B`s Creamy Gift

This B`s Creamy Gift is a sweet, decadent dessert in a glass. It leans heavily into a creamy, boozy milkshake vibe, perfect for those with a sweet tooth or anyone craving a liquid treat after dinner. Expect a rich blend of banana, hazelnut, and vanilla, smoothed out with cream and a hint of fizz. It is a crowd-pleaser for casual nights or a relaxed after-dinner indulgence.

B`s Creamy Gift

4.69 from 22 votes

Calories: 828kcal

Prep Time: 3

Total Time: 5

Instructions

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Fill pint glass with ice and proceed to build drink. Add the Frangelico. banana liqueur. vanilla Vodka and Creme de cacao. Cap the glass and shake ingredients. then top off with cream and finish with a couple splashes of cream soda.

Estimated Nutrition:

Calories: 828kcal (41%)Carbohydrates: 50g (17%)Sugar: 48g (53%)

Cocktail

Where it came from

The B`s Creamy Gift likely emerged from the late 20th century cocktail boom, a time when dessert drinks and creamy concoctions became popular in casual dining establishments and bars across North America. It is a modern creation, designed more for indulgent flavor than historical pedigree, appealing to those seeking a sweet, approachable cocktail.

This drink sits comfortably in the dessert cocktail family, alongside popular choices like the Mudslide or the White Russian. What separates B`s Creamy Gift is its distinctive combination of banana and hazelnut, offering a flavor profile that is less about coffee or chocolate and more about a fruity, nutty confection.

You would typically find this drink served in a relaxed, social setting. Think a neighborhood bar with a varied menu, a casual restaurant offering sweet after-dinner options, or as a fun, easy-to-make treat at a house party. It is not a classic cocktail bar staple, but it certainly has its place.

What it tastes like

The first sip of B`s Creamy Gift delivers a creamy rush of vanilla and banana, reminiscent of a gourmet banana milkshake. Mid-palate, the hazelnut liqueur emerges, adding a warm, nutty depth that balances the initial sweetness. The finish is smooth and lingering, with a gentle touch of cream soda fizz keeping it from being overly heavy.

With roughly 5.5 ounces of spirits in a large glass, this drink packs about 1.4 ounces of pure alcohol, placing its overall strength around 11% ABV. This makes it considerably stronger than a typical light beer, which hovers around 4-5%, but generally less potent than a spirit-forward classic cocktail like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.

The technique

Start by filling a pint glass with fresh ice. Pour in the banana schnapps, white creme de cacao, hazelnut liqueur, and vanilla vodka directly over the ice. Cap the glass tightly and give it a good, hard shake to thoroughly chill and combine the spirits. Uncap, then top the mixture with the specified amount of cream, and finish with a couple of splashes of cream soda for a slight effervescence.

The key technique here is the initial hard shake of the spirits with ice. This ensures all the liqueurs and vodka are perfectly chilled and integrated before the cream and soda are introduced. Skipping this step means a less uniform temperature and flavor, resulting in a drink that feels less cohesive and potentially too warm.

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Ingredient Spotlight

The bottles that make or break this drink.

Hazelnut Liqueur

Use: Frangelico is the standard here, offering a rich, toasted hazelnut flavor. Any quality hazelnut liqueur around 20-22% ABV will work well.
Skip: Nut-flavored syrups. While they add sweetness, they lack the boozy depth and complex nutty notes that a true liqueur provides, making the drink thin.
Why: Hazelnut liqueur is crucial for the drink’s signature nutty backbone, providing a counterpoint to the sweetness and creaminess of the other ingredients.

Banana Schnapps

Use: Look for a clear banana schnapps around 15-25% ABV. Brands like Bols, DeKuyper, or Hiram Walker are common and suitable choices for this application.
Skip: Banana puree or fresh banana. While delicious, these will significantly alter the texture and sweetness balance, making it more of a smoothie than a cocktail.

Three Variations

Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.

Chocolate Creamy Gift

Swap banana for mocha magic: Replace the banana schnapps with a coffee liqueur like Kahlúa or Tia Maria for a richer, mocha-like dessert cocktail experience.

Nutty Coconut Gift

Tropical twist on a creamy classic: Substitute the vanilla vodka with coconut rum and add a splash of coconut cream to lean into a more tropical, piña colada adjacent flavor profile.

Spiced Creamy Gift

Warm and inviting for colder nights: Infuse the vanilla vodka with a cinnamon stick or a few cloves, or swap it for a spiced rum, to introduce a warming, aromatic complexity to the drink.

What if I don't have…

Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.

No Banana Schnapps?

Use 1 oz of a banana liqueur (such as 99 Bananas or a higher proof creme de banane) and adjust sweetness if necessary.

No Hazelnut Liqueur?

Amaretto (almond liqueur) is a decent substitute, offering a similar nutty sweetness, though the flavor profile will shift from hazelnut to almond.

No Cream?

Half-and-half or whole milk can be used for a lighter body. For a dairy-free option, use a quality oat milk or coconut cream, understanding the taste will change.

No Cream Soda?

A splash of regular club soda or sparkling water with a dash of vanilla syrup can mimic the effervescence and some of the flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.

What is in a B`s Creamy Gift?

A B`s Creamy Gift contains banana schnapps, white creme de cacao, hazelnut liqueur, vanilla vodka, cream, and a splash of cream soda.

Is B`s Creamy Gift a strong drink?

It is a moderately strong drink, typically around 11% ABV, making it stronger than most beers but less potent than many spirit-forward classic cocktails.

What does B`s Creamy Gift taste like?

It tastes like a sweet, creamy dessert in a glass, with prominent flavors of banana, vanilla, and hazelnut, finished with a subtle fizz.

Is this considered a dessert cocktail?

Absolutely. With its sweet, rich, and creamy profile, the B`s Creamy Gift is designed to be enjoyed as a decadent after-dinner treat.

Can I make B`s Creamy Gift without alcohol?

You can make a non-alcoholic version by substituting banana syrup, hazelnut syrup, and vanilla syrup for the liqueurs and vodka, then mixing with cream and cream soda.

What is the best way to serve B`s Creamy Gift?

Serve it in a chilled pint glass, preferably with fresh ice, immediately after preparation to ensure optimal temperature and fizz.

Can I prepare B`s Creamy Gift ahead of time?

It is best made fresh. The cream and cream soda components do not hold up well if mixed too far in advance, losing texture and effervescence.

What kind of cream should I use?

Heavy cream or half-and-half work best for a rich, smooth texture. Avoid whipped cream unless you intend it as a garnish.

From the Drink Lab catalogue

Drink Lab has been collecting cocktail recipes since 2013. Some we wrote ourselves, plenty came in from readers, and the rest got passed across a bar somewhere along the way.

Last updated May 8, 2026 · 1 min read