What Exactly Is Aperol?

Aperol is an Italian bitter (amaro) that’s bright orange a bittersweet flavor. The first aperitif invented back in the 1860’s in Italy was Campari, the main ingredient in a Negroni. Many sprung up after that, with each restaurant making its own unique aperitif. Aperol was invited in 1919, and it was bought by the Campari company in the 1990’s.

Its flavor is lightly sweet, bitter, and balanced, with notes of herbs and citrus. It has a fairly low alcohol content (22 proof or 11% ABV). Its light flavor is much more approachable than the very bitter Campari.

Other ways to use Aperol once you have a bottle open: try the unique modern classics Paper Plane and Naked and Famous, or my sweet tart Aperol Cocktail.

More Classic Cocktails

• French 75 Cocktail
• Tom Collins Cocktail
• Classic Margarita
• Favorite Whiskey Sour
• Classic Mojito
• 40 Great Cocktails Everyone Should Know

The Key Move: A Quick Mint Simple Syrup

The standard mojito is made in a cocktail shaker: first you muddle mint, then add simple syrup, lime juice and rum. But for a pitcher version, you don’t want to have to muddle such a large quantity of the herb. That’s where the mint syrup comes in! Make a quick mint simple syrup, and it infuses minty fresh flavor into each drink. It’s similar to this mint simple syrup, but even quicker. Here are the main steps:

• Place mint leaves in a pan with equal parts sugar and water.
• Bring to a simmer until the sugar is dissolved, then allow to sit at least 5 minutes. Then strain it into a large pitcher.

Otherwise, this mojito pitcher recipe is beyond simple. Mix the syrup with lime juice and rum, then add ice and garnishes to the pitcher. Serve topped off with soda water! Speaking of…

Soda Water vs. Club Soda: Does It Matter?

Speaking of soda water, is it club soda? Is it seltzer? In this mojito pitcher recipe, I use the term “soda water” to mean any type of unflavored sparkling water:

• Soda water aka seltzer is carbonated water with no additives — straight up bubbles!
• Club soda is carbonated water infused with added minerals, which give it a salty, lightly sweet flavor. It’s great in cocktails, like these top club soda cocktails.

What about tonic water? Tonic water is is carbonated water with added quinine and sugar. Don’t use it in a Mojito because of the distinct flavor. But you can use it for a Gin and Tonic, Vodka Tonic, Tequila Tonic or Whiskey Tonic!

Mojito Variations to Try

Want a few variations on this Mojito pitcher recipe? Here are a few different Mojito variations to try: you can adapt each of them to work as a pitcher!

• Limoncello Mojito Add this Italian lemon liqueur for a citrusy twist
• Virgin Mojito Mocktail Go virgin and skip the rum! Use the mint syrup, but you can add a hint of orgeat too if you like.
• Strawberry Mojito Muddle 1 pint strawberries for a fruity variation!
• Raspberry Mojito Muddle 1 pint raspberries, and add it to the mix.
• Pineapple Mojito Add 1 cup pineapple juice to the mix.
• Peach Mojito Muddle slices from 8 small or 4 large ripe peaches, and add to the mix.

When to Serve This Mojito Pitcher

This mojito pitcher recipe is perfect for parties! Try it as a:

• As a summer drink at backyard barbecues and outdoor dinner parties
• At brunch, Mother’s Day, and bridal showers
• Porch happy hours and slow Sunday afternoons
• As a pre-dinner aperitif
• Big-batch hosting alongside other party drinks for a crowd

Flavor Variations and Add-Ins

Throw the ingredients into a blender and whiz them into a beautiful creamy oatmeal smoothie! Take one sip and it tastes remarkably like oatmeal. The cinnamon is key to the oatmeal vibe. Here are a few more tweaks to this banana oatmeal smoothie you can do to vary the flavor:

• Increase the cinnamon. Use the high end of the cinnamon specified in the recipe below for a cozy Cinnamon Oatmeal Smoothie.
• Use almond butter or cashew butter. Use any type of nut butter in place of the peanut butter, like almond butter, cashew butter, or pecan butter.
• Add chai spices. Substitute cozy chai spices for the cinnamon to make a Chai Oatmeal Smoothie.

