If coffee can disguise itself as dessert, then why not a cocktail? You can pretty much transform anything into dessert by adding ice cream or whipped cream. If you’re into drinking your dessert during happy hour, the Grasshopper alcoholic beverage is what you have been looking for. Think cocktail meets mint-chocolate chip milkshake. Let’s take a closer look at The Grasshopper.
What’s in a Grasshopper Drink?
The Grasshopper is a signature green dessert cocktail featuring refreshing ingredients that make it a fun and festive addition to any party. Let’s find out what goes into a grasshopper.
Crème de menthe – The minty flavor comes from this mint-flavored liqueur. You can find this product in both white and green, but if you want your Grasshopper to have the signature green color, obviously pick the green.
Crème de cacao – Now for the chocolate. Crème de cacao is a sweet-tasting chocolate liqueur often used in dessert cocktails. This is available in dark or white. If you want green grasshoppers, then choose the white crème de cacao. This will ensure the drink has a vibrant green color.
Half and Half or Whole Cream – The smooth creaminess is thanks to half and half or whole cream. Use whole cream to give the drink a truly decadent thick creaminess. When you use whole cream, remember the drink will definitely have more richness as well as more calories and fat.
How Do You Make a Grasshopper?
Don’t be fooled by its appearance or taste — this cocktail is so easy to make. Traditionally, a Grasshopper will be equal parts crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream. You will want to pour these three simple ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. After a few shakes, you are ready to strain and pour into a glass.
The proportions can easily be adjusted to suit your taste. A creamier, more dessert-like drink would be 2 parts cream, 1 part crème de menthe, and 1 part crème de cacao. The fun part of making your own custom cocktails is that you can play around with the ingredients until you have it just the way you like.
Dessert It Up
Once you have the cocktail tasting just right, it’s time to play with garnishes. Here are some ideas to make your Grasshopper extra scrumptious.
Swirl chocolate syrup inside the glass before pouring in the cocktail. This not only looks great but also adds an extra sweet punch of chocolate.
No dessert cocktail would be complete without whipped cream, right?
How about crushed Andes Candies sprinkled on top for a little minty boost? You could also use chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or even crushed peppermint candy.
Frozen Grasshopper
Another variation is the frozen Grasshopper. This cocktail can easily transform into a milkshake. Add crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and mint-chip ice cream to a blender. Blend, and you have a frozen cocktail for any occasion.
These are great to serve for holiday parties anytime you want a sweet dessert cocktail.