This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure.
In this pretty Gingerbread Cocktail, the cozy, festive flavors of gingerbread and eggnog blend with vanilla ice cream and spiced rum for a holiday treat that’s equally decadent and delicious. And it’s easy to make it into a nonalcoholic gingerbread milkshake for the kids!
Gingerbread anything is one of my favorite Christmas flavors. (If it’s right up your alley too, check out my gingerbread recipe roundup for inspiration!)
And of course eggnog.
And because it’s the holidays, a festive libation is in order. Spiced rum is a natural choice.
That was my train of thought when I came up with this frozen gingerbread cocktail recipe with rum. It combines the warm spices of gingerbread with the richness of eggnog and the creaminess of vanilla ice cream for a festive, decadent treat that’s hard to resist.
Even if you make your own simple syrup to rim the glasses, this cocktail takes just 10 minutes to whip up. It’s a great recipe to have up your sleeve for when you need a quick and easy Christmas cocktail.
And you can make a Christmas mocktail (read: gingerbread milkshakes!) for the kiddos instead with one easy swap. Skip the rum and add more eggnog!
Give this a try and I think it’ll become one of your new favorite holiday dessert cocktails.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s just so darn cute. The little gingerbread men (people?) take it over the top.
- And it’s absolutely delicious. Gingerbread cookies and eggnog are a match made in heaven. Even with the spiced rum, this gingerbread Christmas cocktail tastes like a milkshake!
- It whips up in 10 minutes, even with the pretty rimmed glasses. Keep this recipe on hand for when you have last-minute friends or family pop by during the holidays.
Ingredients
Breaking It Down
Ingredients Explained
In this section I explain the ingredients and give substitution ideas where applicable. For the full recipe (including the ingredient amounts), see the recipe card below.
Ingredients to Decorate the Rims:
- Sugar and water – these ingredients are for making a simple syrup; you first dip the rims in simple syrup so the crushed cookies stick. If you prefer, you can use store-bought simple syrup
- Crushed gingerbread cookies – this makes a delicious, festive-flavored rim for serving these cocktails; if you prefer, you can use festive colored sanding sugar instead
Frozen Gingerbread Cocktail Ingredients:
- Gingerbread men cookies – or homemade gingersnap cookies
- Vanilla bean ice cream – go for the good stuff here, after all it’s the holidays
- Eggnog – using eggnog instead of milk as the base adds tons of flavor
- Spiced rum – or regular rum, or vodka, or gin; or for a mocktail, omit the alcohol and use more eggnog
Garnishes and Toppings:
- Whipped cream – you can whip it yourself, use the stuff from a can, or even go with Cool Whip. Use what you love, I’ll never be the wiser
- Gingerbread men cookies – gingersnaps work great as a garnish too
- Cinnamon sticks – these are purely decorative
Instructions
Here are step-by-step photo instructions; to see the recipe video, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Rim the Glasses
Dip the rims of the glasses in the simple syrup, and then in the crushed gingerbread cookies.
Step 2: Crush the Cookies
Add the cookies to a blender and pulse a few times to break them up.
Step 3: Blend it Up
Add all remaining ingredients for the frozen cocktail to the blender, and blend until combined.
Pro Tip: Make a Gingerbread Milkshake
For a nonalcoholic version (aka, a milkshake!), simply omit the rum and add more eggnog.
Gingerbread Cocktail FAQs
Spiced rum is my favorite liquor paired with the flavor of ginger. Dark rum, light rum, gin, and vodka are all good choices, but some type of rum is definitely my favorite.
For this gingerbread cocktail recipe, you can use homemade gingersnap cookies or store-bought gingersnap cookies.
You might be wondering how strong this drink is.
This spiked drink makes 2 servings and has the equivalent of 1 shot per serving. As far as boozy cocktails go, it’s not too strong, but strong enough.
Be careful because with the creaminess of ice cream and eggnog and the spices of gingerbread cookies, this Christmas cocktail is easy to drink. Pace yourself and please drink responsibly.
More Festive Gingerbread Recipes to Make
Let’s Connect
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
Gingerbread Cocktail Recipe
Email This Recipe
Get this recipe link emailed straight to your inbox!
Ingredients
For the Rims:
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons crushed gingerbread cookies or colored sugar
For the Frozen Gingerbread Cocktail:
- 1/2 cup gingerbread men cookies or gingersnap cookies
- 1 1/2 cups vanilla bean ice cream
- 1/2 cup eggnog
- 3 ounces spiced rum 6 tablespoons
For Garnish:
Instructions
For the Rims:
- Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. This is called simple syrup.
- Dip the rims of 2 glasses in the simple syrup, and then in the crushed gingerbread cookies.
For the Frozen Gingerbread Cocktail:
- Add the cookies to a blender and pulse a few times to break them up.
- Add all remaining ingredients for the frozen cocktail to the blender, and blend until combined.
To Serve:
- Pour the frozen cocktail into the rimmed glasses. Top with the garnishes.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Nonalcoholic Version: To make this a milkshake instead, simply omit the rum and add more eggnog.
- Instead of Making Simple Syrup: You can use store-bought simple syrup instead.
- What Type of Cookies to Use Instead of Gingerbread Men: For this gingerbread cocktail recipe, you can use homemade gingersnap cookies or store-bought gingersnap cookies instead of gingerbread men.
- Important Note: Be careful because with the creaminess of ice cream and eggnog and the spices of gingerbread cookies, this Christmas cocktail is easy to drink. Pace yourself and please drink responsibly.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximate.
Share it with me on Instagram and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
Free Bonus
This sounds so good, and so simple to make! I usually make a base by steeping cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, fresh ginger, and a couple of peppercorns in half & half, straining it, and then adding molasses, brown sugar, and a few glugs of heavy cream. I also use ginger vodka and a splash of Bailey’s instead of spiced rum; I often serve it hot, like a boozy gingerbread version of hot chocolate, and with whipped cream on top. But your recipe sounds so much easier to make and so delicious! I love the idea of adding gingerbread cookies right into the cocktail. My family always requests that I make my gingerbread cocktail on Christmas Eve, but this year I think I’m going to make yours instead. Yum!!