How to Make It Vegan

This banana oatmeal smoothie has Greek yogurt to load on protein and healthy probiotics. But want a vegan smoothie? Try it with oat milk instead. Here’s what to do:

• Use oat milk in place of both dairy milk and yogurt. An oatmeal smoothie needs oat milk, right? We love using this dairy free milk in smoothies: it’s very creamy and makes for a good body. It’s easy to find at your local grocery. Substitute the non-dairy milk for the dairy milk and half the quantity of yogurt, then add back more milk if necessary for blending.
• Add back some protein. You’ll lose some protein from removing the yogurt. Consider adding up to 2 tablespoons chia seeds.

More Variations

The process of making lemonade is the same as this lime drink, but it uses lemons instead. You can also mix limeade or lemonade with booze for a fun cocktail idea! Here are some places to start:

• Fresh Lemonade: Freshly squeezed lemons and sugar make an extraordinary sweet-tart flavor.
• Bourbon Lemonade or Limeade: This is a perfect summer drink! Make fresh-squeezed lemonade or limeade and swirl in some whiskey for a spicy finish.
• Spiked Lemonade or Limeade: Beat the heat with this fresh and boozy homemade lemonade, starring vodka and limoncello.

More Lime Recipes To Try

There are so many great things to do with extra limes! This zesty citrus adds a zing to anything it touches. Here are some of my favorite lime recipes:

• Try Easy Lime Vinaigrette or Cilantro Lime Dressing, both fast to whip up.
• You’ll want to bathe in my Cilantro Lime Crema or Cilantro Lime Ranch.
• Go for Cilantro Lime Shrimp for an easy dinner in 10 minutes!
• This Lime Water is healthy, looks beautiful, and tastes extraordinarily refreshing.
• Mix up zingy Lime Curd to top cakes and waffles.

Adding Clear Ice

Want to know the secret to professional looking cocktails made at home? Clear ice. What is it? I thought Alex was crazy when he told me he wanted to make a recipe for it. Clear ice is artisanal ice used in cocktails because of its crystal clear look and beautiful organic shapes. We try to have a batch ready before we have a cocktail hour because this ice truly steals the show.

You can make clear ice at home and it’s so easy! All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours, and your cocktails will look like you ordered it in a fancy bar. Here’s how to make clear ice.

When to Serve This Drink

The Skinny Margarita is perfect any time you’d make a regular margarita. Most people can’t tell the difference, and some people like it because it’s brighter and less sweet than the standard cocktail. I like it for:

• Weeknight happy hour when I don’t want a heavy drink
• Dinner parties, especially with Mexican-inspired food like my shrimp tacos or fish tacos
• Batch-making ahead in a margarita pitcher (just scale everything up and refrigerate the mix; add ice when serving)
• Girls’ night or any occasion where people want a lighter drink

A Few More Low Calorie Drinks

• Try a White Wine Spritzer: it’s just 68 calories per serving!
• Go for a fruity Sea Breeze
• Opt for a bubbly Vodka Soda
• Try a Skinny Ranch Water

01

Top 10 Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks

02

White Wine Spritzer

03

Sea Breeze Cocktail

04

Ranch Water Recipe

What is a Detox Smoothie?

This detox smoothie is not part of a detox diet, and I do not recommend them. A detox is a short-term period of fasting followed by a period of eating fruits and vegetables. But there’s no evidence that these cleanses provide tangible benefits, and they can often cause harm (per Healthline).

Instead, I define a detox smoothie as one made with 100% vegetables and fruits. This makes it easy for you to infuse good-for-you ingredients into your lifestyle (and it tastes great). There are no supplements, powders, or other substances required; just nourishing whole foods!

Ingredients You’ll Need

What’s in this detox smoothie? This recipe quickly jumped to the top of my favorites list for its burst of tangy, sweet-tart flavor; plus, it’s made with simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to whiz together in a blender:

• Apple: Apple brings sweetness and body to the puree. I like a sweet-tart type like Pink Lady or Granny Smith, but any works here.
• Banana: Bananas are key to a smoothie’s creamy texture. If you don’t like or can’t eat bananas, add another apple.
• Spinach: Baby spinach is easy to throw in handfuls, or use washed, chopped spinach. You can also substitute chopped kale or chard!
• Frozen pineapple: Frozen pineapple adds sweetness and an icy texture. If you prefer, substitute frozen mango.
• Fresh ginger: Ginger root is optional, but it adds a fresh, spicy flavor that’s extremely satisfying.
• Chia seeds: Chia seeds add protein and fiber to this smoothie.
• Lemon juice: Lemon juice brings out the fruity flavors (it accentuates a smoothie like salt does in savory food).
• Water and ice: Blend it all up with water and ice!

