Chai Toasted Cream White Russian – A Vodka Cocktail

Share this...

Last Updated on June 8, 2023 by Leah Hall

We used the Instant Pot for an ingredient in this! A beautiful winter White Russian cocktail recipe!

When people think of a pressure cooker like an Instant Pot they don’t associate it with anything to do with a cocktail. But, like we found with our Cherry Toasted Cream Ramos Gin Fizz, you can take a simple ingredient and transform it into something amazing! This can be just by toasting it! And since we still had some toasted cream left over from our first try at toasting cream in an Instant Pot.(Oh, and we loved the results we had with our Cherry Toasted Cream Ramos Gin Fizz!) We wanted to find another cocktail that we could use some toasted cream in!

White Russian Cocktail

We turned to another of the classic cream cocktails, the White Russian. This was the starting point for our next cocktail, the Chai Toasted Cream White Russian!

This post contains affiliate links for products that we think you as readers might find useful, and we make commission off of these! For more details about our affiliates, click our Disclosure and Contacts Page.

What is a White Russian?

Originally invented in the 1960’s, the original recipe calls for vodka, coffee liqueur and cream. It gets its name thanks to the kitschy trend of naming cocktails containing vodka after Russia (Moscow Mules anyone?) It might just be the most famous cream based cocktail, thanks to being featured in the movie, The Big Lebowski. The movie is where Jeff Bridge’s iconic character the Dude chooses to drink White Russians rather than a more “manly” drink!

Of course the Dude had his own kitschy name for the White Russian, calling it a “Caucasian”. He does this on a couple of the nine total times he drinks a White Russian in the Big Lebowski!

Different White Russian

The classic White Russian cocktail is said to be the perfect delivery vehicle for all of man’s culinary vices. Which are fat, sugar, caffeine and alcohol, and while this is true, the recipe could stand to have a bit more flavor added to it. How did we add flavor to a White Russian? Last winter we made a really great Salted Bourbon Butterscotch White Russian which was fantastic, but we didn’t want to go quite that sweet, so how about using some of that Instant Pot toasted cream? It brings all kinds of warm caramel and butterscotch flavors to the party without getting super sweet?

We first found out about toasting cream when we were reading an article by the great folks over at Serious Eats. They grabbed our attention by talking about how toasted cream might be even better than browned butter, plus they said we could use an Instant Pot to make it! Since we had just received an Instant Pot for Christmas, we were pretty exited to see a way to incorporate an Instant Pot into anything with a cocktail!

Toasted Cream Cocktail

What makes toasted cream so special and gives it that wonderful butterscotch and caramel flavor? Toasting the cream causes the sugars and proteins to undergo the Maillard reaction. It is one of the amazing chemical reactions that occurs when food is cooked and transforms those proteins and sugars. They tranform from simple flavors into complex aromatics and nutty flavors.

Add in some caramelization from heating and suddenly the cream is transformed from something simple smooth and rich. Then, into an ingredient that is nutty, warm and full of flavor (think rich golden brown cheesecake!)

What Ingredients are Needed for the Toasted Cream Chai White Russian?

• Chai Simple Syrup
  • Chai Tea
  • Sugar
  • Water
• Chai Toasted Cream White Russian
  • Toasted Cream
  • Vodka
  • Chai Simple Syrup
  • Kahlua Mocha

We couldn’t just stop with tweaking one ingredient to add flavor to the White Russian cocktail recipe, so we started thinking about what we could pair up with the toasted cream and the dark flavors of the coffee liqueur. One flavor that we kept coming back to was Chai tea, which not only goes really well with cream, but also has lots of warm baking spice flavors that pair up well with coffee!

If You are Looking for More Vodka Cocktails, Try These!

