By: Dani Kessel
[PSA: This article includes many recipes with alcohol. Please make sure, if you consume alcohol, that you do so in moderation. Know your personal limits and listen to your body. Drink one glass of water per serving of alcohol. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Don’t drink out of depression or anxiety (self-medication is never the answer). And absolutely DO NOT drink and drive.]
I adore autumn. Cozy jumpers. Nature painted with yellows, reds, oranges, and purples. Hayrides. The smell of a bonfire. Spooky stories. A sweet, crisp breeze against the face. This season is a gift to all the senses, especially taste! Autumn brings out the very best of food and drinks. There are apples, cinnamon, butterscotch, salted caramel, hazelnut, chai, pumpkin, maple, cranberry, pear, ginger, and pomegranate. These are some of my favorite flavor profiles. They can be combined in clever, unique ways and put you in the perfect mood for the season.
If you enjoy the tastes of Autumn, and you’d like to kick back with a beverage, I have 10 great cocktail and mocktail recipes for you.
All mocktails will be marked with an [M] after the name.
Spiked Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
4 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup pureed pumpkin
1/2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
2 ounces whiskey of choice
Milk (as needed)
Combine all your ingredients in the blender except the milk and mix until smooth. Add in small amounts until you reach your preferred consistency.
Peanut Butter Cup Martini
1/2 ounce chocolate syrup
1/3 cup ice
2 ounces of peanut butter vodka
1 ounce chocolate liqueur
2 ounces heavy cream
Marshmallow fluff and crushed Reese’s Pieces for rim of glass
Line the rim with marshmallow fluff and dip in crushed Reese’s Pieces for garnish. Drizzle the chocolate syrup inside the glass. Put ice, peanut butter vodka, chocolate liqueur, and heavy cream in a martini shaker. Shake for 30 seconds, then pour into the glass.
Apple Sidecar [M]
1/2 ounce orange juice
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce cinnamon apple syrup
Add all of the ingredients into a martini shaker, shake for 20-30 seconds, and strain the drink into a cup.
Pumpkin Spice Mocktail [M]
3 ¾ ounces ginger ale
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla syrup
Ice (if desired)
Pour ginger ale into the glass. Mix the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla syrup in a small bowl until smooth. Stir pumpkin mixture into the ginger ale until fully combined. Add ice, if you’d like some, then enjoy.
Pecan Pie Bourbon Cocktail
1 ½ ounces bourbon of choice
1 ½ ounces pecan praline liqueur
4 ounces ginger ale
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
Ice
Fill a cup with ice. Pour all the ingredients over the ice and stir.
Autumnal Pomegranate Temptations [M]
4 ounces apple cider
1 ¼ ounces pomegranate juice
1 ounce apricot nectar
3 ½ ounces soda water
A squeeze of lime juice
Mix together all ingredients and pour into a glass.
Boozy Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
4 ounces granulated sugar
2 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 quart whole milk
2 ounces hazelnut Frangelico
3 tablespoons bourbon of choice
Over low heat, whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a small pot. Quickly whisk in a third of the milk into the pot. Slowly whisk in the rest of the milk. Let heat to a simmer, then whisk in the Frangelico and bourbon. Once fully mixed, pour into mugs.
Caramel Apple Cocktails
2 ounces spiced rum
2 ounces apple liqueur
2 ounces caramel liqueur
1 ounce butterscotch liqueur
Caramel syrup
Drizzle caramel syrup into the cups. Shake all of the alcohol with ice in a cocktail shaker, then pour out the drink.
Butterbeer [M]
12 ounces cream soda
1/2 ounce butterscotch syrup
2 ounces heavy cream
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 ounce melted butter
To make the drink, stir together cream soda and butterscotch syrup. To make the foam, in a bowl, mix heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in sugar and vanilla extract, then fold in the butter until smooth. Put the drink in a cup, then top with the foam.
Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
1 ½ ounces bourbon of choice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Pinch of cinnamon
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a glass.
I hope these cocktail and mocktail recipes brighten up your autumn. They fit with a spooky Halloween movie marathon, Samhain celebration, or a harvest/Thanksgiving meal. Enjoy the many flavors of the season. If you pair any of them with a specific meal, feel free to share. And, let me know in the comments section which recipe is your favorite!
