Travel Destinations & Culinary Adventures

Cocktails

Crisp Fall Day Cocktail

by Leave a Comment

Am I the only one who craves apples during the fall season?

Fuji, Pink Lady, and Gala are my go-to favs but there are so many more varieties that continue to be show stoppers in my fall recipes. If you know me at all, then you know I’m going to mix a delightful happy hour concoction like this Crisp Fall Day Cocktail made with delicious apple pie liqueur and chilled cider. Who’s ready to clang a glass with me and say “Cheers my dears?”

Okay, apple fans. This one is for you. Simply pour the liqueur, cider, and juice in a glass. Add ice and garnish with a straw and you’ve made yourself the easiest “it-must-be-fall-now” cocktail.

Fancy straws make happy hour that much…happier.

Not sure where to find apple pie liqueur? I’ve been to a couple of liquor stores and Dr. McGillicuddy’s and Travis Hasse’s each make an affordable liqueur to try in the occasional recipe around $9-$15. Partial to Louisburg Apple Cider since it’s located in my beautiful home state, Kansas, you could use any brand. (Shop local!) Finally, I add Old Orchard’s Black Cherry Cranberry Juice but if you can’t locate it, you could easily use any cranberry or cran-apple store-bought juice.

Has someone seen my flannel blanket?

If it’s not cocktail hour at your home right now, pin this recipe for later. You’ll thank me. Cheers my dears!

Craving more fall drink recipes? Try making my uber spooky cocktails for your upcoming boo bash or this Salted Caramel Apple Martini rimmed in dripping warm caramel!

*no affiliates mentioned in this post.

Crisp Fall Day Cocktail

One Delightful Life
3 simple ingredients make for 1 amazing fall cocktail
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients
  

  • 3 oz. apple pie liqueur
  • 1/2 c. apple cider
  • 1/2 c. black cherry cranberry juice or cranberry juice
  • ice
  • apple slices for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Pour liquid ingredients into a cocktail glass.
  • Add ice.
  • Stir with a straw.
  • Garnish with apple slices.

Notes

Wanna to get really fancy? Rim the glass in apple juice and crushed graham crackers.

Pink Lemonade Blueberry Splash

by Leave a Comment

Some of the best tasting recipes are simply made and cocktails are no different.

Made with Bacardi Limon Rum this boozy Pink Lemonade Blueberry Splash cocktail uses fruit that is in season and doesn’t require you to make fresh lemonade. Simply add citrus flavored rum over ice, fill the glass 3/4 of the way full with store bought pink lemonade, top with lemon seltzer water, a squeeze of lemon wedge and stir. I prefer to cut the citrus sour flavor with a teaspoon of sugar or Splenda. Then, garnish with a sprig of mint, a slice of lemon and you’re on your way to happy hour!

Here’s the recipe rundown quick list:

  • 1 travel sized bottle of Bacardi Limon Rum
  • 1 small bottle of store bought pink lemonade
  • 1 can of lemon seltzer water
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp sugar or Splenda
  • ice
  • garnishes = sprig of mint, slice of lemon

Don’t forget to add a fancy Nancy straw. Now that’s one pretty drink. Pretty delightful that is…;-) Cheers!

If you’re not interested in adding alcohol and want to drink a poolside mocktail instead, simply add more lemonade or seltzer water in place of the rum.

Pink Lemonade Blueberry Splash

A big fan of seasonal blueberries? Try my take on a warm Vanilla Blueberry Sauce that goes great over lemon bars or ice cream. Still craving blueberries? Add them to fresh fruit to create a last minute picnic side Watermelon Blueberry Salad with Feta and Mint. 

Berry Rum Smash with Lime Cocktail

by Leave a Comment

Determined to create a cocktail that I could use to raise a glass in honor of those who served during Memorial Day, I created Berry Rum Smash with Lime Cocktail, a blender drink topped with carbonated soda. It’s a refreshing drink that is prepared with aged rum, berries, lime juice, and lemon-lime soda.

A liter of Cruzan Aged Rum cost me $14.99, a value!

I love a cocktail that stretches my creativity. This recipe requires you to use a blender to make a smooth juice from fresh blueberries, pitted sweet cherries, lime juice, aged rum (you can use silver rum), the juice of half of a lime, and Stevia for sweetness. After blending the above ingredients on high until the pulp of the fruit is minimal, pour it into a glass filled with crushed ice.