Tips for Working With Fresh Ginger

Fresh ginger root might not always be in your refrigerator, but it adds a big punch of flavor to this detox smoothie! While it’s optional, I highly recommend using it here. Pick up some in the produce section of your grocery store (then use the rest for these ginger recipes!).

It can be tricky to peel, so I’ve got some tips for you:

• Peel with a spoon! This works much better than a vegetable peeler! Use the edge of a spoon to peel the ginger skin.
• Grate it. Use a grater or microplane to grate the ginger into a pulp.
• Or mince it. If you don’t have a grater, use a large chef’s knife to slice the ginger thinly in one direction, then chop in the other direction until it’s minced into small pieces.

Chia Seed Nutrition

Another key ingredient in this detox smoothie is chia seeds! The smoothie doesn’t have any dairy or a natural source of protein, so I decided to add a bit of chia seeds for a protein and fiber boost. Here’s what these little seeds have to offer (per Healthline):

• Chia seeds are very high in fiber. 2 tablespoons of chia seeds have 11 grams of fiber, a whopping 44% of your daily need!
• Chia seeds are high in protein. 2 tablespoons have 4 grams of protein or about 8% of your daily need.
• Chia seeds are high in antioxidants. Researchers agree that this can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, boost the immune system, and improve mental health.

More Green Smoothie Recipes to Try

• Spinach Smoothie
• Kale Smoothie
• Celery Smoothie
• Broccoli Smoothie
• Zucchini Smoothie
• Avocado Green Smoothie

Ingredients You’ll Need

The Old Fashioned is one of the oldest cocktails in existence, first documented in the early 1800’s by a New York paper. This spin uses apple cider syrup instead of a standard sugar cube to infuse the drink with homey flavors.

Using syrup in this drink is ideal because adding straight apple cider waters it down, making it more like a Wisconsin Old Fashioned. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Apple cider syrup (see below)
• Angostura bitters
• Bourbon or rye whiskey
• Orange peel
• Apple slices and cocktail cherry, for garnish (optional)
• Large clear ice cube, for serving

Making Apple Cider Syrup

The apple cider syrup is what makes this apple cider Old Fashioned sing! The boiled apple cider infuses apple and cinnamon flavors and adds sweetness. Here are a few things to note about this drink component:

• It takes 30 minutes to make. Boil apple cider with sugar and a cinnamon stick on the stovetop for 30 to 35 minutes, until reduced and syrupy.
• Make a batch in advance. This is an easy component to make in advance and refrigerate until serving. It stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
• Want to use it for more drinks? Try the Fall Margarita!

Apple Cider Old Fashioned: Quick Version

Don’t have 30 minutes to spare and want to whip up this apple cider Old Fashioned on demand? You can do that, too. Follow the recipe below, but use 1 tablespoon of apple cider and 1 tablespoon of simple syrup. Taste and adjust flavors as desired.

Step It Up With Clear Ice

Want the very best Old Fashioned? Use clear ice. These are crystal clear ice cubes you can cut into organic shapes that make your drink look like it’s from a fancy bar. These contrast with the cloudy ice cubes that come from an ice tray. They’re an absolute must for an Old Fashioned! Here’s how to do it:

• Make clear ice in a small cooler. Go to How to Make Clear Ice for instructions! The cooler just needs to fit inside your freezer.
• Use a clear ice tray. I use this clear ice tray, and it works well! It also fits easily into your freezer.

More Fall Cocktails to Try

• Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
• Apple Cider Mule
• Apple Cider Mimosa
• Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
• Hot Toddy
• Spiked Apple Cider

Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour Ingredients

This cranberry orange whiskey sour is a play on the classic Whiskey Sour, an iconic drink that goes back centuries. The earliest mention of the drink in literature dates to the 1870s, meaning this cocktail existed much earlier than most classic cocktails that appeared in the 1910s and 20’s.

