Drinks In Recipes

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to put on a pot of hot cocktails and call up some friends for some holiday cheer. This week for our 10-Minute Happy Hour, the classic Buttered Rum cocktail gets nutty with a little browned butter. Butter in your cocktail is a bit odd, but even I can admit that this drink — like anything with a little butter — is delicious.

Complete with toasty marshmallows, of course.

So delicious and simple to make, the Boulevardier is one of those cocktails that seems primed for the spotlight yet never manages to capture our attention. You’d think that, what with the soaring popularity of the Negroni, a drink that differs from it by only one ingredient would enjoy some reflected glory. But this handsome devil has instead kept a relatively low profile. So here’s to giving the Boulevardier its due.

This is the perfect cocktail (or mocktail) to serve with your Thai feast. The flavors are light and delicate, and they perfectly evoke lazy summer evenings, even when it’s cold and dreary outside. This drink is a riff on the classic mojito, but made with very traditional Thai ingredients. I love how the combination of aromatic Thai basil, lime, and lemongrass syrup make for a refreshing, clean drink.

How did I end up with half a dozen astronaut high-ball glasses and a 20-ounce container of Tang powder? It’s a long story that starts last December at my daughter’s school fundraiser where we auctioned off dinner for six at my house. Bidding far exceeded expectations, and the winner ended up being a friend who bought the dinner for her partner’s birthday.

Today is the first day of spring — does it feel like it where you are? It’s still cold in my Midwest neighborhood, but all the telltale signs of spring are here. It’s the perfect day for The Hint of Spring, a rum, blackberry, and sage cocktail created for our team retreat a few weeks ago. Back in February The Kitchn team took itself far away from the snow and the ice, all the way down to St.

I love the fact that strawberry and spring both start with the letter s. It makes certain alliteratively-inclined parts of my job so easy. Throw in the words sparkling and sipper and this title would have seeped into your brain so deep you’d never shake it off.

Kelli and Ariel recently hosted a dinner party inspired by The Kitchn Cookbook, and this week they’ve been sharing all the recipes and tips! Every party deserves a good cocktail, and for this one, we decided to make something new, inspired by the Mediterranean appetizer and dessert — both of which included pomegranate. This complex and vibrant cocktail is perfect for one and easily adaptable for a gathering.

With BBQs and the season of outdoor entertaining upon us, don’t get caught empty-handed heading into your next get-together. When a bottle of wine won’t do, try making your own hostess gift! At the peak of strawberry season, turn a basket of these juicy gems into some DIY strawberry syrup to gift to friends and family. An edible gift is one of the most practical yet personal items worth sharing.

This syrup was inspired by a drink at Vena’s Fizz House in Portland, Maine, which is an amazing emporium of handcrafted cocktails and mocktails made with in-house syrups and bitters. Made with just a few ingredients, this is the cherry soda you’ve always dreamed of, with just a hint of velvety oomph from a whole vanilla bean. Stir it into plain seltzer for a just-sweet-enough soda, or go crazy and make homemade Cherry Coke (or Pepsi, if that’s your thing).

While wine and beer are perfectly fine accompaniments to Thanksgiving dinner, I love the idea of serving a festive cocktail — one that highlights seasonal produce and tastes like fall in a glass. This cranberry-apple Moscow Mule definitely fits the bill. Traditionally a Moscow Mule contains vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, but this recipe swaps the lime for cranberry juice and sparkling apple juice. It’s festive and refreshing, with warm, spicy undertones from the ginger beer.

We’re at the holiday interlude, that all-too-short period of time between the big festive meals of Thanksgiving and Christmas, which means it’s the perfect time to take a break from all the ripping and running, and stock up on refreshing smoothie recipes. Mix up any one of these colorful blends the next time you need a recharge, a quick hit of veggies, or something sweet and satisfying to sip on between all that holiday shopping.

