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A close-up of a dark, bubbly Thanksgiving drink with ice cubes in a stemmed glass, perfect for holiday celebrations.

What Makes Perfect Thanksgiving Drinks? Try This

Discover how to create memorable Thanksgiving drinks that will impress your guests. This recipe offers a delightful blend of flavors to complement your festive meal.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 drinks
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Vanilla Bean Infusion
  • 1/2 cup honey or honey syrup
  • 1 vanilla bean split and scraped
For the Thanksgiving Cocktail
  • 2 cups vodka
  • 1 cup Kahlua
  • 1 cup cold espresso
  • 1/4 cup vanilla sugar optional, for rimming glasses
  • Ice cubes Ice cubes

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Fine-mesh sieve
  • Pitcher

Method
 

  1. Make the vanilla bean infusion: In a small saucepan, combine honey and scraped vanilla bean seeds and pod. Warm gently over low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let steep for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Strain the honey mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding the vanilla bean pod. You should have a vanilla-infused honey syrup.
  3. Prepare the cocktail: In a large pitcher, combine the vodka, Kahlua, cold espresso, and 1/4 cup of the vanilla-infused honey syrup. Stir well.
  4. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  5. To serve, rim glasses with vanilla sugar if desired. Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the chilled cocktail mixture over the ice.
  6. Adjust sweetness by adding more vanilla-infused honey syrup to taste.

Notes

For a non-alcoholic version, omit the vodka and Kahlua. Increase the espresso and add a splash of coffee liqueur syrup or a bit more vanilla-infused honey syrup. You can also add a splash of cream or milk for a creamier texture.

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