Peppermint Patty Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
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Colleen Graham
Updated 10/25/20
Peppermint Patty Cocktail
The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
362 Calories
0g Fat
44g Carbs
0g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 362
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 14mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 44g 16%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Protein 0g
Calcium 1mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The peppermint patty is a delicious cocktail that's sure to tantalize your sweet tooth. While there are a number of ways to make this drink, they all involve the yummy combination of chocolate and peppermint found in the little candies.

This particular recipe is a modern rendition of the popular cocktail. It combines chocolate vodka with peppermint schnapps and a cream liqueur such as RumChata. Shaken then served on the rocks, it's a creamy, sweet drink that might just be a little too good.

If you don't have the vodka and cream liqueur in stock, don't worry. The peppermint patty was around for many years prior to those two spirits hitting the market, so you can turn to one of the drink's retro recipes. These typically use crème de cacao for the chocolate liqueur, and you can substitute crème de menthe or Irish cream. If you prefer to skip the cream, you'll have an equally delicious peppermint patty, too.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces chocolate vodka
  • 1/2 ounce peppermint schnapps
  • 3/4 ounce cream liqueur
  • Garnish: peppermint patty candy

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for a Peppermint Patty Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the vodka, schnapps, and cream liqueur.

    Mixing a Peppermint Patty Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  3. Shake well.

    Shaking a Peppermint Patty Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  4. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with fresh ice.

    Straining a Peppermint Patty Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

  5. Garnish with peppermint patty candy. Serve and enjoy.

    Peppermint Patty Cocktail
    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Recipe Variations

  • One old-school peppermint patty stirs 1 1/2 ounces each of white crème de cacao and white crème de menthe in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass.
  • Another popular creamy mix combines 1 ounce each of peppermint schnapps and dark crème de cacao with 2 ounces cream in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass. Give it a couple of good shakes by placing a mixing tin or glass over the drink.
  • Use an unflavored vodka and add 1/2 ounce of chocolate liqueur.
  • Irish cream is a good substitute for either RumChata or cream.
  • The peppermint patty is fabulous when served up in a cocktail glass.
  • Heat up the mint-chocolate combo using the hot peppermint patty recipe.
  • For a fun party drink, try the peppermint patty shot.

Tips

  • Always strain shaken cocktails over fresh ice. The ice in the shaker is broken down and will over dilute the drink.
  • When using crème de menthe as a substitute, the white (or clear) version is preferred. Using green crème de menthe gives the drink a green color, which distinguishes this drink from a grasshopper.


How Strong Is the Peppermint Patty Cocktail?

The peppermint patty made with chocolate vodka is rather strong, weighing in at 23 percent ABV (46 proof). If you choose to mix up one of the older versions, they're much milder and fall between 7 percent to 13 percent ABV (14 to 26 proof), which is similar to wine. Also, some peppermint schnapps is 100 proof, which will create an even stronger drink. The peppermint patty's delicious taste can easily make you forget that it packs a punch.