You can find these festive straws and garnish picks for $1 at Target. (not an affiliate)

After pouring the berry mixture into the glass of crushed ice, top the glass with lemon-lime soda water until filled. That’s it! It’s a fruity, cool drink to serve to guests at your next outdoor deck party or just because you want to delight in a new cocktail made from your home bar.

Cheers, my dears!

Berry Rum Smash with Lime Cocktail

onedelightfullife.com
This refreshing cocktail doubles down on berries, aged rum, lime juice, and lemon-lime soda.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2 glasses

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 oz. aged rum I used Cruzan
  • 2 tsp Stevia
  • 1/2 c. pitted sweet cherries
  • 1 c. fresh blueberries reserve a few for garnish
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • crushed ice
  • 1 can lemon lime sode

Instructions
 

  • Blend all of the ingredients except the ice in a blender on high until very smooth.
  • Fill a glass with crushed ice.
  • Pour berry mixture into glass.
  • Top with lemon lime soda until full
  • Garnish with blueberries and a lime wedge.

Notes

You can use frozen fruit for this blended cocktail. Add 1 tsp of honey for added sweetness.

 

Cantaloupe Margaritas

by Leave a Comment

Read about the seven health benefits of eating cantaloupe by clicking on the photo.

In honor of Cinco de Mayo and my love affair with margaritas, I created a refreshing cocktail recipe – Cantaloupe Margaritas! I was equally inspired to try a new version of the standard lime Mexican cocktail by using up a ripe cantaloupe that was sitting on my kitchen counter and some leftover silver tequila. You’re going to love this recipe!

Read about the 7 health benefits of eating cantaloupe by clicking on the photo.

This cocktail reminds me of the fresh cantaloupe smoothie I ordered once at an authentic Mexican restaurant in our city. Imagine a backdrop of festive music, multi-colored decorations, and authentic food with a fresh drink to go with it. It was like a time warp back to our fabulous visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. You can read my travel tips from that vacation here.

We’ve also spent time in Playa del Carmen, my favorite spot in Mexico, thanks to the beautiful turquoise color of the water and soft sand beaches.

This cocktail, made by first blending fresh cantaloupe, is a slight variation of the traditional lime cocktail thanks to the added honey, lemonade, and refined sugar. The sweet additions counterbalance the acidic citrus taste of the freshly squeezed lime juice and lemonade, giving the margarita an easy finish.

After blending the cantaloupe until very smooth, pour it into a cocktail shaker and add the tequila, lime juice, lemonade, honey, and sugar. Shake and strain into ice-filled glasses rimmed pre-rimmed with lime juice and kosher salt. If you want to garnish each glass with more cantaloupe, use a melon baller to form several circular pieces of melon and skewer them with a toothpick. I added fresh mint and a wedge of lime for added color. One look at your finished cocktail, and you’ll quickly take a sip – it’s refreshing and delicious!

As you know, I love to celebrate a holiday or host a party. Inspired by the Cinco de Mayo holiday, my Cantaloupe Margarita is the essential cocktail to accompany sizzling fajitas or savory tacos. Let me know in the comments section how you prepare your favorite party cocktail. I’m always ready to try a new recipe! Cheers.

Cantaloupe Margaritas

onedelighfullife.com
This new take on the traditional margarita is refreshing and will wow your party guests on Cinco de Mayo.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 4 small cocktails

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups blended cantaloupe
  • 1/2 cup silver tequila I used Camarena Tequila
  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 2 T lemonade
  • 1 T honey
  • 1 T sugar
  • cubed ice
  • Garnish:
  • 1 T kosher or maragarita salt
  • lime wedge
  • sprig of mint
  • 2 cantaloupe melon balls
  • 1 toothpick

Instructions
 

  • Rim the cocktail glass with a lime wedge and then salt.
  • Blend cantaloupe in your blender on puree setting until very smooth. This may take a couple minutes.
  • Pour blended cantaloupe in a large cocktail shaker.
  • Add tequila, lime juice, lemonade, honey, and sugar.
  • Shake vigourously.
  • Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish.

Notes

Tip: Spray your measuring spoon with a little cooking spray before measuring the honey. The spray helps the honey pour from the spoon leaving very little extra on the spoon.

 

 

 

Michelada with Lime

by Leave a Comment

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. 

I used to think that people who ordered tomato juice with their beer were crazy. Why would you ruin a perfectly good beer with juice?