• Whiskey (I prefer bourbon for a cranberry bourbon sour)
• Fresh-squeezed orange juice
• Fresh lemon juice
• Unsweetened cranberry juice
• Simple syrup or maple syrup
• Orange wheel or twist, cocktail cherry or cranberries, for garnish

Sweetened vs Unsweetened Cranberry Juice

For cranberry cocktails, I prefer unsweetened cranberry juice rather than cranberry juice cocktail, which is sweetened. Because it’s a small quantity of cranberry juice (¾ ounce), you can use either here. If all you can find is the sweetened version, it will make the drink slightly sweeter.

• Sweetened cranberry juice, aka cranberry juice cocktail, contains added sugars and sometimes high-fructose corn syrup. It is the type used for classic cranberry cocktails of the past, like the Vodka Cranberry.
• 100% cranberry juice is easy to find at your local grocery store. The benefit? The color is brighter, and you can adjust the sweetness to your taste.

Optional: Egg White Foam

Bartenders have added egg whites to cocktails since the 1860’s to create a frothy texture on top and a creamy, rich flavor with each sip. It’s customary to have an egg white foam on a sour, so if you’d like, you can add that to this cranberry orange whiskey sour!

You can make the best frothy egg white foam with 1 egg white and the drink ingredients, using a technique called a dry shake: shaking the cocktail ingredients without ice first. Here’s how it works:

• The first shake without ice lets the protein in the egg begin to foam rather than be diluted by the ice.
• The second shake with ice cools the drink and strengthens the foam. Strain it into the glass, and you’ll get a thick, white frothy layer.
• Go to Whiskey Sour with Egg White for the full technique!

Step It Up With Clear Ice

Want to make a professional-looking cranberry orange whiskey sour? Use clear ice. These large, crystal-clear ice cubes make your drink look like it’s from a fancy bar, vs. the cloudy ice cubes that come from an ice tray. They’re perfect for stepping up this drink. Here’s how to do it:

• Make clear ice in a small cooler. Go to How to Make Clear Ice for instructions! The cooler just needs to fit inside your freezer.
• Use a clear ice tray. I use this clear ice tray, and it works well! It also fits easily into your freezer.

More Fall Cocktails to Try

• Maple Old Fashioned
• Hot Toddy
• Bourbon Hot Toddy
• Gold Rush
• Apple Cider and Whiskey
• Apple Cider Cocktail

Ingredients for This Chocolate Banana Smoothie

There’s not a lot to this chocolate banana smoothie. In fact, I developed it around ingredients I always have in my pantry and fridge. Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:

• Bananas: Here’s the best part: no freezing necessary! Use room-temperature bananas and lots of ice to get that perfect creamy texture.
• Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is ideal for adding to smoothies because it’s packed with protein and has probiotics for a healthy gut. Skip this to make it a vegan smoothie.
• Milk: Use any type of milk here, dairy or non-dairy. Add more non-dairy milk for vegan.
• Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder gives that signature chocolate flavor when combined with the sweetener.
• Maple syrup: Maple syrup is my sweetener of choice; you can also use honey or agave syrup.
• Ice: Add quite a bit of ice, and it all comes together into a smooth, chocolaty puree.

Protein Add-Ins

Want to add a little more protein to your chocolate banana smoothie? Here are my best recommendations, both plant-based and dairy protein:

• Peanut butter: What could be a better pairing? Peanut butter goes hand in hand with chocolate and banana (it also adds a hint of plant-based protein). Start with 1 to 2 tablespoons. Adding peanut butter increases the calories, but also makes this smoothie more filling.
• More Greek yogurt: Double the amount in this recipe for an even more filling smoothie. This is great for breakfasts or post-workout snacks.
• Protein powder: You can always hide protein powder in smoothies! Typically, I prefer to avoid it because it can leave an odd aftertaste. But this smoothie would be a good one since the chocolate flavor is strong enough to mask it.

Vegan Variation

Prefer to have a vegan smoothie? You can easily make this chocolate banana smoothie plant-based by doing the following:

• Cut the Greek yogurt.
• Use oat milk or almond milk, adding a little more as needed until it blends.
• Consider adding peanut butter for added plant-based protein.

