National Dessert Day: From Plate To Glass, These Trendy Dessert Cocktails Are A Must-Try
This National Dessert Day, check out all the different cocktails inspired by luxurious desserts that are doing the rounds across the trendiest bartending spaces. These drinks, ranging from Parmesan espresso martini cocktails to whisky shakes topped with sweet treats, are all about highlighting the different flavours in decadent desserts, in cocktail form. From plate to glass, these trendy dessert cocktails are almost like an ode to the different sweets that they incorporate and elevate in these recipes.
Parmesan Espresso Martini Cocktail
Popularised in 2023 on social media, this unlikely combo of sweet and savoury quickly became a viral trend. The Parmesan espresso martini cocktail is all about swapping the coffee bean garnish with some grated Parmesan for a mix of sweet, tart, cheesy and umami flavours. The pairing of cheese and coffee may sound a little out there, but its a combination that is used the world over. For example, the traditional Scandinavian practice called kaffeost involves pouring hot coffee over a cube of Finnish bread cheese. When taken in the cocktail context, the espresso martini, which has been in vogue since the late 1990s and early 2000s offers the ideal base to experiment with this flavour palate. Craft your dessert drink using premium vodka like Smirnoff or any other vodka of choice, freshly brewed espresso and a layer of grated parmesan to finish and explore a new way to enjoy a martini.
Tiramisu Martini Cocktail
Tiramisu is a dessert that never goes out of style, and in fact, the last decade has seen a resurgence in its popularity with restaurants flaunting concepts like tiramisu drawers or tableside tiramisu, unique twists like tiramisu croissants or even a viral dance trend around the coffee based creation. Naturally it wasn’t long before the tiramisu love spread into the mixology world and this martini cocktail variation became highly popular because of its creamy, light and dessert-like rich quality. It draws on the coffee notes but also incorporates a unique creamy texture by bringing together all tiramisu ingredients with vodka and Irish cream liqueur — a decadent dessert cocktail that serves one.
Butterbeer Mix
While butterbeer was made popular long ago by a certain fantasy story, it endures as a favoured sweet, frothy and silky concoction often served with a spiced ginger garnish. While the name suggests a beer element, the focus is usually more on the deep caramel and vanilla notes which give the drink its signature creaminess. While its a popular choice to incorporate elements like a dairy-based liqueur, for a cleaner, lighter butterbeer cocktail you can experiment with elements like butterscotch syrup, vanilla vodka and cream soda for an interesting highball cocktail that enhances the sweet, dessert notes of every ingredient.
Cherry Bakewell Martini Cocktail
There’s almost nothing as tempting as a freshly baked cherry pie, and for National Dessert Day, you can capture its iconic flavours in a glass. These tarts typically feature a sweet, stewed cherry filling, with an iced topping and a cherry on top, which offers just the right amount of visual inspiration for your cocktail, too. The cocktail-style take on the popular dessert brings together cherries, almond essence, and vodka in a signature offering complete with all the tasting notes of the classic tart. Infuse a more dessert-like touch into the cocktail with a tablespoon of cherry liqueur as the finishing touch and layered fruit flavour.
Whisky Shakes With Sweet Toppings
In the last few years, milkshakes have been getting a makeover. Social media is abuzz with cocktails made milkshake style using high-quality blended scotch whisky. Though dairy and whisky may not be a classic pairing, they work well with the right choice of base. Whether its a banana-based shake with a touch of whisky or a creamy blend with Irish Cream, the possibilities are endless. Coffee is always a safe pairing with whisky shakes, but you could even add a peanut butter drizzle for a more complex flavour. What lends the drink a dessert-like look are sweet toppings: from sprinkles to choco chips to candies to macerated cherries, everything goes on top of this cocktail, accompanied by a whipped cream garnish.
Also Read: 4 Types Of Cocktails For After Dinner: Dessert Drinks To Try At Home
Chocolate Cake And Brandy Cocktail
Have your cake and drink it too! With a mix of moist chocolate cake and brandy comes together in this one-of-a-kind chocolatey drink, which is reminiscent of a flambéd dessert. Perfect for serving in place of a traditional pudding, it makes an impressive finale to any meal. For an extra flourish, top with lightly whipped cream or add a chocolate wafer garnish to introduce a contrasting crunch. Whether enjoyed at a dinner party or a quiet evening in, this cocktail is certain to leave a lasting impression.
Motichoor Ladoo And Irish Cream Liqueur Cocktail
Indian flavours aren’t to be underestimated in the world of cocktails, and especially if you have a festive event around the corner, your leftover Motichoor Laddoos can become the next hit drink of the season. The best way to capture the flavour of the mithai is through a spirit infusion, where the sweet is soaked in a spirit base such as whisky overnight and then strained to remove any graininess. Bringing together the grainy texture and ghee-laden flavour of motichoor ladoo with Irish cream liqueur results in a cocktail that essentially combines desi dessert with the silky texture of the infused liqueur. Garnish the drink with an edible silver leaf for a luxe touch along with crushed pistachios for textural variation.
Rasgulla Coconut Colada
This inventive fusion cocktail takes its inspiration from beloved regional desserts, bringing a touch of tropical indulgence to the glass. Creamy coconut forms the base of this smooth and velvety drink, while the addition of white rum introduces a light, citrusy lift that keeps the flavours bright and refreshing. What makes it distinctive is the playful use of rasgulla, the soft and syrupy sweet, which adds both tradition and modern innovation. Finely chopped pieces can be stirred in or used as a garnish, offering a chewy textural contrast to the silky drink.
Kaya Toast Cocktail
This sweet breakfast dish, originating in Singapore and Malaysia, usually consists of two slices of toasted bread slathered with kaya, which is a coconut-egg jam and a side of coffee. As a dessert, kaya toast has been popping up more and more on menus around the world, but it’s also made its debut in cocktail crafting. A drink that has captured the attention of several mixologists, the kaya toast cocktail is all about bringing together the flavours of the Singaporean breakfast classic with coconut cream, rum and coffee liqueur. A pinch of sea salt as the finishing touch lifts up the sweet and silky dessert notes of this drink.
Key Takeaways:
– Parmesan Espresso Martini Cocktail: One of the trendiest martini cocktails known for its mix of cheesy, tart and sweet flavours.
– Butterbeer Mix: From fantasy stories to the cocktail glass, a creamy dessert cocktail for the special day.
– Whisky Shakes With Sweet Toppings: Frothy milkshakes with sweet toppings of all kinds!
– Motichoor Ladoo And Irish Cream Liqueur Cocktail: For a rich mix of favoured desi ladoos and 30 ml Irish cream liqueur.
– Kaya Toast Cocktail: A fusion of sweet Singaporean breakfast toast and about 10 ml coffee liqueur.
*All cocktails listed use 30 ml liquor measurements for single serves. Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
