7 Pumpkin Cocktails To Make This Thanksgiving If You & Your Squad Aren't About The Pie
Personally, I find it so satisfying to pierce a fork through the seasonal decadence of pumpkin pie when I'm winding down after the hustle and bustle of a Thanksgiving meal, but not everyone loves flaky crust and fluffy filling (more for me!). If your potluck is anti-pie, a spiced, boozy beverage for dessert is still a great way to end an evening of indulgence. If your crew prefers pumpkin spice sips over slices, save the pie for another time, and whip up any of these easy pumpkin cocktail recipes instead that’ll have your squad in awe of your bartending skills.
This year, rather than toasting with wine or a glass of sparkling cider, insist that your besties raise their glasses to all the little blessings they're thankful for with an autumn-inspired cocktail. Of course, choosing a spirit that will please the entire table can be tricky, but I don't know many people who are opposed to chewing or sipping pumpkin-flavored delicacies around the holidays — do you?
Sure, pumpkin beverages can be a bit of an acquired taste, but they're only getting more and more popular with each passing year. Perhaps it's because the sweetened taste embodies everything fall-themed, or the fact that PSLs are always Insta-worthy. Whatever the reason, you can't go wrong mixing and mastering any of these pumpkin-flavored cocktails for Thanksgiving.
Founder of the wellness blog Good+Simple Alyssa has discovered the perfect combination of pumpkin and carbonation that guests will be demanding for years to come. The best part is, it only requires two ingredients.
This easy pumpkin ale fall cocktail is not only simple, it's pretty self-explanatory. If you don't have time to play bartender in between dinner preparations, throw a red tablecloth over a snack table and place a bottle of cinnamon schnapps next to an arrangement of glasses. Fill a cooler with ice and cans of pumpkin ale for a make-your-own station your guests can indulge in whenever they please.
Martinis are très chic and require a little more prep than Alyssa's two-step ale. If your squad is on the smaller side, and your Friendsgiving feasts tend to be a little more intimate, this pumpkin pie martini could be a fun cocktail to whip up together either before or after dinner.
This recipe, which was created by the chefs over at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington D.C., is an obvious nod to Thanksgiving traditions. The sweetened sip calls for a combination of vanilla vodka, pumpkin liquor, and spiced rum. Top it off with warm spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, and enjoy.
Margaritas are hands-down my favorite cocktail of all time (which is incredibly ironic, considering I can't handle tequila under any other circumstance, but I digress).
This easy pumpkin cocktail recipe from The Skylark lounge in Manhattan is definitely not your mother's signature drink, but traditions have to start somewhere, right? Ditch pie slices for servings of this boozy treat that combines silver tequila, lime and orange juice, pumpkin butter, Faretti biscotti liquor, and an orange wheel for flair.
Le Coq's pumpkin cocktail is a seasonal masterpiece, so if you can score the role of cocktail waitress for your squad this Thanksgiving, you'll definitely want to serve up (and sip on) this concoction for dessert.
Once the main ingredients are accounted for, the mixology is easy. The unique recipe calls for rich ingredients like bourbon and Demerara syrup for a boozy taste, lemon juice for zest, a roasted pumpkin wedge, and egg whites for foam.
Do you prefer your booze a bit bubbly?
Introduce your squad to a sip that goes beyond club soda this Thanksgiving. Sparkling Ice's easy pumpkin cocktail harmonizes all of your favorite autumnal flavors with a dash of PSL, and a few drops of honey whiskey.
Using Sparkling Ice Crisp Apple zero-calorie water for a base makes this cocktail a must if you'd rather eat than drink your calories. Add a festive touch by topping each glass with a dollop of whipped cream.
Mom Wife Busy Life blogger Brittany has epically combined a few seasonal favorites (pumpkin, apple, and chocolate) into this easy spirit as a nod to one of the best autumn TV programs of all time, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Inspired by the annual Peanuts special and a deep mourning for Choctoberfest, Brittany has created an adult beverage made decadent by catering to the childlike chocolate cravings that we'll never really grow out of. The punch contains a drizzle of chocolate caramel sauce, pumpkin puree, apple cider, and your choice of bourbon and rum. She also lists instructions on how to make a chocolate caramel sauce to garnish over the rim of your glass.
Is your mouth watering yet?
Another one for hard cider fanatics, this casino-born cocktail is part pumpkin beer topped with a double shot of apple cider.
Not everyone loves a lot of sweetness, so to offset the traditional pumpkin taste, adding a hint of apple cider supplements a sort of sour zest. Serve this to the squad who prefers shot-gunning beers and early tailgates to pinkies up at brunch.
