A few sweet and indulgent dessert libations on which to end your sumptuous holiday meal, latest homegate, or simply the year.
Santa Hats
"Whip up a round of these bright red cocktails for a true holiday treat!"
1 ¼ cups water
1 3-ounce box strawberry Jell-O
¾ cup vodka – add more if desired
1 whipped cream container
red food coloring (optional)
12 shot glasses
Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan or tea kettle. Pour into a 4-cup bowl and stir in the Jell-O until dissolved. Stir in the vodka. Add a drop of red food coloring, if you like a deeper red.
Fill each shot glass—or plastic, lidded shot containers, if you’re heading to the lot—about ½ full, leaving enough room for a fluffy, white layer on top. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
Smooth a hefty spoonful of the whipped cream across the top of each glass to resemble the rim of Santa’s cap. Delish.com goes one better. They cleverly smoosh an upside-down strawberry into the fluffy white layer and add a dot of whipped cream on the tip for a much better simulation of the iconic cap.
Tiramisu Martini
"An easy Tiramisu Martini touches on the deepest of dessert desires—chocolate and coffee. "
1 ½ ounces Kahlua (standard shot glass)
1 ½ ounces RumChata
1 ½ ounces Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1 ½ ounces heavy cream
whipped cream, chocolate shavings, ground coffee or cocoa, and lady fingers, for garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker about halfway with ice and pour in everything liquid. Shake until these thick, creamy components meld. Strain half into each martini glass. For an all-out tiramisu garnish, top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, ground coffee or cocoa, and lady fingers. Or for the choco-holics, rim the glass with cocoa and sprinkle on some chocolate shavings.
Pecan Eggnog
"Reminiscent of pecan pie, serve in two tumblers and sip it slowly over time or add a splash more bourbon, divvy it up between four (or more) intimate glasses, and enjoy it as more of a bite than a slice."
2 cups pecan milk
2 dates, soaked in hot water then drained
½ teaspoon grated nutmeg (plus more for garnish)
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ banana, frozen
3 ounces bourbon
In a high-powered blender, add the pecan milk, dates, nutmeg, cinnamon, and banana. Blend until smooth. Stir in the bourbon. Divide between two glasses (or more) and top with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
Hot Pumpkin Pie Cocktail
"A warm and cozy dessert cocktail served in a mug. Perfect for the holidays!"
2 cups RumChata
1 cup whipped-cream vodka
1 cup milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup whipped topping, for garnish
2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar
In a large saucepan, add the Rumchata, vodka, milk, and sugar. Stir constantly over medium heat, until you reach a boil. Stir in the pumpkin and spices. Let it reach a boil again as you stir until it’s smooth and creamy. Pour into the mugs. Drop a hefty dollop of whipped topping on top and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.
Caramel Apple Hot Toddy
"Easy to make in batches for your holiday family get-together or tailgates, this warm concoction elicits all the flavors of fall. Keep it warm in a crockpot for easy refills."
1 ½ cups Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka
½ gallon apple cider
½ cup bourbon (optional, but cuts the sweetness)
3 cinnamon sticks
In a large pot on the stove, combine all the ingredients. On medium-heat, bring to a simmer and leave it be until you’re ready to serve. Keep it warm and ladle into mugs, as needed. Top with apple slices, cloves or cinnamon.
Sugar Cookie Cocktail
"Creamy, indulgent cocktail with a smooth, buttery finish that tastes just like your favorite sugar cookie in boozy liquid form!"
7 ounces Bom Bom Nilli Vanilli
2 ounces vanilla vodka
2 ounces amaretto
¼ teaspoon natural butter or almond extract
2 teaspoons agave
sprinkles, cinnamon sticks, whipped cream, or colored sugar, for garnish
In a cocktail shaker of ice, pour in all the ingredients and shake until smooth and chilled, about as long as it takes to sing a fast verse of “Deck the Halls.” Strain into two tumblers of ice and garnish with anything sweet. Or rim the glasses beforehand with bright sprinkles or colored sugar.
Note: Bom Bom Nilli Vanilli is a Caribbean rum enhanced with almond milk and vanilla cookie flavors.