Dark Chocolate Version

Are you a dark chocolate lover like me? Here’s what you can do to turn this into a dark chocolate banana smoothie.

• Use Dutch process cocoa powder (sometimes labeled dark cocoa powder or Dutched cocoa).
• Start with 3 tablespoons of Dutch process cocoa powder and add more to taste.
• You may also need to add a bit more sweetener to counter the cocoa’s darkness.

Dutch process cocoa powder is essentially a dark chocolate version of cocoa powder. It’s been treated with an alkali to neutralize its pH, which gives it a darker color and milder flavor. I use it in lots of my recipes to get a rich chocolaty flavor, like Flourless Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Banana Muffins.

More Chocolate Recipes to Try

• Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie
• Healthy Chocolate Pudding Snack
• Chocolate Zucchini Cake
• Vegan Chocolate Pudding

What’s in a Skeleton Key Cocktail?

The Skeleton Key cocktail is a highball made with bourbon, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and ginger beer. It’s topped with bitters that form an eerie orange haze floating on the surface.

The Skeleton Key was invented in 2011 at the now-closed Detroit restaurant Roast. Then, bartender Brian Volmer created a cocktail for a local Halloween competition, which went on to become popular at bars around Detroit.

The drink’s name is inspired by its rusty color, which made Vollmer think of the skeleton keys that opened the locks in his grandparents’ house. This highball cocktail is a beautiful balance between bourbon, floral elderflower liqueur, and spicy ginger beer. While it’s the perfect Halloween cocktail, I think it’s more fun any time of the year!

The ingredients for a Skeleton Key cocktail are:

• Bourbon
• St. Germain elderflower liqueur
• Lemon juice
• Ginger beer
• Angostura bitters

Tips for Making the Drink

Want to whip up a Skeleton key cocktail? Here are a few quick notes on this drink:

• It can be built in the glass! Any time I can get away without dirtying a cocktail shaker, I do it! This one is perfect for entertaining.
• Add the ginger beer right before serving. To preserve the bubbles, don’t mix in the ginger beer until right before serving.
• Generously shake in the bitters (and if desired, stir!). The fun part of this drink is the haze of bitters that hangs at the top. However, it tastes best when the bitters are integrated into the drink, so you may want to stir before drinking.

More About St Germain

This drink requires a bottle of St Germain elderflower liqueur, but it’s absolutely worth a purchase! This tasty liqueur is a favorite of mine that you can use to make a French Gimlet, Hugo, and these 10 Best St Germain Cocktail recipes.

• St Germain is a liqueur that’s made with elderflowers, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. The flavor is light, sweetly floral, and fragrant. To pronounce it, say “Sahn-jer-MAHN”.
• Fun fact: it’s relatively new to the scene. St Germain was invented in 2007! The vintage-looking bottle makes it seem like it has hundreds of years of history, but a guy named Rob invented it in 2007. (Here’s the story behind it.)
• How much does it cost? That beautiful bottle will set you back about $20 to $30.

Best Ginger Beer

There are lots of ginger ale brands on the market, but not all are created equal! I have a few favorites when it comes to ginger beer:

• Q Ginger Beer: This is my top choice! It comes in small cans, so you only have to use a little at a time.
• Fever Tree Ginger Beer: Fever Tree is made with real ginger and has no artificial sweeteners.

More Highball Cocktail Recipes to Try

• Transfusion Drink
• Finnish Long Drink
• Tom Collins Cocktail
• Long Island Iced Tea
• Screwdriver
• Gin Rickey

Ingredients for This Zucchini Smoothie

This zucchini smoothie is a fun way to use up this green vegetable if you’re not in the mood for baking zucchini bread or zucchini muffins. It relies on bananas and peanut butter as the base, lightly sweetened with a hint of maple syrup and made creamy with your milk of choice.

