King Cake Martini

Celebrate Mardi Gras with a King Cake Martini! This twist on a classic dessert martini uses cinnamon vodka that you infuse yourself! (You can also purchase some from the store if that’s more your speed.) Mix it with hazelnut liqueur, white crème de cocoa, coffee liqueur and club soda to create the ultimate Carnival cocktail that looks and tastes like a traditional king cake. Makes up to 8 drinks.

Love Louisiana food? Don’t miss Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, Cajun Shrimp and Grits and No Churn Mardi Gras King Cake Ice Cream!

Three King Cake Martinis are served on purple napkins, surrounded by beads

With Fat Tuesday NEXT WEEK, what better time is there for us to mix up a dessert martini?

This King Cake Martini is sweet, utterly delicious and goes down soooooooooo easy that you’ll want a second or a third in no time. (Please heed my warning when I say to sip slowly, friends. Your head will thank you later.)

Why I love this recipe:

I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to mixing my own cocktails, and I chose to infuse my own cinnamon vodka for it. However, if you don’t have the time for that because it takes 5-7 days, you can find cinnamon vodka at the store.

The cinnamon vodka the key to making this dessert martini taste like a king cake… because king cakes have a lot of cinnamon in them, and I wanted the flavor to shine without being overwhelming.

join our party!

get our latest recipes delivered to your inbox every week — plus all my entertaining tips and tricks!


    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Combined with hazelnut liqueur, white crème de cocoa, coffee liqueur and club soda, it finds its balance. And with a rim of green, purple and yellow sugars, this cocktail looks the part of a King Cake, as well as tastes like one.

    Other recipes for Mardi Gras you might enjoy: Praline Cinnamon Roll King Cake | Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice | Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya | Instant Pot Gumbo | 18 Mardi Gras Recipes to Make This Carnival Season

    Need some more Mardi Gras inspiration? Head on over to my Mardi Gras recipe index for more ideas!

    Up your cocktail game!

    Subscribe for a FREE Mixed Drinks Cookbook to mix fast, easy and delicious drinks at home!

      We won’t spam. Promise. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Close up showing a desert martini rimmed with purple, green and yellow sugar on a marble countertop

      What you need to make a King Cake Martini (and cinnamon vodka)

      The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

      In addition to these tools, you’ll need a few ingredients, as well:

      • Vodka—you should use a drinkable kind for your cinnamon-infused vodka, mmkay? None of this bottom shelf stuff because we want it to taste good.
      • Cinnamon sticks
      • Hazelnut liqueur—Frangelico is the brand we have in our house, but whatever kind you have works.
      • White crème de cocoa
      • Cinnamon vodka—homemade or store-bought
      • Coffee liqueur—Kahlúa is the brand we have in our house, but any kind that you like will work!
      • Club soda
      • Green decorating sugar
      • Yellow decorating sugar
      • Purple decorating sugar
      Close up of a king cake martini on a purple napkin, surrounded by festive mardi gras beads

      How to make Cinnamon-Infused Vodka

      Measure the vodka into your mason jar, and add the cinnamon sticks. If they’re too large for the jar, break them in half.

      Cover the mason jar, and let sit at room temperature (preferably in a cool, dark place) for 5-7 days to infuse.

      Once infused, remove the cinnamon sticks, and strain with a fine mesh strainer. Transfer into a clean mason jar, and store until time to mix your martini(s).

      How to make a King Cake Martini

      First, rim the glasses with sugar. Dip the tips of the glasses into a shallow dish holding water. Sprinkle the three colored sugars onto a plate, careful to keep them separate. Dip the glasses’ edges into the sugar, and remove.

      In a cocktail shaker, combine the hazelnut liqueur, white crème de cocoa, cinnamon-infused vodka and coffee liqueur. Add ice and shake vigorously until combined.

      Pour the drink into the prepared martini glass(es). Top with club soda, and enjoy immediately.

      Overhead of three dessert martinis on purple napkins surrounded by purple, gold and green beads on marble

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Is a vodka martini really a martini?

      A classic martini has gin, but vodka martinis are a thing, too!

      What drinks are served at Mardi Gras?

      Some classic New Orleans drinks are Bourbon Milk Punch, Pimm’s Cup, Sazeracs and Hurricanes. You could also make a twist on a classic, like a Beignet and Coffee Cocktail Shake and a Blood Orange Daiquiri!

      What do you drink on Fat Tuesday?

      You can drink whatever you like at Mardi Gras. I listed some classic New Orleans drinks above, and everyone has their own type that they enjoy the best.

