Sweet soft notes of Amaretto swirl this cream-based cocktail with hints of coffee liqueur. The toasted almond drink is the perfect way to say cheers this holiday season or sip as you sit fireside. Any cocktail mixed with amaretto, especially Homemade Amaretto, during the holiday season or colder months is one I welcome.
This almond drink also makes a deliciously indulgent dessert cocktail that’s creamy and has a similar flavor to toasted almonds. It pairs perfectly as an after-dinner treat.
Each year I try to make some tasty homemade treats to give as gifts to friends and neighbors. In years past I’ve made infused olive oil, but this year I wanted something truly decadent. Making homemade amaretto seemed the perfect gift and after tasting it myself I can confirm.
I wanted to give my friends some options for using their amaretto, even though drinking it straight was truly divine and so I researched some cocktails. What I found was a delicious winter cocktail called the toasted almond drink.
Made of amaretto, coffee liqueur, and cream this is one decadent drink. It makes the perfect holiday cocktail for toasting friends or sipping while sitting fireside.
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Why I Love This Toasted Almond Drink Recipe?
A delicious holiday beverage. Similar to a White Russian or even a Black Russian this drink, also known as a toasted almond martini, is rich and creamy but also sweet. The toasted almond cocktail perfect beverage to toast friends with during the holidays.
Only 3 ingredients. The toasted almond drink recipe has only 3 ingredients and can be whipped up in minutes. This makes it great especially if you’re making a bunch of them.
Can be made into shots. This beverage doesn’t have to be served as a cocktail and can make a fun and festive shot too. I have also written an article on How to Make Almond Ice Cream?
Toasted Almond Drink Fixings
There are only 3 main ingredients in this cocktail, which makes it similar to the White Russian. The difference between the two is the amaretto instead of vodka.
Amaretto Liqueur – the name amaretto itself means “little bitter” in Italian and has a sweet and nutty flavor that’s also slightly bitter and reminiscent of toasted almonds. Many amarettos contain both almonds and apricot pits but are all equally delicious. I like to use the brand Disarono when I don’t have a homemade version on hand.
Coffee Liqueur – my favorite coffee liqueur is Kahlua, which tastes strongly of coffee with hints of vanilla and caramel and brings a rich and bold flavor to this cocktail.
Cream or Milk – this is a dessert cocktail, which is why I prefer to use whole milk or heavy cream. Either of these brings a rich creamy taste that smooths the other two liqueurs while blending them perfectly. You can also use half and half or canned coconut for a dairy-free option but try to stay away from using milk with less fat in it.
How to Make Toasted Almond Drink?
Place the liquids into a cocktail shaker. Pour both the amaretto and coffee liqueur or Kahlua, as well as the cream or milk into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake vigorously. Shake the contents vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds to not only chill the mixture but also mix the contents well and generate the frothy cream on top.
Serve. Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Typically this beverage doesn’t contain a garnish but you can top it off with some fresh orange peel, and mint leaves, or even place a cherry on a cocktail skewer. Another on Get Hooked on the Rich and Creamy Taste of Vanilla Almond Butter.
Tips
Line the rim of the glass. Dip the rim of your glass into some caramel or chocolate syrup and then pour some coarse sugar, Christmas sprinkles, or even graham cracker crumbs onto a flat surface and dip the rim in to coat it.
Make it dairy free. Swap the cream for canned coconut milk, almond milk, or your favorite non-dairy milk to make this cocktail dairy free.
Don’t skip using a cocktail shaker. Avoid just pouring the ingredients into a glass and stirring the contents. It’s important to shake them with ice in a shaker. This softens the cream and adds a froth to the top.
The measurements aren’t finite. You can play around with the measurements of the liqueurs and the cream. Typically the liqueurs are equal and the cream is a little less or more depending on your preferences.
Add some vodka. Some versions of the toasted almond cocktail contain vodka, which is a delicious addition and will also make it stronger. You can add 1 ounce to kick up your cocktail a notch. Try a flavored vodka to add even more to your drink.
What Does The Toasted Almond Drink Taste Like?
The flavors of this drink are almond and coffee with a hint of chocolate somewhere deep in the mix. It’s a soothing, delicious drink. It’s great to enjoy when you’ve got a peaceful moment to yourself. But it also works very well as a light dessert drink. You can get more from this video.
Variations on The Toasted Almond Drink
Sometimes people add vodka or Grand Marnier to this drink. Others use Baileys instead of regular cream. People have made any number of variations on this cocktail. The only true “variations” on the Toasted Almond involve different amounts of the ingredients. Or which type of cream you use.
For example, some versions of this drink recipe call for two ounces of each liqueur and four ounces of low-fat milk. Other versions insist on just one ounce of half and half and keep all other ingredients at two ounces.
It doesn’t matter, and you should tweak the ingredient ratios to your taste and use whatever type of cream or milk you like. Try whole milk, coffee creamer, and heavy cream to see which you prefer.
![Baronet Coffee Pods [Toasted Almond-54 Pods] Flavored Single Cup Use, Like Senseo Coffee Pods [3 Boxes of 18 Single Serve 10 Gram Pads] Regular Strength Soft Coffee Pods, Medium Roast [Toasted Almond]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51G65Ja8anL._SL160_.jpg)
Conclusion
If you enjoyed this easy recipe, please leave a rating and a comment below.
Yes, amaretto, especially brands such as Disaronno, makes great sipping liqueurs and can be enjoyed straight. You can also mix it into cocktails.
This sweet Italian liqueur can be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, or almonds and the combination depends on the brand. All amarettos have a nutty almond flavor though.
I’m slightly partial, but I prefer to use Kahlua as my preferred coffee liqueur and it tastes delicious in this cocktail.