My son tried this and couldn’t stop sipping it! (Of course, it was the chocolate variation.) Here’s what you’ll need:

• Frozen zucchini: Zucchini acts as the ice here. You’ll need just 2 hours to freeze the zucchini! Alternatively, room-temperature zucchini with frozen bananas works if you prefer.
• Banana: A room-temperature banana is all you need; no need to freeze it! It’s essential for the smoothie’s creamy texture.
• Spinach: This ingredient is just for the green variation. It adds a nice green color to the smoothie (but you can use it in the chocolate variation as well).
• Milk: Use your favorite milk here, dairy or non-dairy, both work, making it a vegan smoothie. You can also use a combination of Greek yogurt and milk to heighten the protein (see below).
• Peanut butter: Peanut butter adds a bit of protein and a nuance to the flavor; add more as desired.
• Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup is my sweetener of choice, but you can use honey or agave syrup as other options.
• Vanilla extract and cinnamon: These add just the right hints of flavor.

Chocolate Variation

Want to make a chocolate zucchini smoothie? Simply add cocoa powder to the list of ingredients above. You’ll likely want a touch more maple syrup to sweeten the smoothie and make it taste chocolatey.

It’s preferable not to use spinach in this variation, as it adds a tinge of green to the chocolate’s brown color. However, the cocoa powder is so dark you likely won’t notice it, so you can throw it in if desired. (My 6-year-old didn’t mind one bit.)

How to Freeze Zucchini

You’ll need to freeze the zucchini for this smoothie at least 2 hours in advance. Here’s how to do it:

• Slice the zucchini into thin half-moon shapes. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze for at least 2 hours.
• For longer storage, flash-freeze the zucchini in the same manner for 1 hour, then transfer it to a sealed container and store it up to 3 months.
• If you have frozen bananas on hand, another option is to use room temperature zucchini and frozen bananas!

Ways to Add More Protein

This zucchini smoothie doesn’t have much protein on its own, unless you use dairy milk (which has 8 grams of protein per 1 cup). If desired, you can add more protein to make it even more filling! Here are a few options with dairy and plant-based protein:

• Stir in Greek yogurt. Use ½ cup Greek yogurt and ½ cup milk for a significant protein boost (Full-fat Greek yogurt has about 10 grams of protein in ½ cup).
• Chia seeds. You can add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds. Two tablespoons of chia seeds add 4 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber.
• Vanilla protein powder: I use this protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial. Just remember to reduce the maple syrup, since protein powder already adds sweetness.

More Variations and Mix-in Ideas

Want a few different mix-ins for this zucchini smoothie? Try these flavors:

• Use almond butter or cashew butter. Any nut butter works here! Add more nut butter to taste.
• Swap in other frozen fruit. I recommend using at least one banana, but you can use another 1 cup frozen pineapple or mango instead of the second banana.
• Throw in coconut. A handful of coconut or toasted coconut adds a tropical vibe.
• Sweeten with Medjool dates instead. You can use Medjool dates to sweeten if desired. Start with 2 large dates and add more to taste.

More Smoothie Recipes to Try

• 50 Best Smoothie Recipes
• Kale Smoothie
• Celery Smoothie
• Cucumber Smoothie
• Avocado Banana Smoothie
• Spinach Smoothie 

Ingredients You’ll Need

The Old Fashioned cocktail is the first cocktail in history and has been around for over two centuries. The definition of the word cocktail was first documented in 1806 in a New York paper, which called it a “concoction of spirits, bitters, water, and sugar”— essentially a recipe for an Old Fashioned!

When more cocktails came along in the 1880’s, they needed a name for that original cocktail, and the “Old Fashioned” was born. The classic drink can be made with any whiskey, but this spin uses bourbon. The Old Fashioned ingredients are:

• Bourbon whiskey
• Sugar cube
• Water
• Angostura bitters
• Orange peel

Best Bourbon to Use

Most bourbons have a characteristic sweetness, which makes for a highly sippable drink in the spirit-forward Old Fashioned. Use your favorite type.

