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No restaurant menu is complete without desserts. No matter how many delicious dishes you serve, you need to offer something sweet so the dining experience can be complete. A well-curated wine list and a beverage menu filled with options for any taste and season are a must, too.
On BinWise’s blog page, you will find lots of information and great resources about different varieties of wine, and types of alcohol, as well as popular cocktails and unique cocktail drinks. We highly recommend looking into all of these topics, and even diving deeper into gluten-free beverages, vegan drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages. We also have articles on spring, winter, fall cocktails, and summer cocktails. The wider the variety of drinks on your menu, the better.
This leads us to the topic we want to discuss today. After covering coffee cocktails and spiked coffee drinks, and introducing the concept of digestifs, it’s time to talk about dessert cocktails. Although the dessert cocktail drinks are sometimes with coffee or can act as a digestif, they are a separate category that deserves attention.
If you are a business owner in the hospitality industry looking for clever ways to diversify your menu, you should stick around and get inspiration from the dessert cocktails we suggest. Even if you don’t follow our advice to the letter, you can still benefit from some ideas and tips. Let’s start with the basics first!
What Are Dessert Cocktails?
Dessert cocktails can be described as a mix of traditional after-dinner treats and classic cocktail recipes. These indulgent drinks typically incorporate ingredients that are found in desserts. This means that cocktail ingredients can include chocolate, caramel, fruit syrups, and creamy liqueurs.
The dessert cocktail drinks are designed to satisfy the palate of consumers with sweet and rich flavors. These cocktails commonly resemble popular desserts like tiramisu, chocolate cake, or even crème brûlée. The drinks are often enjoyed as a luxurious finale to the meal, replacing a sweet treat or combined with one.
Key Takeaway: Dessert cocktails are a great addition to any restaurant beverage menu. They can be combined with desserts or replace them entirely, satisfying the sweet cravings of customers at the end of their meal.
When to Enjoy Dessert Cocktails
Although dessert cocktails are typically consumed after a meal, there are no strict rules about them. Customers who love sweeter drinks may order a dessert cocktail alongside their meal or even prior to eating. However, the most common time to have a dessert cocktail drink is after the main course is done.
Are There Different Categories of Dessert Cocktails?
One thing that all dessert cocktails have in common is that they are sweet. However, just like desserts, they have different taste and texture. That’s why we can even name a few different categories of dessert cocktails. They are:
- Creamy dessert cocktails - These cocktails feature creamy liqueurs like Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa, or crème liqueurs. They are typically mixed with other ingredients such as coffee, chocolate, or fruit flavors. Examples include White Russian, Mudslide, or Chocolate Martini.
- Coffee-based cocktails - These cocktails combine coffee or espresso with spirits like vodka, rum, or liqueurs. Classics include Espresso Martini, Irish Coffee, or Mocha Flip.
- Chocolate infusions - Cocktails in this category highlight the flavor of chocolate, often incorporating chocolate liqueurs, cocoa powder, or chocolate syrup. Drinks like Chocolate Margarita, Chocolate Martini, or Chocolate Raspberry Truffle fall into this category.
- Fruity dessert cocktails - These cocktails feature fresh fruits, fruit syrups, or fruit-flavored liqueurs. Examples include Strawberry Daiquiri, Peach Bellini, or Pineapple Upside-Down Martini.
- Dessert-inspired cocktail drinks - These cocktails are inspired by popular desserts and aim to replicate their flavors in liquid form. Tiramisu Martini, Key Lime Pie Cocktail, or Bananas Foster Martini are examples of cocktails in this category.
As a restaurant manager, you can choose to add cocktails from one or two of the categories, or even from all of them. We will just say that diversity is always well-appreciated by customers!
Which Are the Most Popular Dessert Cocktails?
Dessert cocktails are not a new concept and there are plenty of famous ones already. As a professional in this industry, you probably have heard about and even tried most of them. However, not many people know which are the most popular ones. We have curated a list of the dessert cocktails that are most frequently enjoyed by people from all over the world. This makes them a great choice for your beverage menu!
- White Russian
- Espresso Martini
- Mudslide
- Chocolate Martini
- Irish Coffee
- Tiramisu Martini
- Piña Colada
- Strawberry Daiquiri
- Peach Bellini
- Key Lime Pie Cocktail
- Bananas Foster Martini
- Godiva Chocolate Martini
- Caramel Apple Martini
- Coconut Cream Pie Cocktail
- B-52
- Grasshopper
- Black Forest Martini
- Frozen Margarita
- French Martini
- Amaretto Sour
As you can see, a lot of these cocktails are Martini variations. The classic Martini is a great base for experimentation and it’s possible for you to come up with your own custom drinks.
Can I Make My Own Signature Dessert Cocktails?
Of course! It’s even recommended to experiment and come up with different drinks that the competition surely doesn’t serve. To make a dessert cocktail drink for your restaurant, you should first research already existing cocktails. This will help you get inspired and also give you are better understanding of what people already like. The next step is to combine different ingredients and balance out the flavors so the cocktail doesn’t turn out too sweet.
The best approach during the experimentation phase is to hire a mixologist. These experienced cocktail experts know the art of mixing different spirits and other ingredients to create well-balanced, unique, and of course, delicious drinks that will help your business stand out from the rest in the area.
The Most Common Garnishes for Dessert Cocktails
Most common cocktails are known with a specific cocktail garnish. But this doesn’t mean you can’t put your own twist on things! When it comes to dessert cocktails, you have many different options that you can even change seasonally. For example, if you want to make your sweet Easter cocktails unique, you can use chocolate bunnies or eggs as garnish. You can do something similar with the holiday drinks by using seasonal candy.
Here are some garnish options you can use:
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder
- Maraschino cherries
- Fruit wedges or twists
- Cinnamon sticks or sprinkle
- Mint springs
- Cookies or biscuits
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Caramel drizzle or rim
- Nutmeg
- Seasonal candy like candy canes, chocolate bunnies, etc.
You can always learn how to rim a glass with different ingredients, too. From sugar and chocolate to coconut shreds and sprinkles - you can make the glass prettier and the cocktails more delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dessert Cocktails
If you have even more questions about the delicious dessert cocktails you can add to your menu, read this section. Below, we have answers some of the most popular questions regarding these types of cocktails.
Are Dessert Cocktails High in Calories?
Dessert cocktails often contain ingredients like cream, chocolate, and syrups, which can contribute to their high calorie content. However, the calorie count can vary depending on the specific ingredients and proportions used in the cocktail.
Can I Make Non-Alcoholic Dessert Cocktails?
Yes! You can create non-alcoholic versions of dessert cocktails. You can substitute spirits with non-alcoholic alternatives like flavored syrups, fruit juices, sparkling water, or non-alcoholic versions of liqueurs.
Can Dessert Cocktails Be Served Warm?
Yes. Depending on the recipe, some dessert cocktails are served warm. Good examples of that include Irish Coffee and Hot Buttered Rum. Warm dessert cocktails can be comforting and perfect for colder weather.