Must be 21+ or over legal drinking age to consume. Please enjoy responsibly.
In case none of us could tell from our Instagram feeds, FYP’s, or any other social media outlet, I’ll say it again: fall is here. Fall is here, and we’re in the thick of pumpkin spice latte (or, you know, PSL for short) season. My boyfriend and I officially moved back into our condo after 108 magical days in paradise by the ocean, and to celebrate our return home and signify the beginning of fall (for us) we wanted to do something special. Naturally, my boyfriend suggested making a fun fall drink (I mean, we did move back home on our date night, after all), and I happily accepted the challenge. I set off with the goal of making some pumpkin-themed drink in my mind.
This is what led me to creating my latest drink: pumpkin spice café. I’ve combined 3 ingredients: vanilla vodka, dairy-free pumpkin spice creamer, and black coffee—yes, this drink is made with real coffee. Take those ingredients, shake ’em up real good, and strain into a chilled martini glass with a honey and crushed graham cracker rim, and what do you get? A twisted, boozy version of the classic PSL, minus the espresso and milk. This martini is basically a fall dessert in a glass, and can be loved by pumpkin and non-pumpkin lovers alike, and the crushed graham cracker and honey rim is so good. An added bonus? It’s super easy to make, which means you don’t need to be a master mixologist to sip on and enjoy this boozy fall drink. Grab your ingredients, and celebrate fall with this cocktail recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Café:
RECIPE TYPE:
Cocktail, Martini
DIETARY INFO:
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Caffeinated
YIELDS:
1 Serving
Ingredients*:
*Although this recipe is made with gluten and dairy-free ingredients, you may use regular ingredients if need be.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- 3 oz vanilla vodka
- 2 oz dairy/lactose-free pumpkin spice creamer
- 2 ½ oz black coffee*
- 1 gluten-free, dairy-free/vegan graham cracker, crushed (for rim)
- 1 tbs honey (for rim)
- Chilled martini glass
- Cocktail shaker + strainer
- Ice
- Cinnamon sugar mixture** (to sprinkle in glass)
*May substitute decaf coffee, black, if sensitive to caffeine.
**Substitute cinnamon and Splenda together for healthier option.
Instructions:
CRUSHED GRAHAM CRACKER + HONEY RIM:
- Crush graham cracker by breaking it up into pieces on a cutting board, then go over those pieces with a rolling pin until every piece has been crushed into a fine mixture.
- Pour honey onto separate plate.
- Take chilled martini glass and dip rim into honey, then dip into crushed graham cracker.
HOW-TO:
- Fill cocktail shaker up with ice, then pour in vanilla vodka, pumpkin spice creamer, and coffee.
- Cover cocktail shaker and shake well—remember: cocktail shaker should be cold to the touch!
- Strain into martini glass.
- Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top and enjoy responsibly.