You can go with a higher-end craft or single-barrel bourbon, but I recommend a mid-range blended bourbon. Anything in the $25 to $35 range for a 750ml bottle is considered mid-range, but you can go as high-end as you like! Some brands I’d recommend are:

• $: Elijah Craig Small Batch
• $$: Four Roses Small Batch or Woodford Reserve
• $$$: Bulleit 10 Year Bourbon

How to Make a Bourbon Old Fashioned

There are lots of opinions on how to make the best bourbon Old Fashioned. The way I like it is the classic method, using a sugar cube and muddling it right in the glass. The classic method for how to make an Old Fashioned is:

• Shake 4 dashes bitters on 1 sugar cube, then muddle with ½ teaspoon water. This is the traditional method, though you can also use simple syrup if you like (1 ½ teaspoons). I prefer the nuanced sweetness of the sugar cube best; it really lets the whiskey shine. Don’t worry if it doesn’t dissolve all the way.
• Add 2 ounces of bourbon.
• Garnish with clear ice, orange peel, and a cocktail cherry. Add a large ice cube and an orange peel, squeezing it over the drink to release the oils. Add a cocktail cherry if you like!

Clear Ice Makes the Drink

An Old Fashioned isn’t complete without a large chunk of clear ice, in my opinion! Clear ice is crystal clear, not cloudy like standard ice, and can be cut into large organic shapes that fill the cocktail glass. There are two simple ways to make clear ice for all your home cocktails:

• Make it using a small cooler. You can make a batch that will last for many drinks, store it in the freezer, and cut it into large cubes to serve. All you need is 24 hours and a small cooler! Check out my tutorial, How to Make Clear Ice.
• Use a purchased clear ice tray. With the popularity of home bartending, there are now some great options for clear ice trays. I like this one: ClearlyFrozen Home Clear Ice Maker.

More Bourbon Cocktails to Try

• Bourbon Manhattan
• Bourbon Sazerac
• Bourbon Lemonade
• Peach Bourbon Cocktail
• Bourbon Sidecar
• Bourbon Sour

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Coffee: 4 Ways!

There are lots of ways to make pumpkin spice coffee, depending on what you’re looking for. The easiest way is to drizzle a little syrup into your drip coffee. But you can also add pumpkin spice to the grounds, or make a tasty latte! Here are the four basic ways I like to make pumpkin spice coffee:

• Pumpkin Spice Coffee: Hot drip coffee plus pumpkin spice syrup
• Iced Coffee: Homemade spice mix, drip coffee, milk and ice
• Pumpkin Spice Latte: This hot pumpkin spice latte uses espresso, pumpkin spices, pumpkin puree, and milk
• Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte: A cold iced pumpkin spice latte uses the same ingredients served over ice

Making Pumpkin Spice Syrup

For the basic pumpkin spice coffee, you’ll need a homemade pumpkin spice syrup. This is a great method because you end up with a jar of syrup that works for lots of drinks! Here’s what you’ll need for the syrup:

• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice

Simmer the ingredients for about 2 minutes until they dissolve, then strain them through a fine-mesh strainer. Refrigerate until ready to use. This recipe makes a big batch you can use for about 12 drinks!

Drip Coffee Methods

If you’re making pumpkin spice coffee or iced coffee, you’ll need a great, hot cup of joe. Of course, you can use any coffee-making method you like, including an electric coffee maker! But here are a few methods I think make a better pot of coffee:

• Chemex: This is my top method for delicious pour-over coffee.
• French Press: This French Press Coffee is also top quality and makes a great cup.
• Moka Pot: Moka Pot Coffee falls somewhere between drip coffee and espresso; it’s very strong but pairs well with pumpkin spices.

Make It a Pumpkin Spice Latte

Do you love a good pumpkin spice latte? This drink is a different way to enjoy pumpkin spices. It uses espresso, milk, and both pumpkin spices and real pumpkin puree. You can also make an iced pumpkin spice latte, which I like even better!

They’re similar to the Starbucks drinks, but made like a classic cafe latte. For these options, go to the following recipes:

• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte

More Pumpkin Spice Recipes to Try

• Pumpkin Cake
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
• Pumpkin Banana Bread
• Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
• Pumpkin Waffles

Ingredients for Frozen Coffee

Frozen coffee is a drink made by blending coffee with ice and sugar. It’s similar to a frappé, a frozen drink made with blended instant coffee, sugar, and water or milk. This drink is even simpler, because all you need is to blend these three ingredients:

• ¾ cup strong coffee
• 1 cup ice
• 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar

You can also add 2 tablespoons or so of milk or creamer to make it creamier. It’s so quick and easy to make that it’s become a favorite caffeinated treat to whip up in the afternoons, especially in summer! This recipe makes a medium-sized drink, but feel free to double it for a larger drink closer to what you’d find at a coffee shop.