• Concord Grape Moscow Mule
• Latte Martini and Blueberry Pie Cocktail
• Adult Purple Cow
• Rosemary Grapefruit Moscow Mule
• Salted Bourbon Butterscotch White Russian
• Black and Tangerine Vodka Tonic
• Galaxy Moscow Mule
• Spicy Bloody Mary
• Polyjuice Potion
• Rhubasil

We made a chai tea simple syrup and when added to the White Russian we had made with the toasted cream, we loved the interplay of warm spices of the chai tea, the nutty butterscotch flavors from the toasted cream and the sweet darkness from the coffee liqueur!

How did we make the Chai Toasted Cream White Russian?

We like to make our Chai Toasted Cream White Russian cocktail recipe by building it in the glass. Sometimes you hear cocktail recipes call for building cocktails, which means that you add in all the ingredients in the glass it will be served in rather than making it in a shaker or a mixing glass. The reason we like to build a cocktail like the Chai Toasted Cream White Russian is we want to get that gorgeous appearance that you always see in the pictures for White Russians!

How to Make the Cocktail

We start making the Chai Toasted Cream White Russian by adding ice to a rocks glass. Then adding the chai syrup, vodka and coffee liqueur and stirring to mix. Since the cream is the star of a White Russian, we add that in last. Adding the cream in last lets the cream float on top of the spirits, making for a striking contrast between the bright cream and the dark vodka and coffee liqueur!

Once we serve the Chai Toasted White Russian, we instruct the drinker to stir it up to fully mix the toasted cream into the spirits. This is so that all the flavors can be enjoyed, almost like a delicious adult milkshake!

The Chai Toasted Cream White Russian should absolutely be on your list of cocktails to try! Full of warm spice flavors, nutty butterscotch and rich coffee flavors, the Chai Toasted Cream White Russian cocktail recipe is a satisfying after dinner cocktail that is just downright delicious! Try out our Carrot Cake White Russian, too!

Cheers!

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and tag #gastronomcocktails so we can see all the wonderful recipes YOU recreate from this site!

You can also subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!

Like this recipe? Try these below, too!

Prettay Good Latte Martini

Raspberry Peach Ramos Gin Fizz

Other White Russian Recipes

• Hot White Russian – The Spicy Apron
• Chocolate White Russian – Basil and Bubbly
• Gingersnap White Russian – Meg is Well
• Pink Peppermint White Russian – Kleinworth & Co
• S’mores White Russian – Meg is Well

Continue to Content

Yield: 1

Chai Toasted Cream White Russian - A Vodka Cocktail

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

A creamy twist on the classic White Russian cocktail, this toasted cream and chai tea version is sure to be a hit.

Print

Ingredients

Chai White Russian

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce Kahlua Mocha
• 2 ounces toasted cream
• .50 ounce chai simple syrup

Chai SImple Syrup

• 1 chai tea bag
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup sugar

Instructions

For the Chai Simple Syrup

Make a strong chai tea concentrate with boiling water and tea bag. Let steep 8-10 minutes.

Take out tea bag, pour into saucepan.

Add in sugar and bring back to a boil. Reduce liquid down slightly for 3-4 minutes. Cool.

For the Cocktail

Fill a rocks glass with ice.

Combine vodka, kahlua and chai simple syrup in the rocks glass.

Stir.

Top with toasted cream.

Stir to combine when served.

Cheers!

Recommended Products

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

• 
  Libbey Heavy Base 12-piece Rocks Glass Set
• 
  Instant Pot LUX60V3 V3 6 Qt 6-in-1 Muti-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, and Warmer
• 
  Twinings of London Organic and Fair Trade Certified Chai Tea Bags, 20 Count

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 383Total Fat: 12.6gSaturated Fat: 7.8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 84mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 4.5gProtein: 1.8g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Interested in stocking your own home bar? Make sure to see our favorites at our Amazon Store!

If you liked this post, don’t forget to subscribe for new (and of course free) recipes by entering your email address on the side bar (and get all the recipes delivered to your inbox when we post), so you don’t miss out on a thing. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Gastronomblog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Share this...