      A king cake martini on a purple napkin, surrounded by festive mardi gras beads

      Quick tips and tricks for the best King Cake Martinis

      • Give the vodka time to infuse! Don’t rush it because we want that cinnamon flavor to be beautiful.
      • Alternately, purchase cinnamon vodka at the store if waiting 5-7 days to mix this drink is too long for you. 😉
      • Make a batch if hosting friends or family for a Mardi Gras party. The vodka will make enough for 8 drinks, and you can always infuse double the vodka if you want to mix more!
      • Serve it with your favorite dessert, whether that’s a classic king cake or even king cake ice cream.

      And if you’re interested in one of these? Well, here’s how you can make it:

      Three King Cake Martinis are served on purple napkins, surrounded by beads

      King Cake Martini

      Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate
      Cheers to Mardi Gras and this King Cake Martini! The base of this drink is homemade cinnamon-infused vodka, which is made when cinnamon sticks are placed in a jar with vodka for 5-7 days. When the vodka is cinnamon-y, mix with hazelnut liqueur, white crème de cocoa, coffee liqueur and club soda. This Carnival cocktail looks and tastes like a traditional king cake. What better way to celebrate Mardi Gras than by sipping on a King Cake Martini?
      5 from 6 votes
      Servings 1 cocktail
      Calories 680 kcal
      Prep Time 5 minutes
      Infusion Time 5 days
      Total Time 5 days 5 minutes

      Ingredients
        

      Cinnamon-Infused Vodka (Makes 8 servings)

      • 4 oz. vodka
      • 2 cinnamon sticks

      King Cake Martini (Makes 1)

      • 1 ½ oz. hazelnut liqueur
      • 1 oz. white crème de cocoa
      • ½ oz. cinnamon vodka
      • ¼ oz. coffee liqueur
      • 2 ½ oz. club soda
      • Green purple and yellow decorative sugars, for the rim of the glasses

      As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Instructions
       

      Make the Cinnamon-Infused Vodka

      • In a mason jar, measure out the vodka.
      • Add the cinnamon sticks, breaking in half if too large for the mason jar.
      • Infuse for 5-7 days, then remove the cinnamon sticks and strain using a fine mesh strainer.
      • Transfer to a clean mason jar, and store until time to make the drinks.

      Make the King Cake Martini

      • Add the colored sugar rim to the martini glasses: Dip the martini glasses in a shallow dish holding water. Sprinkle the three colored sugars onto a plate, careful to keep them separate. Dip the glasses’ rims into the sugar, and remove. Set aside.
      • In a cocktail shaker, combine the hazelnut liqueur, white crème de cocoa, cinnamon-infused vodka and coffee liqueur and add ice.
      • Shake vigorously until combined.
      • Pour the drink into the prepared martini glass.
      • Top with club soda, and enjoy immediately.

      Notes

      Please note that the Cinnamon-Infused Vodka makes enough for EIGHT cocktails, but the cocktail recipe is just for one. You can easily double/triple/quadruple the recipe for cocktails, depending on how many need to be made.
      Please note that the total time does NOT include the 5-7 days for the vodka to infuse.
      If you want to make this without infusing your own cinnamon vodka, consider purchasing one from the liquor store! Several brands make them now.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1gCalories: 680kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 13gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 23gSodium: 4mgFiber: 17gSugar: 16g
      Keyword cinnamon martini, cocktail, dessert, dessert cocktail, dessert drink, drinks, mardi gras, Mardi Gras cocktail, Mardi Gras drink, martini
      Course Cocktails
      Cuisine American
      Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

      How do you feel about sweet drinks?

      Would you drink a King Cake Martini?

      A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

      About the Author:

      Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

      Similar Posts

      Before leaving a comment or rating, ask yourself:

      • Did you make the recipe as directed? If you didn’t or made an ingredient swap, please do not leave a rating. Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.
      • Is your comment helpful to others? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Please remember that this website is run by a real person.
      • Are you complaining about ads? I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising allows me to continue to do so at not cost to you. It is also unavoidable on the internet and in everyday life. If you want recipes without ads, please purchase a cookbook or borrow one from your local library.

      12 Comments

      1. I love the cinnamon vodka in these delightful cocktails! I really have to whip one up this weekend to toast the upcoming holiday – I promise I won’t drink tooooooo many lol 😉 maybe…

      2. Hi, please don’t mind me, I’m just hopping on a plane and will show up on your doorstep tonight so we can drink these allllll weekend. Sound good? Good.

        1. Come on down! We’ll drink ALL the martinis and make a traditional king cake and gorge ourselves on Cajun dishes for the Mardi Gras season. Sound good. 😉

      3. This looks like the perfect cocktail to celebrate Mardi Gras with! And love that cinnamon infused vodka. 🙂

      Leave a Reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating