BETTERSWEETDRINKS

Home / Cocktails

Cream swirling through a White Russian with a chocolate-eyed marshmallow ghost on a pick across the rim
Illustrative image; the marshmallow garnish is made by hand as described below.

Cocktails

Halloween Ghost White Russian

By Jim ·

A Ghost White Russian is a classic White Russian (2 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liqueur, 1 oz heavy cream over ice) topped with a marshmallow ghost with chocolate eyes. It takes about 10 minutes and has roughly 349 kcal and 21% ABV per drink.

This Halloween Ghost White Russian is a coffee-and-cream cocktail with a little edible ghost watching over the glass. The decoration is a shaped marshmallow on a pick across the rim, so guests can lift it off and eat it. Pour the cream last for the cloudy swirl; give the drink a stir before sipping if you want the coffee flavor evenly mixed.

1 cocktail·10 min

Made and tasted on 27 Sep 2026 by Jim. How we test recipes.

Save to Pinterest

Have ingredients already? Find cocktails you can make with My Bar.

WHAT YOU NEED

Ingredients

Servings1

METHOD

How to make it

  1. Make the ghost first. With clean kitchen scissors, snip two shallow notches into one end of the marshmallow to make a wavy bottom. Use a toothpick dipped in melted chocolate to dot on two eyes. Let the chocolate set for a minute, then carefully thread the marshmallow onto a cocktail pick so the ghost sits upright when the pick rests across the rim. Keep the sharp end away from the person drinking.
  2. Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour in the vodka and coffee liqueur, and stir briefly to chill.
  3. Slowly pour the cold cream over the back of a spoon just above the ice. Let it run into the coffee mixture for a cloudy swirl. Rest the ghost pick across the rim and serve immediately.

Recipe notes

Keep the pick above the drink and its sharp end away from the guest. Stir before drinking if desired.

Common questions

Can I make it ahead for a party?

Shape and decorate the marshmallows earlier in the day and keep them covered at room temperature. Measure the vodka and coffee liqueur into individual glasses when guests arrive; add ice and cold cream just before serving. The garnish stays above the liquid, so it will not turn soggy while guests take photos.

Is there an alcohol-free version?

Replace the vodka and coffee liqueur with 3 oz cold decaf coffee mixed with 1 teaspoon maple syrup. It will taste like an iced coffee rather than a White Russian; keep the cream and ghost garnish.

For a brighter Halloween drinks table, pair it with our Blackberry Witch Fizz or the Black Cherry Bourbon Smash.

More drink recipes