Get ready to bottle up some holiday cheer with this incredibly easy Festive Candy Cane Infused Vodka! This simple infusion transforms plain vodka into a vibrant, peppermint-flavored spirit that’s perfect for Christmas cocktails or gifting. I know it’s only mid-April right now (April 16, 2025, to be exact!), and candy canes might seem a world away, but I absolutely love planning ahead for the holidays, and this Candy Cane Infused Vodka is too fun and easy not to share now! It requires just two main ingredients and a little patience, resulting in a beautiful and delicious infusion perfect for the festive season later this year.
Why You’ll Love This Candy Cane Infused Vodka
- Incredibly Easy: Just combine vodka and candy canes – that’s basically it!
- Festive Flavor & Color: Captures the cool peppermint taste and fun red-and-white aesthetic of candy canes.
- Perfect DIY Gift: Bottle it up nicely, and you have a fantastic homemade gift for friends and family during the holidays.
- Great for Holiday Cocktails: The perfect base for creating unique Christmas and winter cocktails.
- Fun Project: Watching the candy canes dissolve and infuse the vodka is a fun process.
Ingredients for Candy Cane Infused Vodka
Here’s what you’ll need for this super simple holiday infusion. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Infusion
- Mini candy canes (Candy)
- Vodka (Liquor)
Serving/Garnish (Optional)
- Crushed candy canes (for rimming glasses) (Candy)
- Club soda, tonic water, or seltzer water (Mixer)
- Ice Cubes
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
The classic peppermint flavor is key for Candy Cane Infused Vodka, but you could experiment:
- Different Flavored Candy Canes: Try infusing with cherry, berry, or other flavored candy canes for a different twist (color and flavor will vary!).
- Add Vanilla: Add a split vanilla bean to the infusion along with the candy canes for a peppermint-vanilla flavor.
- Use Different Spirits: While vodka is neutral, you could try infusing white rum for a peppermint mojito base, though the flavor profile will change significantly.
- Lower Sugar: Note that the sugar from the candy canes dissolves into the vodka, making it sweeter than plain vodka.
How to Make Candy Cane Infused Vodka
Let me show you how incredibly easy it is to make this festive Candy Cane Infused Vodka:
Infuse the Vodka
- First, I pour the vodka into a large glass container or jar with a lid (like a large Mason jar).
- I unwrap the mini candy canes and place them directly into the vodka.
- I seal the container and let it sit at room temperature for 2 or 3 hours, or until the candy canes have completely dissolved. I give it a gentle swirl occasionally to help the process along.
Prepare Glasses (Optional)
- When I’m ready to serve, if I want a festive rim, I crush some extra candy canes finely. I place the crushed candy on a small shallow plate.
- I moisten the rim of my cocktail glasses (a little water or lime juice works).
- I dip the moistened rims into the crushed candy canes until coated.
Serve
- Once the candy canes are completely dissolved in the vodka, I give the Candy Cane Infused Vodka a good shake or stir. Note: Candy canes can sometimes leave a little sediment; this is normal. You can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve or coffee filter if it bothers you, but I usually don’t find it necessary.
- I pour the infused vodka into the prepared glasses filled with ice cubes.
- I can serve it straight, on the rocks, or top it up with club soda, tonic water, or seltzer water for a festive spritz!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Infused Vodka
Here are my secrets for making perfect Candy Cane Infused Vodka:
- Use Mini Candy Canes: They dissolve much faster than full-sized candy canes due to the greater surface area.
- Glass Container: Use a clean glass jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid for the infusion.
- Be Patient: Allow enough time for the candy canes to dissolve completely for the best flavor infusion.
- Shake Before Serving: Give the infused vodka a good shake or stir before pouring, as some sugar or sediment might settle.
- Adjust Sweetness in Cocktails: Remember this infused vodka will be sweeter than plain vodka due to the dissolved candy. Adjust other sweeteners in your cocktails accordingly.
How to Serve
This Candy Cane Infused Vodka is perfect for festive holiday cocktails! Try it:
- On the Rocks: Simply served over ice.
- With Soda: Mixed with club soda, tonic water, or lemon-lime soda for a simple highball.
- In Festive Martinis: Use it as the base for peppermint martinis (e.g., with white creme de cacao and a splash of cream).
- With Hot Chocolate: Add a shot to hot chocolate for a boozy peppermint patty flavor.
- As a DIY Gift: Poured into decorative bottles with a ribbon and tag – perfect for holiday gifting!
Serve chilled.
Make Ahead and Storage
This infusion is the make-ahead step! Store the finished Candy Cane Infused Vodka in a sealed glass container or bottle in a cool, dark place (like a pantry or cupboard) at room temperature. It should last for a very long time due to the alcohol content, easily through the holiday season and beyond. Shake well before each use.
FAQs about Candy Cane Infused Vodka
- Can I use full-sized candy canes?
- Yes, but you’ll need to break them up into smaller pieces, and they will take significantly longer to dissolve completely compared to mini candy canes.
- Will the vodka turn red?
- Yes! As the red stripes dissolve, the vodka will take on a festive pink or red hue, depending on how many candy canes you use.
- What kind of vodka should I use?
- A decent quality, neutral-tasting vodka works best. No need for top-shelf, but avoid the cheapest plastic bottle stuff for the smoothest result.
Enjoy making and gifting (or sipping!) this fun and festive Candy Cane Infused Vodka! It’s a super simple way to add holiday cheer to your bar cart.
Print
Candy Cane Infused Vodka
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Infusion Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
- Category: Drinks, Infusion, Holiday, Christmas
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Candy Cane Infused Vodka is a festive and easy way to capture the flavor of the holidays in a bottle! Mini candy canes dissolve into vodka, creating a sweet, peppermint-infused spirit perfect for seasonal cocktails.
Ingredients
- 25 mini peppermint candy canes
- 4 cups vodka (good quality recommended)
- 1/2 cup crushed candy canes, for rimming glasses (optional)
- Club soda, tonic water, or seltzer water, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Candy Canes: Unwrap the 25 mini candy canes.
- Combine Vodka and Candy Canes: Pour the 4 cups of vodka into a large glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Add the unwrapped mini candy canes to the vodka.
- Infuse: Seal the container. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours, or until the candy canes have completely dissolved. You may need to shake or stir the container occasionally to help the candy canes dissolve. Note: Some sediment from the candy canes may settle at the bottom; this is normal.
- Prepare Glasses (Optional): If desired, prepare your cocktail glasses. Crush additional candy canes into a fine powder or small pieces. Place the crushed candy canes on a small plate. Moisten the rim of each glass with water or a lime wedge, then dip the rim into the crushed candy canes to coat.
- Prepare for Serving: Once the candy canes are dissolved, shake or stir the infused vodka well before pouring to redistribute any settled sediment.
- Serve: Pour the candy cane infused vodka into the prepared glasses filled with ice cubes. Top with club soda, tonic water, or seltzer water, if desired, or serve straight.
Notes
- Candy Canes: Standard red-and-white mini peppermint candy canes work best for flavor and color.
- Vodka: Use a decent quality vodka; the better the vodka, the smoother the infusion will taste.
- Dissolving: It may take a few hours for the candy canes to fully dissolve. Shaking or stirring periodically helps. Some sediment is normal.
- Rimming: Crushing the candy canes finely works best for rimming the glasses.
- Serving: Enjoy this vodka chilled, on the rocks, or mixed with club soda/seltzer/tonic. It’s also great in festive cocktails like peppermint martinis.
- Storage: Store the candy cane infused vodka in a sealed glass container in a cool, dark place. It should keep well for several months. Shake or stir before each use.