Nothing says “holiday cheer” quite like the smell of gingerbread – and this creamy cocktail captures that festive magic in a glass. The Gingerbread Martini is rich, smooth, and perfectly spiced, with just the right balance of sweetness and warmth.

Ingredients

• 60 ml vodka
• 60 ml Irish cream liqueur (such as Baileys)
• 30 ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa)
• 60 ml milk or cream
• 1 tbsp gingerbread syrup or ½ tsp ground ginger and ½ tsp cinnamon
• Ice cubes
• Crushed ginger biscuits or brown sugar, for the rim
• 2 gingerbread cookies, for garnish

Method

1. Prepare your glasses by running a little syrup or cream around the rim, then dipping them into crushed ginger biscuits or brown sugar.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the vodka, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, milk or cream, and gingerbread syrup.
3. Shake well until chilled and frothy.
4. Strain into two martini glasses.
5. Garnish each glass with a small gingerbread cookie on the rim.

Ingredients

For the gingerbread cookies:
• 2¼ cups plain flour
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup golden syrup or molasses
• 1 egg

Method

1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.
2. In another bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light. Add the egg and golden syrup, then beat again.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
4. Roll out on a floured surface and cut into shapes.
5. Bake at 180°C for 8–10 minutes, until golden. Cool completely before using as garnish.