Homemade Peppermint Vodka (2024)

Homemade Peppermint Vodka is the key to making the best minty fresh co*cktails for the holidays. Infuse peppermint candies with vodka for a sweet spirit you can enjoy in a mixed drink or as a shooter. Makes a great Christmas gift!

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Homemade Peppermint Vodka recipe

When it comes to the holidays, there is one thing that stands out above the rest.

Sure, yes, the love and the charitable giving and the Christmas spirit. All of that, absolutely, of course. But… We’re on a food blog, remember? The best part of Christmas is the SWEETS.

From gingerbread houses decked out with hundreds of colorful candies to antique tins filled with Christmas cookies and peppermint brownies, I’m here to tell you that this is the season for us sweet tooth. (Sweet teeth? I digress.)

When I was a kid, I loved candy canes. Those peppermint sticks were always such a treat!

I can’t say I’ve eaten many candy canes in the last few years beyond the crushed candy cane rim and garnish on this peppermint white chocolate martini.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Peppermint lovers can look to this homemade peppermint vodka for a sweet liquor for co*cktails and baking.

• It’s easy to infuse plain vodka with pieces of candy canes or starlight mints.
• Peppermint Vodka is a sugary, minty spirit that you can mix into all your favorite holiday drinks and desserts.
• It makes a great hostess gift at the holidays or you can gift it to the co*cktail lover in your life.

Its pink hue may look medicinal, but don’t forget that candy makes the world a better place this time of year!

Learning how to make peppermint vodka will just help you up your holiday co*cktail game. It’s a dream mixed into this peppermint hot chocolate.

Best peppermint candies

You’re going to want to use hard candy for the best results.

Those restaurant freebie starlight mints are what I used, but you could just as easily put use broken candy canes.

Starlight mints also come in a green color, which is fine to use but your final spirit will be green as well. Perfect for grinch co*cktails!

Best vodka for peppermint vodka

You will need a plain, unflavored vodka to make this recipe. If you already have a favorite brand vodka, go with that!

The best kind of vodka you can afford is going to give you the best taste for this Homemade Peppermint Vodka.

Cheap vodka is more likely to have that alcoholic smell and taste that’s not so nice to sip.

I usually use Tito’s for all my vodka co*cktails, but even a mid-range bottle like Smirnoff or Absolut can do the trick. Check out my Vodka 101 guide for more about this versatile spirit.

How to make peppermint vodka

The steps for making your own peppermint vodka are easy ones!

Once you have the infusion going, it’s pretty hands-off until you’re ready to bottle the mint vodka.

First, you’ll throw peppermint candies into a plastic jar or bowl with a lid.

I prefer glass so that the vodka doesn’t break down any plastic. Ceramic works too.

Then you’ll cover them with vodka and let them sit for a few hours, but no more than a day.

The vodka will instantly start turning pink if you’re using red-and-white colored candies, like this:

After a while, you can strain out any leftover pieces of candy with a fine-mesh strainer. They might be in one hard clump in the bottom of your jar.

Then put the peppermint vodka into swing-top bottles or mason jars and enjoy or give away as gifts!

Peppermint vodka substitute

If you need a quick substitute for peppermint vodka, you have a couple of options.

You can use 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract for every 1 cup of vodka. Peppermint extract is very strong, so you don’t need a lot.

You could also add ½ ounce of mint simple syrup for every 1 ounce of vodka.

Crème de menthe or peppermint schnapps make great substitutes.

But if you use it in lieu of crème de menthe, be mindful that your recipe would be a different color.

But that might be fun if you are looking for a pretty-in-pink, candy cane version of grasshopper pie or a classic grasshopper co*cktail!

What to make with peppermint vodka

There are a number of ways you can use peppermint vodka.

While Homemade Peppermint Vodka can be great on its own as a shooter, you can also sub it for peppermint extract, peppermint vodka or peppermint schnapps in most drink and baking recipes.

Try it in this chocolate peppermint fondue or stir it into a warm mug of hot chocolate.

Or better yet, shake up a peppermint s’mores martini, make a candy cane Moscow mule or mix it into a creamy White Russian!

Peppermint recipes for the holidays

If there’s anyone in your life who loves peppermint at Christmastime, this Homemade Peppermint Vodka would make a great present. Tell them to mix it into Christmas hot chocolate for a festive treat.

Decant it into a mason jar or pop-top bottle and tie it with a red ribbon for a super sweet gift they’ll love all season long.

Better yet, gift it with a batch of peppermint goodies, like these peppermint meringue cookies. Like any candy fiend, your mint-loving friends will thank you!