boozy treats

Kiwi Watermelon Margarita Popsicles

July 4, 2020 by Natalie Leave a Comment

It’s officially my first southern summer here in Nashville. Not the summer I imagined I would have, that’s for sure. It reached 91 today so I made these Kiwi Watermelon Margarita Popsicles. I’ve been buying a lot of fruit and freezing it to make smoothie bowls and frozen margaritas now that it’s warmer. Enjoying icy cold things while spending time in the sunshine on the deck is my favorite thing. I’ll tell you what, having an outdoor space AND having central AC for the first time in my life is quite the treat. But not as good of a treat as these Kiwi Watermelon Popsicles. I might be lying. I’m not sure.

Kiwi Watermelon Margarita Popsicles, makes 10

1/3 cup tequila

1/2 cup lime juice

3 tbsp. agave nectar

2 tbsp. triple sec

4 kiwis, peeled and sliced

2 cups watermelon

Popsicle mold

First, batch your margarita mix. Add tequila, triple sec, lime and agave nectar together. I did this in a measuring cup. Since we have to layer the popsicles were going to do them in two steps and I wanted them to both have the mix in them so that both parts are boozy.

Next, peel and slice your kiwis. Add them to the pitcher of your blender with a splash of the margarita mix to puree them. Once done blending evenly distribute the kiwi margarita mix into the popsicle molds. Send them to the freezer for an hour or so or until frozen. Reserve the rest of your margarita mix for the next step.

Once the kiwi portion of your popsicles is frozen it is time to make the watermelon layer. Add your watermelon to the clean pitcher of your blender with the rest of the margarita mix.

Blend and then evenly distribute between the popsicle molds on top of the kiwi layer. Put the top on the popsicle mold tray and insert popsicle sticks. Freeze up to four hours but overnight is always best.

I haven’t made a boozy popsicle in awhile and boy have I missed them. They were always such a pain to photograph in my old house in the summer because there was no AC. Try photographing something that is melting in a 90-degree kitchen. Not fun.

Happy to report that these were much easier to photograph. Turns out that having central air is amazing. Who knew? lol. I have a feeling I will be making a lot more popsicles this summer because they’re just too good. What’s not to like about dessert and a frozen cocktail combined together?

These Kiwi Watermelon Margarita Popsicles hit the spot on this very hot day because they’re tart and fruity and completely refreshing. Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits to use in margaritas and I’ve been drinking a lot of watermelon margaritas lately. Then it dawned on me that I should turn it into a popsicle. Not sure why I never thought of this sooner but I’m glad I finally did.

I hope you’ll make these Kiwi Watermelon Margarita Popsicles. Check out my other popsicle ideas like these Boozy Cold Brew Popsicles, Dark & Stormy Popsicles or these Aperol Spritz Popsicles. And if you make them don’t forget to comment below and let me know what you think.

Cheers everyone and have a safe July 4th weekend. Remember to wash those hands!

Chocolate Easter Bunny Shots

April 20, 2019 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Ever since last year when my friend Ashley over at Craft & Cocktails posted her Easter on Easter Island cocktail (IN A HOLLOW CHOCOLATE BUNNY) I’ve been dying to recreate something similar. I spotted some mini chocolate Easter bunnies while shopping the other day and I knew what needed to be done. I needed to chop their little ears off and fill them with something delicious. Can you blame me? They’re hollow and they were asking for it!

Chocolate Easter Bunny Shots, makes 3 shots

1 1/2 oz. Kerry Gold Irish cream

1 1/2 oz. Coffee Liqueur

1 1/2 oz. Coconut Cream

3 mini hollow chocolate Easter bunnies

To make your serving vessels you will need 3 mini hollow chocolate Easter bunnies. Run a sharp knife under hot water and then cut at the base of the chocolate bunnies ears. Kinda morbid, I suppose, but I promise this is going to be delicious. An edible serving vessel that pairs perfectly with your drink is pure brilliance!

Next, mix all of your ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into each bunny and serve immediately.

I love coconut, chocolate, and coffee all on their own, but these flavors also go so well together. These Chocolate Easter Bunny Shots are creamy and sweet and make the perfect boozy dessert option to serve your guests at Easter dinner. Not only is serving a shot in a little chocolate Easter bunny too damn adorable, but the best part is you get to eat the bunny after. I hope you’ll make these fun Chocolate Easter Bunny Shots and if you do chime in on the comments below. Cheers and Happy Easter everyone! xo

Bake This: Bourbon Banana Bread

April 2, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

I have been trying to make Bourbon Banana Bread all Winter long. Even though technically it is now Spring, it did snow this morning to my dismay. Boozy baked goods are still acceptable if it’s snowing right? I promise that adding bourbon to this banana bread recipe won’t make you drunk before noon, but it does add so much delicious flavor to both the bread and glaze.