Then, I tried a Michelada.

I always enjoyed a spicy Blood Mary in a glass filled to the brim with towering veggies so honestly, it’s no surprise that I fell hard for Micheladas. You will too!

Great served during the hot summer months, the Mexican cocktail also compliments taco night or burgers off the grill equally. We tend to drink a few while cheering on our team on Sunday afternoons. Lighter in flavor intensity, it’s an more approachable than a Bloody Mary.

Always prepared using a Mexican lager, I recommend Modelo, Dos Equis, or Corona as go-to brews.

How to Make a Michelada with Lime Like a Bloody Mary you can add spicy flavor to a Michelada as well. I suggest swapping Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix for plain tomato juice. Add a couple dashes of Maggi, and you have real depth of flavor.

Don’t forget to squeeze a lime wedge into it before serving. It makes all the difference. The citrus flavor cuts the spicy tomato flavor and gives a tangy finish, which I prefer over the flavor of a lemon wedge. Michelada Cocktails Make with Modelo BeerLet me know what you think of my Michelada recipe below. If you have the ultimate beer cocktail recipe of your own, please share it so I can add it to my recipe box.

Cheers!

Michelada with Lime

onedelightfullife.com
Amp up your red beer with a fiesta of ingredients.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients
  

  • 3 oz. tomato juice I prefer Clamato or Zing Zang
  • 2 dashes Maggi
  • 2 dashes worcestershire
  • 1 dash Tobasco
  • 12 oz. can Mexican beer
  • lime wedge
  • celery salt

Instructions
 

  • Rim a 20 oz beer glass in lime juice using the lime wedge
  • Rim the glass in celery salt
  • Pour tomato juice in glass
  • Add remaining ingredients
  • Finish squeezing lime wedge into Michelada

Notes

If you like a spicier drink, add more Tobasco or opt for Zing Zang in place of tomato juice.

Time to Layer on the Flannel Pajamas Cocktail

by Leave a Comment

If ever there was a winter cocktail that made you want to snuggle up inside of it, it’s my Flannel Pajamas cocktail. The only thing missing are your slippers.

Inspired by the White Russian cocktail, the ingredients poured over ice give a nod to the winter season thanks to the salted caramel vodka, Kahlua, and egg nog flavored almond milk. It tastes as good as new flannel pajamas feel on a blustery, cold day. Ignite a new log in the fireplace and plug in the Christmas tree lights to set the quintessential backdrop for sipping this drink. Just promise me you’ll share the experience with someone else because this drink shouldn’t be sipped alone.

I know you're wondering what all that crumbling goodness is on the rim. It's caramel sauce and Heath bar bits! Oh yes, I did.
I know you’re wondering what all that crumbling goodness is on the rim. It’s caramel sauce and Heath bar bits! Oh yes, I did. I purposely didn’t stir this drink for the photo, but you would want to do so before serving.

I’ve posted many drink recipes and with each post I think I’ve made a better cocktail. However, the first sip of Flannel Pajamas was an experience. I immediately took a photo of it and text about it to a couple people because I wished they were there to share it with me. It’s always an honor to hear from someone who made one of my recipes or served a drink recipe at their party. What a compliment! You, and your holiday guests, will love Flannel Pajamas. It’s just the kind of cocktail you need to serve at your White Elephant party or as an after Christmas dinner drink. Cheers and happy holidays!

Signature ODL 170x70px

It’s cold outside! Time to layer on the Flannel Pajamas

onedelightfullife.com
When it's blustery cold outside, you need to get cozy in Flannel Pajamas.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 3 oz. Pinnacle Salted Caramel Vodka
  • 3 oz. Kahlua
  • 1 cup egg nog I used Almond Breeze Almond Milk Nog
  • cubed ice
  • 1 T caramel sauce
  • 1 finely crushed Heath candy bar

Instructions
 

  • Crush a Heath candy bar in a mortar and pestal.
  • Rim half of a cocktail glass with warm caramel sauce.
  • Dip the rim in the crushed Heath bar bits.
  • Fill glass with ice cubes.
  • Pour in salted caramel vodka, Kahula, and then egg nog to the rim.
  • Add a straw or stir stick and serve.

Notes

If you don't care for Heath bar, you could substitute another candy bar or use cinnamon sugar. Want to cut back on the sweet? Serve without rimming the glass or cut the egg nog in half and add half-and-half.

error: Content is protected !!