Perfect White Russian

How to make a White Russian cocktail with Kahlua, vodka and cream.

Seriously Good White Russian Cocktail Recipe

How to Make the Best White Russian

Not only is a traditional White Russian simple to make, it is very easy to adapt. The basic recipe calls for coffee liqueur, vodka and cream. Below, we’ve shared lots of examples of how you can adapt the cocktail to your taste. We’ve even included a (delicious) vegan option.

How to Make the Best White Russian

To make the basic recipe, fill a small glass with ice. Add vodka and the coffee liqueur (we use Kahlua) then slowly pour cream on top. To get the cream to perfectly sit on top of the vodka and Kahlua, drizzle it slowly over the back of a spoon. Then when you are ready to drink, swirl the cream into the drink.

Adding the cream

Substitutions and Adaptations

  • White Russian with half and half or milk: If the cream is too heavy for you, try half and half, which is a combination of whole milk and cream. Or just use whole milk. Whole milk won’t sit perfectly on top of the Kahlua, but the drink will still be tasty.
  • How to make a vegan White Russian: Swap out the cream for coconut milk. Or try a nut milk like almond or cashew.
  • Kahlua substitutes: Try swapping out the coffee liqueur with crème de cacao or amaretto.
  • Vodka Substitutes: The vodka can be swapped for gin, bourbon or dark rum.
  • Make a White Russian with Bailey’s Irish Cream: Swap the cream for Irish cream.

Perfect White Russian

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Use the recipe below as a guide. You can (and should) tweak the recipe to your tastes. If you like it boozy, increase the vodka or add more cream for a richer cocktail. There are lots of substitutions you can make with this cocktail. Check the notes below for a few suggestions.

Makes 1 drink

You Will Need

2 ounces (4 tablespoons) vodka

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) coffee liqueur such as Kahlua, Tia Maria or Trader Vic’s Kona

1 to 2 ounces (2 to 4 tablespoons) cream

Ice

Directions

    1Fill a small glass — or rocks glass — with ice. Add the vodka and coffee liqueur and give it a few stirs to mix. Top with cream. For the layered look, slowly pour the cream over the back of a spoon held over the surface of the drink. Swirl the cream into the drink before drinking.

Adam and Joanne's Tips

  • White Russian with half and half or milk: If the cream is too heavy for you, try half and half, which is a combination of whole milk and cream. Or just use whole milk. Whole milk won’t sit perfectly on top of the Kahlua, but the drink will still be tasty.
  • How to make a vegan White Russian: Swap out the cream for coconut milk. Or try a nut milk like almond or cashew.
  • Kahlua substitutes: Try swapping out the coffee liqueur with crème de cacao or amaretto.
  • Vodka Substitutes: The vodka can be swapped for gin, bourbon or dark rum.
  • Make a White Russian with Bailey’s Irish Cream: Swap the cream for Irish cream.
  • Nutrition Facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA Supertracker recipe calculator to calculate approximate values. We assumed 1 ounce of cream.

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste

Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1 drink / Calories 317 / Protein 1 g / Carbohydrate 14 g / Dietary Fiber 0 g / Total Sugars 14 g / Total Fat 11 g / Saturated Fat 7 g / Cholesterol 41 mg / Sodium 12 mg
AUTHOR:  Adam and Joanne Gallagher
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6 comments… Leave a Review
  • Monica November 15, 2017, 9:15 am

    Love these! My husband and I were curious after watching the Big Lebowski recently, this cocktail is now in our repertoire.

    Reply
    • Adam October 18, 2023, 1:49 pm

      So glad you enjoyed your cocktail 🙂

      Reply
  • JulieD October 31, 2011, 1:17 pm

    Looks and sounds delicious! Thanks for linking up to my mojitos! 🙂

    Reply
  • Ali October 30, 2011, 12:53 pm

    looks refreshing and soothing, love the photo.

    Reply
  • JavelinWarrior October 29, 2011, 5:30 pm

    I seem to rarely drink anything with vodka because I have trouble getting past the alcohol’s wallop. But Baileys (and nutmeg) might just do the trick

    Reply
    • inspiredtaste October 30, 2011, 9:37 am

      Bailey’s will definitely help — plus, if you really don’t want the vodka, you could just skip it in the recipe – the drink will still be delicious.

      -Joanne

      Reply

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