Mudslide

As much as I love a classic White Russian, when I’m looking for an extra-decadent dessert cocktail, I turn to the mudslide. If you're a Baileys fan, this drink is sure to be your new favorite after-dinner treat. It boasts all the ingredients in a White Russian—vodka, ​​Kahlúa, heavy cream—with an additional boozy, creamy boost from Baileys. The result is a creamy, sweet cocktail that is dangerously good. Here’s how to make it.

How To Make a Mudslide

INGREDIENTS

• Chocolate Syrup: I use chocolate syrup to decorate the glasses and impart rich cocoa notes that harmonize with the Baileys and Kahlúa. If you want to make things truly decadent, use melted chocolate instead.
• Heavy Cream: Adds a smooth, velvety texture and mellows the bold flavors of the Baileys and Kahlúa.
• Vodka: Serves as a neutral base spirit, allowing the other ingredients to take center stage.
• Baileys: Adds still more creaminess and infuses the cocktail with complex mixture of cream, whiskey, chocolate, and vanilla flavors.
• Kahlúa: Contributes bold, roasted coffee flavors with notes of caramel; balances the drinks creamy elements.
• Chocolate Shavings: A drink this decadent should be finished with a flourish. Whipped cream is typical, but I love the love and bittersweet aroma shaved chocolate brings to the glass.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

This is a drink best served as cold as possible, so I strongly recommend chilling your cocktail glasses in the fridge for 30 minutes before getting started—and while you’re at it toss the shaker in the fridge too! When you’re ready to get started, drizzle some chocolate syrup down the sides of the glasses to create a candy-striped effect. When done, drizzle more syrup into the bottom of the glasses to create an even layer.

Time to shake things up. Pull your cocktail shaker out of the fridge and pour in the cream, vodka, Baileys, and Kahlúa. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until the shaker is frosty; just 20 seconds should do it.

Strain the cocktail into the prepared glasses, sprinkle with shaved chocolate, and enjoy. Cheers!

Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• Get it cold: This is a drink that is best served cold—almost ice cold. I recommend chilling everything (except the syrup) before assembly—vodka, ​​Kahlúa, Baileys, cream, shaker, and cocktail glasses—to ensure that your cocktail is as cold as can be.
• Top it up: Your topping options are endless here! Whipped cream is the classic choice, but you could do something more fun like dipping the rims in chocolate syrup and coating them with crushed Oreos.
• Make it vegan: Good news! Baileys offers a vegan alternative made with almond milk. As for the heavy cream, there are a number of delicious plant-based alternatives made from soy, oats, or almond that you can sub in as well.
• Make it frozen: There are two ways to make a mudslide: shaken, as I did here, or frozen. If you want to give the frozen version a try, simply add all the ingredients (including ice) to a blender and blend until smooth.