Halloween Candy Inspired Cocktails
10/27/2009
It's almost time! One of my favorite holidays of the year, Halloween is just around the corner and how cool is it that Halloween falls on a SATURDAY NIGHT this year!? I thought it would be appropriate to give you some adult libations to help you celebrate.
My friend, Amy, who works with Van Gogh Vodka, sent me some drink recipes that are based on Halloween candy flavors, such as a Almond Joy Martini, Snickertini, Peppermint Pattini and Starburst Martini.
If I had to choose between the candy or the cocktail - you know which would win!
So I took the recipes and called on bartender, Jessie Lee from Pacific Rim Restaurant in Sarasota, Florida, to help me mix these drinks for a taste test and photoshoot.
Jessie taught me a bartender trick for rimming the mouth of a glass with candy or nuts. Instead of dipping the martini glass in water, dip the very edge of the glass in maraschino cherry juice. It creates a sticky surface that shaved chocolate, nuts or crushed candies will adhere to, much better than water.
For the Snickertini drink, we rimmed the glass with crushed peanuts. You could also rim the Peppermint Pattini glass with crushed hard mint candies, the ones that are round with red/white swirls. Put a couple of the candies in a freezer-ziplock bag, squeeze all of the air out of the bag, seal well and bang and roll with a heavy rolling pin.
Snickertini Recipe
1/2 oz Baileys1-1/2 oz Caramel Vodka (Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka)
1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Amaretto
Splash of cream
Drizzle a thin line of both caramel and chocolate sauce on the inside of a rocks glass and place in refrigerator to chill. Combine all ingredients into a shaker and shake over ice. Pour entire contents of shaker into glass and add straw.
Starburst Martini Recipe
1-1/2 oz Apple Vodka (Van Gogh Appel Vodka)
1/2 oz Watermelon Schnapps
1/4 oz Banana Liqueur
Cranberry juice
Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with lemon wedge cutout in the shape of a star.
Peppermint Pattini Recipe
1-1/2 oz Chocolate Vodka (Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka)1/2 oz Crème de menthe
1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Cream
Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a Peppermint Pattie candy wedge.
Almond Joy Martini Recipe
recipe from Pacific Rim Restaurant
For even more coconutty flavor, dip mouth of martini glass in syrup from jar of maraschino cherries and rim glass in coconut flakes.
cocoa powder
Chocolate syrup (in squeeze bottle, like Hershey's)
2 ounces vanilla vodka
2 ounces coconut vodka
splash of Godiva liqueur
splash of Frangelico
splash of cream
Rim glass with cocoa powder. Decorate empty martini glass with criss-cross lines of chocolate syrup. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass
Comments
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Snickertini and Almony Joy martini? I'm gonna be drinkin' tonight!
Posted by: Jessica @ How Sweet It Is | 10/27/2009 at 11:51 AM
Hahaha, nice husband comment! Well, I am a huge fan of a good martini and your post is making me soooo thirsty!
Posted by: meeso | 10/30/2009 at 04:06 PM
Love the photos, tips, and recipes. I think we'll trick or treat with martinis this Halloween thanks to you!
Posted by: Judy Best | 10/31/2009 at 08:44 AM
OK. One, just one, plastic pumpkin glass half-filled with the snickertini should do it for the night. :) I'll share, honest!
Posted by: simplerich | 10/31/2009 at 08:56 AM
OMG! My husband said the same thing! Didn't even notice the drinks, just the lovely lady. The Snickertini sounds great. I'd rather have one or 4 of these drinks than all the candy I'm gonna eat tonight.
Posted by: Maryann | 10/31/2009 at 04:05 PM