Look out, Starbucks! I’ve got a simple holiday drink up my sleeve that’s easy to make, and even easier to guzzle by the glass. This creamy peppermint mocha breakfast shake will give your morning a kick and ignite your holiday spirit. Did someone say we could add crushed candy canes to breakfast items during the holidays? Yes? Perfect. I’m all in. This shake is so creamy, it almost could pass as chocolate mousse.

Don’t you especially love the parties and get-togethers that happen just after Christmas? I do. The stress is lower, the gifts have been given, and the vibe is all about hanging out with family and friends and welcoming in the new year. I’ve already picked up a few boxes of wine for the holiday season — some for sipping, some to cook with, and some to use as a cocktail mixer.

Rosé has everyone’s attention, and now that it has finally received the praise it deserves, I thought one day of this week’s series on wintry boxed wine pitcher cocktails should be dedicated this wine that’s so often associated with summertime. You can tell by the gorgeous holiday color why I thought it was an appropriate fit this week. This serious pink cocktail is for those with a slant toward the bitter side.

Give us fruit, give us fizz, and don’t forget a splash of something boozy. This year sangria, pitcher cocktails, and one creamy, dreamy milkshake stole the show when it came to the things we loved to stir, shake, sip, and pour. The double punch of fresh peaches and peach brandy really make this sangria seem like summer in a glass. We bet you’ll love munching on the flavored fruit after finishing the whole pitcher.

Mors is a tart, berry-based refresher that has a heck of a pedigree — it was first mentioned in the sixteenth-century Russian homemaking manual “Domostroy.” Although it’s frequently made from cranberries, mors can easily be made with just about any kind of wild or cultivated sour berries.

squash Although squashes are typically diluted with still or carbonated water, they can also be used as cocktail mixers. Classic British squashes include lemon, orange, and blackcurrant, while in other parts of the world, such as India and Southeast Asia, you’ll find squashes made from local fruits like mango, pineapple, and lychee. Flavoring this syrup with citrus peels gives it a more complex and concentrated flavor than you’d get from plain juice.

This bright new riff on the classic switchel features turmeric, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antiviral agent. I love sipping turmeric switchel after a workout, or using it as a cocktail mixer with fresh sugarcane spirits like cachaça and rhum agricole. I highly recommend using fresh turmeric, which has a livelier flavor than the dried version.

From their bright-yellow blossoms right down to their roots, dandelions are incredibly nutritious. This recipe focuses on the root, which can be eaten fresh as a vegetable, or can be dried and roasted to make hot drinks that are delicious substitutes for tea and coffee. Earthy and slightly bitter in flavor, dandelion roots aid digestion and support liver health. I like to simmer the roasted roots with milk and spices to make a warm and nourishing “chai.

Growing up in rural Ohio, most of my snacks had one thing in common: the top peeled off. Looking through that veiled plastic window into my snack of pale orange and off-white, I was anything but excited. I just couldn’t bring myself to tear into it the way I would a snack cake; in fact, the fruit cup was the one treat in the pantry that looked back at me every time I opened the door. That was until something magical happened: the halved cherry.

Valentine’s Day is synonymous with all things pink, sparkly, and festive. Whether you plan on sipping something fruity and bubbly first thing in the morning with your sweetheart, enjoying a small round of tipples with friends at brunch, or serving an entire tray of libations at an evening get-together with your closest, I’ve got the perfect cocktail for you. It’s sweet, straightforward, and uncomplicated. And isn’t that all we really want on Valentine’s Day?

Gin time and tea time are both entrenched British traditions, and the pair makes quite a heady cocktail. The British colonized much of Asia, and in the process, they brought over their traditions, including a proper English tea. This cocktail picks up both citrus and smoky notes from Lapsang Souchong, a black tea that originates from the Chinese province of Fujian and is made of Lapsang leaves that have been smoked over a pinewood fire.

I am most definitely someone who geeks out a little on tea. Since I don’t drink coffee, tea is my hot beverage of choice, whether I need a little nudge from caffeine in the morning or something to calm and soothe me in the afternoon. Over the years, I have acquired quite the collection.

