Homemade Peppermint Vodka with Christmas Cosmos

Gypsy Slow Down

Witt and I had fun making this the other night. Well, Witt helped because he likes to take over when he feels I'm making a mess in the kitchen he just cleaned. Which is usually always. I saw this recipe in my Rachel Ray magazine and was excited to try it. I found my glass bottles at Hobby Lobby. 

This makes a beautiful gift and is really yummy too. I have yet to find sugar-free peppermint candies (which were everywhere before I started looking) but when I find them I am going to try and make us a batch. I'll let you know how it turns out sugar free. 

Gypsy Slow Down

You will need to make these a few weeks in advance because the peppermints eventually dissolve and give off that minty taste and red color.

Peppermint Vodka

Ingredients:

2 cups crushed candy canes or peppermints
16 ounces good quality vodka
Glass bottle and cork

We used about 2 cups of crushed peppermints for these bottles but you should taste your vodka in a few days and see if you need more. I also added a tiny drop of red food coloring to each bottle to make the red a little stronger.

You simply pour the crushed candy into the vodka (have the vodka in the bottle first, leave about 2 inches of room at the top) and let it sit for a week or two.

I'm interested to see if the candy completely dissolves but if not I think it's kind of pretty to have it at the bottom of the bottle.

Gypsy Slow Down

I was excited to find Christmas corks at TJ Maxx because the bottle neck is so small I thought it would be difficult to find a match. Very festive.

Gypsy Slow Down

And what post about peppermint vodka would be complete without a drink recipe? I give you Christmas cosmos! Also known as peppermint cosmos. Perfect for the holidays.

Gypsy Slow Down

Peppermint Cosmo

1 cup pomegranate or cranberry juice
Juice of 1 lime
5 ounces peppermint vodka
8 ice cubes
4 sprigs fresh mint
Crushed up peppermints

Moisten rim of four martini glass and dip in crushed candy. Shake ingredients vigorously in shaker and strain into four glasses. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Sing Christmas carols loudly.

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