor and texture.
Step 5: Pour, Sip, Enjoy!
Now it’s time for the best part—pour yourself a shot, or two, and enjoy that cool, minty burst. I like to serve mine chilled straight from the fridge for that refreshing zing.
Pro Tips for Making Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe
- Use Glass Jars: Mason jars work perfectly because they seal tight and let you shake the mixture easily without spills.
- Daily Shakes Speed Up Dissolving: I found shaking the jars gently every day really helps those peppermint disks melt faster and evenly.
- Watch For Settling: That white layer at the bottom is normal—just flip and shake before serving to remix it.
- Choose Quality Vodka: Since vodka is the base, using a smooth, clean vodka makes a big difference in flavor.
How to Serve Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe
Garnishes
I love riming the shot glasses with crushed candy canes for that extra festive look and crunch. You can also drop in a mini candy cane as a cute stirrer. These little touches make your shots feel extra special, especially at holiday parties.
Side Dishes
Since these shots are sweet and minty, I like pairing them with salty snacks like roasted nuts or popcorn to balance the flavors. If you’re hosting a full party, chocolate desserts and gingerbread cookies complement the shots beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
For my last holiday bash, I served these shots in clear glass test tubes arranged in a festive wooden crate with fairy lights. Guests loved the playful presentation! You could also serve them with holiday-themed coasters or little personalized tags for each shot glass—fun and memorable.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
This Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe stores really well in the fridge for up to two weeks. I keep mine sealed tightly in the mason jars. Just give them a quick shake before serving again to refresh the flavor.
Freezing
I’ve never frozen the shots because vodka doesn’t freeze solid, but you could keep the jars very cold to enjoy ice-cold shots right out of the fridge, especially if your freezer is too cold for this style of drink.
Reheating
Reheating isn’t necessary or recommended for these shots since they are meant to be served chilled. Warm vodka loses a lot of that crisp peppermint bite that makes this recipe so delightful.
FAQs
-
Can I use flavored vodka instead of unflavored?
Absolutely! While the classic recipe calls for unflavored vodka to highlight the peppermint flavor, experimenting with vanilla or chocolate-flavored vodka adds a fun twist. Just keep in mind that stronger flavored vodkas may alter the shot’s sweetness and mint balance.
-
How long do Peppermint Candy Cane Shots last?
Stored properly in an airtight jar in the fridge, these shots typically stay fresh and tasty for up to two weeks. Always give the jar a shake before serving to remix the ingredients.
-
Can I make these shots ahead of time?
Definitely! In fact, I recommend preparing the Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe at least 5 days before your party to allow full infusing and melting of the peppermint disks. The longer chilling time amps up the flavor.
-
What if the peppermint disks don’t fully dissolve?
If you see some stubborn bits, give the jars an extra shake, or gently stir with a spoon to help things along. Sometimes candy disks vary in hardness, so a little patience or extra shaking does the trick.
Final Thoughts
I used to struggle to find a simple yet impressive holiday shot recipe until I stumbled on this Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe. It’s become a staple at my parties because it’s easy, tasty, and festive. I know you’ll enjoy making and sharing these minty treats just as much as I do—give it a try and get ready for a crowd-pleaser that’s as fun to make as it is to drink!
Print
Peppermint Candy Cane Shots Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Total Time: 5 days 1 hr 5 mins
- Yield: Approximately 30-40 shots (based on typical 1 oz shot size from 750 ml bottle)
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Candy Cane Shots are a festive, peppermint-flavored vodka treat perfect for holiday celebrations. By infusing unflavored vodka with peppermint disks over several days, this recipe creates a sweet and minty shot with a delightful candy cane essence.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 20 peppermint disks
- 1 bottle unflavored vodka (750 ml)
Instructions
- Prepare Peppermints: Unwrap your peppermint disks and divide them equally by placing 10 peppermint disks into each mason jar.
- Add Vodka: Evenly pour the unflavored vodka between the two mason jars, ensuring each jar has an equal amount.
- Seal and Shake: Secure the lids tightly on each jar, then give each jar a gentle shake by turning it upside down to start the infusion process.
- Refrigerate: Place the mason jars in the refrigerator for 5 days to allow the peppermint disks to fully dissolve and infuse their minty flavor into the vodka.
- Mix the Layers: After 5 days, you will notice a white layer settled at the bottom of the jars. Turn the jars upside down for about an hour, then shake them well to redistribute the mixture evenly.
- Serve: Pour the infused vodka into shot glasses and enjoy your festive Candy Cane Shots!
Notes
- Make sure to tightly seal the mason jars to avoid any spills or contamination during the infusion time.
- The infusion period is critical to allow the peppermint disks to completely dissolve, so do not rush this step.
- If you notice any sediment, simply shake well before serving.
- Store the infused vodka in the refrigerator for best taste and freshness.
- This recipe yields two jars of peppermint-infused vodka, perfect for sharing at holiday parties.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 oz shot
- Calories: 65
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
