In this paper the effect of small amounts of palladium deposited on gold nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon (core-shell structure denoted Au@Pd/C) is studied. Different nominal atomic compositional ratios of Au@Pdx maintaining fixed gold nuclei and varying the amount of palladium (x = 0.10; 0.80 and 1.60) were synthesized via seed growth method for the ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline medium. UV–Vis spectrometric, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electrochemical measurements were performed for the characterization of these catalysts. Electrocatalytic activity toward ethanol oxidation on Au@Pd/C catalysts were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry showed that Au@Pd0.10/C electrocatalyst has the highest current density and low onset potential for ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline medium. In-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements demonstrated that acetate is the main product of ethanol oxidation and CO2 can be slightest observed, the latter could be visualized in greater quantity on catalyst Au@Pd0.80/C catalyst.