Salted Caramel White Russian Cocktail

This tasty twist on a classic White Russian cocktail adds the sweetness of caramel with a hint of flaky sea salt, making it an indulgent after-dinner drink.

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About Salted Caramel White Russian Cocktail

An elegant cocktail, the White Russian is a stunning drink – and very easy to make. Shots of vodka and coffee liqueur mix with heavy cream, creating a swirling two-toned effect that’s perfect on its own or as a dessert cocktail.

And when you add salted caramel to the mix? It’s like having a delicious iced coffee, but with the sweetest type of kick.

What is a white Russian?

Traditionally, a white Russian is a cocktail mixed with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream that’s served over ice in an old-fashioned glass. When prepared, it can either be shaken in a cocktail shaker (as pictured here) or the cocktail ingredients can be poured in such a way that the cream and alcohol create visual layers.

As for the name, the “white” part has to do with the heavy cream, and the “Russian” part is merely because some of vodka’s origins are rooted in Russia. The cocktail itself was first created and served at the Hotel Metropole in Belgium during the 1940s.

What’s in a salted caramel white Russian?

To whip up your own salted caramel cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Caramel sauce and flaky sea salt – The stars of the show! These ingredients let this cocktail live up to its namesake.
• Vodka – A classic cocktail ingredient. Feel free to use any brand of vodka you’d like – especially if you can get your hands on a caramel vodka! – but I tend to stick to brands like Smirnoff when making mixed drinks.
• Kahlua – Another staple to a white Russian: coffee liqueur.
• Heavy whipping cream – The key ingredient that makes this a “white” Russian. If heavy cream is too, well, heavy for you, you can substitute this for milk or other dairy alternatives – just keep in mind that a thinner cream may result in less of a layering effect within the drink.

Can you use caramel syrup instead of caramel sauce?

If you can only get your hands on caramel sauce, fear not! You can substitute it in this recipe, but you should reduce the amount by half. Caramel syrup is going to be sweeter and more potent than caramel sauce, so it’s safer to start off using less and only add more after taste testing.

Can you use salted caramel Kahlua?

Yes, salted caramel Kahlua exists, and yes, you can totally use it in this cocktail!

But keep in mind that when using flavored Kahlua, you may want to start off using less caramel and flaky sea salt. Adding too much could ruin your drink. Plus, you can always add more of either after you’ve done a taste test.

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Notes & tips for making this White Russian

• If you can track down salted caramel sauce, feel free to use it. Just remember that you may want to skip adding flaky sea salt garnish.
• If consistency matters to you, and especially if you prefer not to stir drinks like this, consider using caramel syrup over caramel sauce (and see the notes above about measurement changes). Caramel sauce will clump in liquid while caramel syrup will not.
• This drink can also be made with a cocktail shaker – just add all the ingredients, shake, then pour!

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How to make a salted caramel white russian cocktail

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – In a short cocktail glass, add some ice, filling it up about halfway. Drizzle caramel sauce along the sides of the glass.

Step 2 – Pour vodka and Kahlua over the ice.

Step 3 – Holding a spoon upside down over the mouth of the glass, pour the heavy cream over the spoon so that the cream drizzles down to the glass.

Step 4 – Drizzle with more caramel sauce and garnish with flaky sea salt.

Step 5 – Serve and enjoy!