Another reason it took me so long to make this recipe is every time I went to the supermarket they were out of bananas. I know it sounds strange, but it must have been the banana shortage of 2018. I even took photos and sent them to Ethan of empty spaces in the stores where bananas use to be. Like Gwen Stefani said, “This shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!”.

Bourbon Banana Bread

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 tablespoons bourbon (I used Few)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

bourbon glaze

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

4 tbsp. bourbon

splash of milk to thin

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan and line with parchment paper. In a large bowl of your electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar together. Add in the eggs and beat until combined. Stir in vanilla, mashed bananas, bourbon, and sour cream.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gradually add dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and stir until just combined.

Pour batter into a greased loaf pan lined with parchment paper. I love to use parchment paper so that the bread is easily removable from the loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on rack.

Make the glaze while the bread is cooling. Stir together the sugar and bourbon, adding a touch of milk to thin to glaze consistency. Pour or spread the glaze on the cooled bread.

This is by far my favorite recipe for banana bread. Some recipes that I’ve tried in the past just don’t have enough banana in them. One or two just isn’t enough for me, I feel like adding a third is definitely the sweet spot. The other secret to making great banana bread is sour cream. Adding it produces a superior bread that is moist and delicious. Let’s talk about that bourbon glaze, which is so easy to make and delightfully boozy.

I’ll be making this Bourbon Banana Bread whenever I have too many bananas turning brown on my hands, which happens almost too often. Lately, I’ve been freezing them for smoothies too! I love the flavor the bourbon adds to this bread but you could also experiment with other spirits. Adding dark rum and coconut would be a great Summer variation. I guess maybe I have some experimenting to do. If you decide to make this Bourbon Banana Bread make sure you chime in on the comments below. I’d love to hear how it turns out. xo

Blood Orange Negroni Tartlets

February 5, 2018 by Natalie Leave a Comment

Until February 14th everything will be Valentine’s Day themed because in my house we are not anti-Valentine’s Day! Any day about love, sweets, and pink is A-OK in my book. I’m celebrating this year with these Blood Orange Negroni Tartlets. Also, who doesn’t love a Negroni? Blood oranges? No. One.

I found an easy recipe for grapefruit tartlets on Pinterest from Sugar Coated Inspiration. So I adapted her recipe to make these Blood Orange Negroni Tartlets. These tarts are sweet, slightly tangy from the blood orange, bitter from the Campari, and have a natural dark pink hue from the Campari, sweet vermouth, and blood orange juice. Did I mention just a tad boozy too? You know much much I love taking my favorite classic cocktails and turning them into sweets!

Blood Orange Negroni Tartlets, makes 4 mini tarts

For the blood orange negroni curd:

1 1/2 cups blood orange juice

3/4 cup honey

3 tbsp. cornstarch

3 egg yolks, whisked

5 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. gin

1 tbsp. sweet vermouth

1 tbsp. Campari

For the crust:

2 sleeves of your preferred cookie for making the crusts (I used Milk & Honey tea cookies from Trader Joe’s)

6 tbsp. butter, melted

Start by making the crust. Pulse the cookies in a food processor or blender until they are fine crumbs. Then add the melted butter and stir the mixture until it resembles wet sand. Press and pack the mixture tightly into the bottom and sides of four mini tart pans. Bake the crusts at 350°F for 10 minutes or until they are a golden brown.

As the crusts cool, make the blood orange curd. Whisk your egg yolks in a bowl and set aside. In a saucepan whisk together the honey, cornstarch, and blood orange juice on medium heat until the mixture is thickened and slightly bubbly. Very slowly, stream in half of the hot blood orange mixture into the whisked egg yolks, whisking quickly, to temper the eggs. Return the egg mixture to the saucepan and cook for two minutes, stirring constantly, until the curd thickens. Remove the blood orange curd from the heat and whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, until melted. Add a tablespoon each of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari and stir until incorporated.

Fill the tartlet crusts up to the top with warm blood orange negroni curd and chill in the fridge until set. Once set, garnish them with edible flowers. Enjoy your special Valentine’s Day treats!

These Blood Orange Negroni Tartlets exceeded my expectations. They are so delicious and on top of that were quite simple to make. I had never made curd before and it was such a breeze I can’t wait to experiment and make other flavors. The best part about the curd was there was some left over. You can make a larger batch of crust and use the rest of the curd to make two more tartlets or you can store it in a jar. I’ve been spreading my leftover blood orange negroni curd on toast and it is the best! I really hope you decide to make these because they are currently my favorite dessert to date. As always if you decide to please let me know how they turn out in the comments below. I can’t wait to make another batch of these! xo