It’s no secret that I like to make Boozy Desserts and I have posted about a lot of them over the years. In fact I usually visit the bottle shop with dessert recipes in mind, not cocktails or after work drinks! I have long been fascinated by the way that different spirits can pair so well with certain ingredients, like peaches and bourbon, chocolate and muscat or berries and moscato. And a sticky date pudding is nothing without a bourbon caramel sauce to go with it.
So I thought I’d take a trip through the archives to show you some of my very favourite boozy desserts – sixteen, in fact – from the last several years to hopefully inspire you to try out one or two for yourself. These are recipes from all seasons, from boozy popsicles for summer, to warm puddings for cold winter nights.
1. Chocolate Espresso Mousse with Peanut Pretzel Bark
Chocolate pairs well with so many different kinds of booze. This Chocolate Espresso Mousse contains a relatively new favourite of mine – Mr Black Cold Pressed Coffee Liqueur. If you haven’t tried it yet, you definitely should. It makes a mean espresso martini. Actually, I can’t believe I don’t have an espresso martini inspired dessert!
2. Boozy Candy Cane Spiders
If you need a fun, boozy Christmas-time treat, here it is. My delicious No Churn Candy Cane Ice Cream is turned into a boozy ‘Spider’ or ice cream float with white chocolate liqueur. The combination is delicious, especially because Christmas falls during the summer here in Australia.
3. Chocolate Cherry Bourbon Cheesecake
Bourbon is probably the most common spirit I use in baking because it goes so well with everything from fruit to chocolate to caramel. But don’t worry, the flavour is subtle and lovely in this cheesecake and pairs perfectly with the cherries.
4. Mulled Wine Glazed Doughnuts
Your whole house will smell delicious and spicy while you simmer the mulled wine for this delicious syrup. And if you bottle it up nicely, it makes a lovely Christmas gift. Or you can use it to make the most amazing doughnut glaze.
5. Brownie Cookies with Maple Bourbon Buttercream
Still one of my favourite cookie recipes ever, and one that I make often. They also makes great ice cream sandwiches. The maple flavoured buttercream is enhanced with a hint of bourbon. I told you I used a lot of bourbon! The flavours are really great and some salt helps to balance out the sweetness.
6. Berry & Moscato Trifles
I think Christmas is always a fun time to experiment with boozy desserts. It just adds some festive cheer, don’t you think? Moscato and berries are a match made in heaven. I love how pretty these Trifles look as individual servings, but I’ve also made this as one big trifle in a beautiful glass bowl.
7. Churros with Orange Spiked Hot Chocolate
If you’re eating doughnuts and hot chocolate, you might as well go all out with a shot of Cointreau in your boozy hot chocolate! This is equally perfect for breakfast like they do in Spain or dessert.
8. Sticky Date Bourbon and Cola Pudding
This recipe called to me from the pages of the Pitt Cue Co. Cookbook
9. Lychee, Gin & Raspberry Ice Blocks
These Lychee, Gin & Raspberry Ice Blocks are like a cocktail but in popsicle form – something I can definitely get behind. I love taking a treat I loved as a child like ice blocks and turning it into a boozy grown up version. I used Hendricks gin because it’s infused with rose petals and cucumber, delicious with the flavours in these pops. Perfect for summer.
10. Salted Caramel & Bourbon Milkshakes
Is a milkshake technically a dessert? I don’t know, but this one sure knows how to party! This is one of my most popular posts ever – my Bourbon Salted Caramel sauce is turned into a very decadent boozy milkshake.
11. Boozy Hot Chocolate
Three delicious ways to make your hot chocolate way more fun this winter! Frangelico is added to a dairy free Nutella Hot Chocolate. Cake-flavoured Vodka goes in the sprinkle-happy Birthday Cake White Hot Chocolate and some white chocolate liqueur makes an appearance in the Red Velvet Hot Chocolate. Just don’t ask me to pick a favourite…
12. Peach and Bourbon Pie
There is something about peaches and bourbon together that works so well. These pies are a celebration of that and all things summer. This is also one of my favourite pastry recipes that I use all the time.
13. Pimms Trifle
When I’m catching up with the girls, we usually order a jug of Pimms to share. This dessert is inspired by those happy memories with a focus on the flavours that go into a classic Pimms Cup – cucumber, strawberry and lemon. You can really taste the Pimms in this dessert.
14. Chocolate Whisky Pudding with Passionfruit Ice Cream
Now this is one of my favourite boozy desserts ever. The flavours of chocolate, whisky and passionfruit are just perfect together. It’s actually pretty easy to make and the epitome of winter comfort food. One of my whisky-loving friends made this recently and loved it too.
15. Nectarine, Raspberry and Chambord Pie
Chambord is a black raspberry liqueur that pairs perfectly with almost any summer fruit dessert. Of course I had to add a generous splash into the fruit mixture for this pie and it was delicious.
16. Negroni Poached Pears
This recipe is of course inspired by the classic Italian aperitif, the Negroni. I remember how good this made my apartment smell as I was poaching the pears in the Vermouth, Campari and Gin mixture for a sophisticated take on the boozy dessert. It’s a great way to finish off a dinner party because it’s not too heavy or too sweet.
I hope you’re inspired by this roundup of Boozy Desserts. If you do try any of them please make sure to tag me in your photo on Instagram so I can see it too!