Boozy Summer Desserts
Recipes

Boozy Summer Desserts

Grapefruit Campari Granita

Sweet and peach-hued, the winning combination of ruby red grapefruit juice and bitter Campari becomes even more refreshing when frozen. We like to enjoy this granita as a pre-dinner treat.

golden-cadillac
Golden Cadillac

The Greenwood Supper Club in Fish Creek, Wisconsin mixes Galliano with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream for a grown-up sundae. See the recipe for Golden Cadillac »

mint julep granita
Mint Julep Granita

This recipe takes the crushed ice classic a step further. Its minty-hued sweetness melts slowly, creating a perfect after-dinner drink. See the recipe for Mint Julep Granita »

Macerated Fruit Conserve (Rumtopf)
Macerated Fruit Conserve (Rumtopf)

This sweet-tart conserve is a luscious accompaniment to ice cream. It also adds a fruity dimension when stirred into champagne.

Pink Squirrel

This rose-hued variation on a grasshopper from The Greenwood Supper Club in Fish Creek, Wisconsin trades crème de menthe for almond-flavored crème de noya. See the recipe for Pink Squirrel »

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Grapefruit Terrine

Grapefruit is suspended in orange-liqueur-spiked gelatin in this recipe adapted from one in Stéphane Reynaud’s book Terrine (Phaidon Press, 2008). See the recipe for Grapefruit Terrine »

Fernet and coke granita
Fernet and Coke Granita

Inspired by the Argentine pairing, an intense cola and licorice-flavored granita is the perfect digestif.

Moscato and Peach Gelée
Moscato and Peach Gelée

This refreshing gelée gets its light, fruity flavor from ripe peaches and semisweet fizzy moscato wine.

Melon au Porto
Melon au Porto

The simple pairing of cantaloupe and port could be found on the menu of any classic mid-century French restaurant. The best melon to use is the French Charentais, which is small and slightly acidic (though still sweet), but it’s just as good with a musk or hand melon or cantaloupe.

Sherry Cardamom Granita

Delicately sweet and lightly spiced, a sherry-based granita makes a refreshing palate cleanser.

Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée
Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée

These simple gelled fruit desserts made with rosé champagne are an elegant way to serve summer berries. Get the Raspberries in Pink Champagne Gelée »

White Peaches Poached in Sauternes

For this very delicate dessert, use bottled spring water and a light, good-quality sauternes or barsac. The peaches shouldn’t marinate too long, so make them in the afternoon for dinner that night.

grasshopper
Grasshopper

At the Greenwood Supper Club in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, the minty grasshopper gets a soda-shop twist with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. See the recipe for Grasshopper »

raspberry trifle
Raspberry Trifle

This classic dessert is moistened with the sweetened, wine-spiked cream known as syllabub. See the recipe for Raspberry Trifle »

Rum Bundt Cake
Rum Bundt Cake

A supremely moist, boozy Southern bundt cake fitting for any holiday spread.

Roasted Peaches in Bourbon Syrup with Smoked Salt

In his cookbook Salted, Mark Bitterman writes of this peach, cinnamon, and salt recipe: “Your first bite will expand the boundaries of sensation, separating your mouth from the rest of your body, and you’ll be feeling spiciness in the warmth of your hands and smokiness in the tingling of your toes.” We agree.

Rum Raisin Ice Cream
Rum Raisin Ice Cream

The combination of rum and raisins has long elevated all kinds of desserts, but when applied to a vanilla custard base, the flavors truly shine: a concentrated burst of dried fruit cut by the boozy kick of rum, all cushioned by creamy dairy. Get the recipe for Rum Raisin Ice Cream »

Stout Ice Cream

The malt flavor of strong stout, such as Guinness Foreign Extra or Dragon, adds a bittersweet contrast to this rich, custardy ice cream, which is based on one served at the I-Scream shop at Devon House in Kingston, Jamaica. See the recipe for Stout Ice Cream »

Black-Bottom Pie

Creamy, chocolaty, and with a touch of rum is how we would describe this popular dessert. The buttery chocolate-cookie crust used for this pie is our favorite of the options offered by Woman’s Day Encyclopedia of Cookery (Fawcett Publication, Inc. 1965). See the recipe for Black-Bottom Pie »

Peanut Butter Bourbon Milkshake
Peanut Butter Bourbon Milkshake

Maple syrup and a healthy dose of bourbon add a delectable kick to this grown-up take on a peanut butter milkshake, served at Seattle’s Skillet Diner.

Black Truffle Sabayon
Black Truffle Sabayon

This warm, frothy custard is a great way to extend your truffle experience to the very end of the meal. See the recipe for Black Truffle Sabayon »

White Wine Granita
White Wine Granita

A slightly fruity white wine works best here—we like to use Chardonnay, but any full-bodied white will do, including Champagne.

Sgroppino
Sgroppino

Sgroppino, a slushy combination of lemon sorbet, vodka, and prosecco, is common in Italy as a palate cleanser, a dessert, or a pre-dinner drink. We prefer this version by Marc Vetri’s beverage director Steve Wildy, where the ingredients are whisked together to create a chilly, frothy libation.

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