A “pretty in pink” dessert drink with a dose of nostalgia, Pink Squirrels are made by blending ice cream, Crème de Cacao and an almond-flavored liqueur like Creme de Almond. Serve in your favorite cocktail glass or pour into plastic sleeves for an adult freezie aka “boozicle.”
My first encounter with a Pink Squirrel was more than 25 years ago during my PR agency days when our beloved office manager Marge ordered one during a work luncheon. (And just for the record, no one blinked an eye if you ordered a cocktail at lunch in the 90s!) Pretty and pink, it tasted like a delicious milkshake and was served in a martini glass with a cherry on top. It was love at first sip!
Turns out these dessert cocktails, along with Brandy Alexanders, have been staples at Northwoods supper clubs for years which may explain why I love these tasty drinks and the dose of nostalgia they offer!
If you are not familiar with supper clubs, just imagine a nicer, slightly upscale restaurant. However, any sense of formalness is juxtaposed with a backdrop of wood paneling, lots of taxidermy and an overall welcoming and cozy environment. There is also an enticing bar-lounge area where you make a stop for an Old-Fashioned cocktail before heading to your table where you embark on a robust and leisurely dining experience, starting with relish trays and bread baskets before transitioning to main courses like fresh fish, chops or steak. Finally, what better way to cap off a leisurely meal of pure comfort food than with a boozy, adult ice cream shake?! Learn more about supper clubs in this article from The Splendid Table found here.
Back to Pink Squirrels…
Pink Squirrels are a combination of vanilla ice cream, Crème de Cacao and Crème de Noyaux—an almond-flavored liquor that is pinkish in color. I can never seem to find Crème de Noyaux so I just use Amaretto, another almond-flavored liqueur and “pinkify” my drinks with a couple of drops of food coloring or splash of grenadine. Crème de Almond would also work to give this drink its unique chocolate-almond flavor.
A super sipper of a drink, these boozy beverages also make for a fun frozen treat to share with others in what I call “Boozicle” form—an adult-version of the freezie pops from my youth! I buy plastic sleeves called Zipzicles® and use my turkey baster to fill them up to stock my freezer. This has become my go-to treat to share with the adults during our neighborhood alley parties or when we get invited to a pool party. Adults deserve a fun treat too, right?
What about the Grasshopper?
If a Grasshopper drink is more likely to tickle your fancy, it only takes a simple swap of one ingredient. Similar to Pink Squirrels, Grasshopper drinks start with a base of vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cacao but call for Crème de Menthe (instead of almond liqueur) which gives this dessert drink a chocolate mint flavor drink that is reminiscent of an Andes or Frango chocolate mint candy.
