The Christmas season is almost upon us. In addition to the lights, trees, presents, and all manner of other fun things, this holly jolly time of year also means tons of great food and drink. What's better on a cold winter night than a delicious holiday-themed cocktail? That's where the Brandy Alexander cocktail comes in.
While a Black Fog cocktail is more suited to Halloween, this creamy white cocktail is perfect for a snowy Christmas day. Whether you're making it for a party or for yourself after a long day, this drink scratches that festive but nostalgic itch in all the right ways.
Pleasing a crowd at your next party will be a snap with this dessert drink, especially if you serve it after a hearty turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
Simple and elegant all at once, this martini cocktail might even be good enough to be a year-round staple at your home bar. You can check out more holiday recipes for Christmas here.
Some more delicious Christmas cocktails you might be interested in are: this Moscow mule with cranberry juice and spiked Christmas punch.
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🍸 What is a Brandy Alexander?
A Brandy Alexander is a rich, creamy and slightly spicy, retro cocktail with notes of cinnamon and chocolate from the dark crème de cacao; it's almost like a more booze-forward version of the classic hot cocoa (except for the hot part).
🥃 Ingredients
- brandy - Brandy is distilled wine.
- crème de cacao - While I prefer dark crème de cacao, I find it very hard to get my hands on. It's usually sold out or not carried by the liquor stores I go to compared to clear crème de cacao, which I can always find. Clear crème de cacao is perfectly fine to use if you can't find dark. Dark has a richer flavor whereas light has more of a milk chocolate flavor.
- cinnamon stick + cinnamon powder - This will be used as a garnish. The stick is also handy for stirring.
- ice - To fill the cocktail shaker with and chill the drink.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
Chef's Note: You will also need a cocktail shaker and martini glass.
🥄 How to Make a Brandy Alexander
Step 1. Add Ice. Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
Step 2. Fill and Shake. Add the brandy, crème de cacao and heavy cream. Shake hard for about 12 to 15 seconds.
Step 3. Serve. Pour into a martini glass. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serve!
🍸 Another seasonal martini cocktail you might like is my pumpkin pie martini.
💭 Top Tips
There are a few secrets to make this Christmas cocktail even more amazing.
- Use high quality ingredients. The easiest way to do this is using premium quality cinnamon when you serve it, enhancing the earthy, spicy punch of the original and really bringing out the complexity of the brandy and chocolate of the crème de cacao.
- Chill it properly. This holiday beverage tastes best nice and chilled. Be sure to shake the ingredients in the cocktail shaker for at least 10 seconds. You will know it's cold enough when the outside of the shaker is frosted up. Your hands will likely feel it too.
- Trick to keep it extra cool. To keep it even cooler, you can chill the martini glass ahead of time and add a few ice cubes to the glass before straining the alcohol mixture into it.
❓ Recipe FAQs
The origins are unknown but it might have been named after a bartender at a New York City restaurant named Troy Alexander, who created it in celebration of Phoebe Snow (singer/songwriter). Brandy is one of the liquors used in the drink. Another rumor is that it was named after Alexander II, who was a Russian tsar.
Heavy cream is one of the main ingredients in a Brandy Alexander.
💚 More Holiday Recipes You Will Love
If you tried this Brandy Alexander Cocktail Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Brandy Alexander Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces brandy
- 1 ½ ounces heavy cream
- 1 ½ ounces crème de cacao - can use dark or light (clear)
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- cinnamon stick - garnish
- ice
Instructions
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Add the brandy, crème de cacao and heavy cream.
- Shake hard for about 12 to 15 seconds.
- Pour into a martini glass. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serve!
Equipment
Notes
- You can use clear (light) crème de cacao if you can't find dark. Dark has a richer flavor whereas light has more of a milk chocolate flavor. If you want your drink to be festively white for Christmas, use the clear crème de cacao.
- This holiday beverage tastes best nice and chilled. Be sure to shake the ingredients in the cocktail shaker for at least 10 seconds. You will know it's cold enough when the outside of the shaker is frosted up. Your hands will likely feel it too.
- To keep it even cooler, you can chill the martini glass ahead of time and add a few ice cubes to the glass before straining the alcohol mixture into it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
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