Shamrock Shakes are back! And yeah, that’s exciting news and all, but you can’t ignore the fact that you have to actually leave your house to get one. First-world problem, I know, but sometimes I just don’t want to put on my normal functioning adult disguise (i.e., something besides pajama pants) and drive all the way to McDonald’s to indulge my sweet tooth.

Between being up all night and feeding baby, being a new mom is exhausting — and dehydrating. And while water (and more water) is the best thing you can do to stay hydrated, there are times when you just want something else. Like this refreshing yet easy three-ingredient agua fresca made with pineapple, coconut, and a healthy handful of mint. During my second pregnancy, pineapple has been my most frequent craving.

Mention a Negroni to me, and I’ll try to get out of whatever I’m doing and meet you for one. I’m not alone on this obsession; there’s even an entire week dedicated to this Italian classic cocktail. Equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, the Negroni is a serious cocktail that carefully balances slightly sweet with boldly bitter.

If there is one cocktail that is synonymous with blenders, it is the daiquiri. For many of us, this style of cocktail conjures up summertime memories of a thick, sweet, frozen strawberry concoction, but to writer Ernest Hemingway, the daiquiri was something both different and special. Ernest Hemingway spent a lot of time in Cuba, specifically at the famed El Floridita bar, where he developed a love for daiquiris.

So far in this series on blender cocktail recipes, I’ve put a twist on some classics and given a couple of serious cocktails a frozen makeover. To wrap up the week, I thought I’d finish with a tropical cocktail that will transport you back to that dreamy island vacation or remind you that the lazy, summer days spent by the pool are soon to come.

I feel fortunate to live here in Colorado, where the peaches from Palisade are among the very best in the world. Every summer at my house, we go through cases of these juicy, sweet fruits. We’ve tried it all — galettes, pies, jams, sauces, salads, salsas, and glazes — but the biggest stroke of genius that arose from last season’s haul was this frozen, bourbon-laced peach mule. Peaches, bourbon, and ginger are natural pairing companions.

In my kitchen, the blender does it all — soups, sauces, jams, stocks, sorbets, smoothies, milkshakes, and, best of all, frozen cocktails. Who’s with me in celebrating the revival of blended drinks in the craft cocktail scene? It was only a matter of time. The blended cocktail format simply offers too many possibilities to be ignored.

When I was growing up, the best part of a doctor’s visit was that it usually concluded with an Orange Julius on the way back to the parking garage. I treasured that sweet-tart, frosty, creamy drink, making sure I always finished every last drop. It’s not hard to recreate this iconic drink at home, and I’ve added my own spring twists to it: strawberries and rhubarb!

What’s cool? Bloody Marys with brunch. What’s cooler than being cool? Bloody Marys with kombucha. Time to give this classic brunch cocktail a fizzy, gut-healthy update. Kombucha is fermented tea made simply from water, sugar, dried tea leaves, and a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast).

An after-dinner tonic made with a variety of herbs, including rosemary, sage, and mint, and topped off with kombucha is the perfect tonic to sip on after a meal has left you stuffed and bloated. Each ingredient in this tonic adds to the flavor and function of this drink. The sage and rosemary are carminative herbs and aid the body is producing the digestive juices that help accelerate the digestive process. Fresh ginger amplifies the gingery flavor of the kombucha and helps settle any nausea.

Meet the after-dinner spritzer. This is the drink to whip up after a particularly rich meal when your belly needs some help settling after too many enthusiastic bites at dinner. Turmeric plays a starring role in this spritzer, along with orange juice and apple cider vinegar, and together with a handful of herbs, this drink becomes the delicious solution for your full tummy woes.

Weekends are often a time to let loose and enjoy the finer things in life, like bottomless mimosas at brunch or fried cheese curds while watching a big game. But all that booze and rich food might leave your stomach feeling a little out of whack — and that’s where this smoothie comes in.

