Cherry flips have roots in old-fashioned flip cocktails, which were traditionally made by combining spirits, sugar, and rich dairy for a velvety, indulgent drink. This Cherry Holiday Flip is a playful, modern spin: cherry juice brings bright, festive color and flavor; vodka adds a clean backbone; vanilla ice cream provides that lush, almost custardy body; and a splash of cola lifts everything with gentle fizz and caramel notes. It’s the kind of dessert-in-a-glass you pull out for holiday gatherings when you want something that feels celebratory but doesn’t require a lot of prep or specialty equipment. If you enjoy classic ice cream cocktails or boozy milkshakes, this is an easy, crowd-pleasing way to bring a little retro charm to your holiday table.
Because this Cherry Holiday Flip leans rich and creamy, it pairs nicely with small, salty bites that balance its sweetness. Think spiced nuts, a simple cheese board with sharp cheddar or aged gouda, or even prosciutto-wrapped breadsticks. If you’d like to keep things in the dessert lane, offer crisp butter cookies, biscotti, or dark chocolate squares on the side—the bitterness of the chocolate, especially, plays well with the cherry and vanilla. Serve the flip in chilled coupe or rocks glasses, and if you’re entertaining, set up a small garnish bar with maraschino cherries, shaved chocolate, and citrus zest so guests can dress up their own drinks.
Cherry Holiday Flip
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
1 cup cherry juice (100% juice, chilled)
3 ounces vodka, chilled
2 cups vanilla ice cream (about 4 generous scoops)
2–4 tablespoons cola, chilled (to taste)
4–6 ice cubes (optional, for a thinner, frostier texture)
Whipped cream, for garnish (optional)
Maraschino cherries or fresh cherries, for garnish (optional)
Grated dark chocolate or chocolate shavings, for garnish (optional)
Directions
Chill your serving glasses in the freezer for at least 10–15 minutes while you prepare the drink. Cold glasses help the flip maintain its texture and keep the ice cream from melting too quickly.
In a blender, combine the cherry juice, vodka, and vanilla ice cream. If you prefer a slightly lighter, frostier drink rather than a thick milkshake-style flip, add 4–6 ice cubes as well.
Blend on medium speed until the mixture is completely smooth and uniform in color, about 20–30 seconds. Taste and adjust: if you’d like it stronger, add a splash more vodka; if you want it sweeter or creamier, add another small scoop of ice cream and blend briefly again.
With the blender on its lowest setting (or turned off), add 2 tablespoons of cola and pulse just once or twice to gently incorporate. You want to keep a bit of the cola’s fizz, so avoid over-blending. Taste and add up to 2 more tablespoons cola if you’d like a more pronounced cola note.
Remove the chilled glasses from the freezer and divide the mixture evenly between them. The texture should be thick but pourable, similar to a soft milkshake.
Garnish each glass with a dollop of whipped cream, a cherry on top, and a sprinkle of grated dark chocolate or chocolate shavings, if using. Serve immediately with a straw or a small spoon so guests can enjoy the creamy texture before it fully melts.
Variations & Tips
For a lighter version, swap half of the ice cream for an equal amount of cold whole milk or half-and-half; you’ll still get a creamy body, but the drink will feel less heavy. If you enjoy a more tart profile, use unsweetened cherry juice and compensate with a touch of simple syrup or honey so you can control the sweetness more precisely. You can also experiment with flavored vodkas—vanilla vodka will amplify the dessert-like quality, while citrus vodka adds a bright, contrasting note to the cherry. For a Black Forest-inspired twist, blend in 1–2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup and top with extra chocolate shavings. If you’re serving a mixed-age group, make a non-alcoholic version by omitting the vodka, increasing the cherry juice slightly, and adding a bit more cola; the result is a cherry-vanilla float that kids and non-drinkers can enjoy. To scale this up for a party, blend the base (cherry juice and ice cream) ahead of time and keep it chilled in the refrigerator, then stir in the vodka and cola just before serving to preserve both the alcohol’s brightness and the cola’s carbonation.