With warm weather on the horizon, I’ve got my eye on this refreshing iced tea recipe. Between the calming chamomile, fragrant fresh basil, and sweet pineapple chunks, this is just the drink to help you chill out on hot days. To start you’ll need to brew some chamomile tea and let it cool completely. Once cool, you blend it with ice, frozen pineapple, and honey, and then stir in some chopped basil. To serve, pour the tea into glasses filled with crushed ice.

Have you jumped on the golden milk trend yet? If not, this is the perfect — and aruguably, most delicious — way to do so. For the unfamiliar, golden milk is a milk-based beverage enhanced with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, honey, and just a pinch of black pepper. It’s traditionally served warm, as a tea, but lately it’s been reinvented in practically every way you can imagine, from ice cream to hot cocoa to overnight oats. So why not a milkshake?

Congrats! You made it to Friday. How about a beautiful cocktail to kick off the weekend? Perhaps one that hails from Rome? While this cocktail looks fancy, it’s actually easy enough to quickly whip up if you have all the ingredients on hand. You can ensure this by making a batch of simple syrup ahead of time and storing it in a glass jar in your fridge.

Craving the slightly sparkling hard lemonade of summers past? We were too, and happily discovered that it can be recreated with ingredients already buried in our pantries and bar cabinets. Finally, a use for that dusty bottle of limoncello — a wine spritzer that melds candy-coated flavor with a grown-up palate. Lemonheads characterized my youth, and this spritzer is a tribute to formative years spent chomping on the bright yellow candies.

Some cocktails are more conducive to early afternoon sipping than others. This one, for instance, stars peach kombucha, with vodka playing more of a supporting role. It’s light, refreshing, and not too heavy on the booze — just what the doctor ordered for a summertime happy hour.

The weekend is the perfect time to work through all those recipes you’ve Pinned, bookmarked, or dog-eared over the course of the week. One that I’m excited to dive into tomorrow is this sparkling shrub, or drinking vinegar, made with pluots and fresh basil.

LaCroix, the Midwestern sparkling water of the moment, is a cultural phenomenon. From its watercolor-inspired packaging to its fancy flavors (pamplemousse or muré pepino, anyone?), bubbly beverage enthusiasts can’t get enough of the stuff. It’s made with all-natural flavors and free of calories, sodium, and sweeteners. People have made apps that create custom LaCroix labels, built walls out of it, created songs about it, and, of course, gotten boozy with it.

This cocktail is polarizing. Either you’re going to be with me and love every briny sip, or you will not. And don’t for a second think you only have to drink it during Oktoberfest — it’s just that people are far more affectionate toward pickled cabbage during this time of year. To be quite honest, I need no special occasion to shake one of these up. A Wednesday evening is just as good of a reason as any. Says who?

Is there anything that spells party more than glow-in-the-dark jello shots? When lit up by a black light in the dark, these spooky shots look like a mad scientist whipped them up in a laboratory. You might think that this requires some spooky alchemy, but the secret ingredient is so simple and easy: tonic water, which contains quinine that lights up under UV light. This jello shot is a twist on the classic gin and tonic with a hint of lime juice and splash of rosewater for a floral finish.

If you’re serious about cocktails and you’re in the Catskills, chances are you’ll end up at Stockade Tavern. Located in a former Singer sewing machine factory in uptown Kingston, the bar is known for its menu of pre-Prohibition-era cocktails, although there’s also a robust “Temperance” section, for those who prefer their tipples to be alcohol-free. As its name implies, the Expat Killer means business.

This year, when you gather with your family and friends to celebrate the season, grab that punch bowl from the bottom shelf because nothing turns a get-together into a party like a good holiday punch. But punch shouldn’t begin and end at eggnog — many cultures and cuisines claim a delicious take on Christmas punch. We asked some friends of Kitchn to share their punch traditions so this season you can serve your family and friends with flavors from all around the world.

Put down the boozy eggnog and don’t even think about ordering another Pumpkin Spice Latte, because I have the most exciting winter drink for you to try right now. We wrote about red wine hot chocolate a couple months ago, after we saw it popping up on Pinterest, and instantly knew we needed to create a recipe for our readers.

This holiday, ring in the new year with something a little different than your standard glass of Champagne. This rosé cocktail perfumed with rose and thyme comes to us from cookbook author Asha Gomez. She starts with your favorite rosé and then swirls in a fragrant thyme simple syrup and a dash of rosewater for a warm and aromatic take on this year’s most beloved wine. Although rose is considered a cooling flavor, the sentiment behind it is all about warmth.

Keep a few bottles or cans of club soda tucked away in your fridge and know that if a friend drops by or you just had a bad Wednesday, an easy cocktail can be whipped up in no time. The bubbly water can turn just about any bottle of booze from your collection into a cocktail that’s fit for whatever the occasion. Here are 10 of our favorites. Sweet vermouth rarely gets play time on its own, which is a shame, because it’s too tasty to simply be hidden in a Negroni or Manhattan.

Smoothies are a fast and delicious way to pack many nutrients into one quick-sipping glass. Whether you’re running out the door at the start of your day, or seeking an afternoon pick-me-up, blended concoctions make it easy to slurp up the vitamins. But smoothies aren’t just liquid fruit and vegetables. When you boost your smoothies with hearty ingredients, they can keep you satisfied and energized for longer periods of time.

The mystique of the Martini broken down into its three most important parts.

If your go-to non-boozy spritzer is seltzer with a splash of fruit juice, then this blueberry ginger sparkler is one to keep on your radar. It’s full-on fizzy and hits your tongue with subtle, fruity flavor followed by a warm notes of ginger. Here’s how to make this refreshing, booze-free drink. One of the easiest ways to make a minimalist mocktail is with an infused simple syrup. For this recipe you’ll want to plan ahead a day — or even just a few hours in advance.

Reminiscent of a bellini, with a savory herbal upgrade, this sparkling drink is made for celebration. From Mother’s Day brunch and baby showers, to graduation parties and an afternoon with friends, sipping on this mocktail feels special, thanks to the combination of peach and thyme simple syrup. One of the easiest ways to make a minimalist mocktail is with an infused simple syrup. For this recipe you’ll want to plan ahead a day — or even just a few hours.

Close your eyes, take a sip, and let the sweet, spiced bubbles transport you to a paradise with white sand beaches and stunning turquoise waters — no passport required. This fresh, non-boozy take on a dark and stormy nixes the rum and leans on sweet pineapple for an extra-special tropical twist. This refreshing sparkler is the nudge you’ve been needing to add that pineapple to your shopping cart.

You know that box of chamomile tea lurking in the back of the pantry for those sleepless night and days you’re feeling under the weather? It’s time to take it out, because we’re showing you a fresh way to put it to use. Floral chamomile tea is the star ingredient in this sweet, herbal sparkler.

If you love the floral aroma and pick me-up-you get from a steaming cup of jasmine tea, it’s time to turn this traditionally hot drink into a fast and fancy sparkling mocktail. Tea-infused cocktails are more popular than ever, and while this one skips the booze, it goes big on flavor. It comes together for a fragrant, easy-to-make sparkler that goes with most desserts and dinners. This sparkling mocktail starts with the floral, delicate aroma of strongly steeped and chilled jasmine tea.

You know those leftover rosemary sprigs hanging out in the fridge? Small yet mighty, they are the ticket to a fast and fancy herbal sparkler with lots of bold, tart flavor. When you need a fizzy mocktail for a brunch or shower, reach for this alcohol-free grapefruit drink. We’re more than happy to trade the cold winter weather for warm, sunny days, but there’s one thing we’re not giving up just yet: grapefruit!

From springtime brunches to afternoon parties to celebrations that go well into the evening, you’ll want to include this fast and fancy mocktail in the mix. Loosely inspired by the sweet, minty flavors of a tropical mojito, this version skips the booze in favor of a fizzy ginger beer twist. It’s sweet, spicy, and totally refreshing. So if you have a thing for fresh and fruity drinks, this minty mango number is one to consider.

You know those pretty dried hibiscus flowers you bought a while ago and forgot about? It’s time to get them out because this is the prettiest way to put them to work. Made from dried hibiscus flowers, this jewel-toned sparkler is just as refreshing as it is beautiful. It greets you with a delicate, sweet-tart flavor, balanced by a splash of bitter tonic. If you have a thing for fancy-flavored iced teas, this is the sparkling upgrade you’ll want to get familiar with.

Your meal plan might not include pesto or an herby salad, but you’re gonna wanna grab a big bunch of basil anyway. Along with a splash of fizzy seltzer, it’s the sweet, herbal ingredient that elevates everyday lemonade into an impressive mocktail. Mix this up for those lazy days on the porch or a dinner with your neighbors. A few bubbles and herbs have a way of making any glass of lemonade feel elevated. Here’s how to make this refreshing booze-free drink.

Festive spring celebrations call for an equally festive cocktail. If you’re hosting a group, be it for a bridal shower, brunch, or graduation party, it’s time to think big when it comes to the drink options. Skip the individual drinks in favor of an easy pitcher cocktail that will serve a crowd. From fresh and fruity sangrias to pretty sparkling cocktails, plus a couple options that skip the booze, here are 18 pretty pitcher cocktails for spring celebrations.

If you’re hosting Mother’s Day brunch this year, you know that just as important as the food being served are the drinks for mom and everyone else in the family to be enjoying out in the sunshine. These 25 drinks are extra festive and ideal for toasting mom — whether you go for a twist on classic mimosas, fruity sangria, or crowd-pleasing mocktails. There may be no better way to toast to mom than with something bubbly at brunch.

Smoothies are the answer when you need a healthy breakfast and you need it fast. They come together in a matter of minutes and make sure you start your day with a healthy helping of fruits and veggies. Throw in some protein and you’ve got a morning meal that will keep you satisfied until lunchtime. We especially love smoothies this time of year, when berries are showing up at the farmers market and warmer temperatures mean a cool, refreshing drink is just the thing you want.

Summer wouldn’t be summer without plenty of lazy afternoons and evenings on the front porch and patio potlucks galore. It is your signal to break out the colorful straws and be sure there’s plenty of ice at the ready, because if there’s one thing these summer gatherings deserve it’s cool spritzes, punches, and mocktails that will delight the whole crowd.

It won’t be long before the summer sun is sizzling, and what better way to cool off than sipping on an icy, refreshing smoothie? Lean on the fresh fruits of the moment, or start with the convenient selection from the freezer section, and you’ll be on your way to beating the heat in minutes. From tropical smoothies to berry-filled versions to one inspired by banana bread, these 20 smoothie recipes will keep you cool as the summer temps soar.

Have you tried this?

When it comes to summer get-togethers, a couple six-packs of beer or a few bottles of wine may seem like the fastest, easiest answer to your drinking dilemma. But here’s another solution that works for even the most last-minute barbecue or pool party: a pitcher cocktail. It may seem complicated (and as a result, it looks fancy and impressive), but you can actually pull off a pitcher cocktail in the same amount of time — or less!

Because you know, drinking your greens always feels good.

By nature, smoothies are a quick and easy breakfast that are both nourishing and convenient to enjoy when you’re on the go. But there is a way to make them even easier. The key to a smart smoothie routine isn’t just the pairing of ingredients you load in the blender — it’s knowing the best way to get a jump-start on your favorite breakfast drink by making smoothie kits in advance.

Bite-sized sweets and boozy treats.

Think of this as a green version of a traditional tomato-based Michelada, made with avocado tomatillo salsa and served in a pitcher with chilled beer mugs rimmed with salted coriander. It’s especially refreshing when served with crispy tortilla or corn chips. The best salsas for beer cocktails are the small-batch kind found in the grab- and-go refrigerated cases in the deli section of the grocery store.