Tips for Making Strong Coffee

What’s the definition of a strong coffee? Here are a few methods for making a cup of joe that work in this frozen coffee recipe. You’ll want it strong enough so the coffee flavor shines through after blending, so a normal pot of coffee doesn’t quite do the trick.

• Use twice the amount of grounds as you would with your usual coffee method. Try double-strength Pourover Coffee, French Press Coffee, or your home coffee maker.
• Use a Moka Pot. The Moka Pot or Bialetti makes a strong coffee similar to espresso. You can use straight Moka Pot coffee or water it down slightly (one recipe makes nearly enough for two of these drinks).
• Use cold brew. You can use purchased cold brew or homemade cold brew for frozen coffee! Just make sure to water it down to make the ¾ cup cold brew (don’t use ¾ cup concentrate).

Variations and Add-Ins

For a creamy frozen coffee, add any sort of dairy to this recipe! Here are a few ideas for adding a dairy-based body:

• Whole milk or 2% milk
• Non-dairy milk like oat milk
• Half and half
• Coffee creamer like vanilla, hazelnut, or other flavors
• Chocolate sauce

• Try homemade whipped cream
• Make a batch of vegan whipped cream as a dairy-free option
• Go for purchased whipped cream like Reddi-Whip or others
• Make cold foam, a Starbucks invention of frothed nonfat milk that makes a frothy topping for cold coffee drinks

More Coffee Drinks to Try

• Iced White Chocolate Mocha
• Iced Coffee
• Iced Americano
• Iced Cappuccino
• Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Espresso
• Perfect Iced Latte

Sweeten With Maple Syrup

This apple smoothie tastes fantastic with no added sweetener; it’s perfectly sweet and tart! However, the flavor can depend on the fruit’s ripeness and your personal tastes. Take a taste, and if you’d like it sweeter, add a bit of maple syrup or honey. This is a nice option if you’re looking for a sweet treat to take the place of a dessert.

Start with ½ tablespoon in the blender and increase if needed. You may want to stir it in instead of blending, because if you over-blend, the texture can get far too liquid.

Vegan Variation

Want to make a vegan apple smoothie instead? Try my Green Apple Smoothie recipe! It pairs green apple and cashews to make a beautifully sweet tart vegan smoothie. The cashews add plant-based protein, helping it stay satiating and keep you full.

More Flavor Variations

This apple smoothie tastes amazing as is, but you can mix it up even more. Here are some ideas for fun variations on the theme:

• Ginger: Add ½ teaspoon grated ginger to the mix for a spicy brightness.
• Spices: Add ⅛ teaspoon allspice or nutmeg. Or replace the cinnamon with the same amount of pumpkin pie spice or chai spices.
• Oats: Add whole grains by throwing in ½ cup rolled oats.
• Pecans, cashews, or almonds: Throw in ¼ cup nuts to add a nutty undertone and even more plant-based protein.
• Nut butter: Or add 1 to 2 tablespoons almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter.

Apples Nutrition

Apples are good for you and full of nutrients! Here’s a little breakdown on some of the top benefits of apples (according to Healthline):

• Apples are a good source of vitamin C. One apple contains 14% of your daily needs.
• They are full of fiber and water. One apple has 4 grams of fiber, or about 15% of your daily needs.
• Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic and helps with gut health.
• Most of the nutrients in apples are in the skin, so you should eat the skin as much as possible.

More Fruit Smoothie Recipes to Try

• Dragon Fruit Smoothie
• Chocolate Banana Smoothie
• Green Detox Smoothie
• Oatmeal Smoothie
• Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie
• Cantaloupe Smoothie

Ingredients in This Almond Butter Smoothie

This almond butter smoothie pairs sweet fruits with nutty almond butter for a protein-packed drink. Inspired by my friend’s local almond butter company (Revival), I paired a loose interpretation of chai spices with the nut butter for a cozy, intriguing flavor nuance.

You’ll love this natural pairing of almond butter and cozy spices. Here’s what you’ll need to put this one together:

• Almond butter: Use your favorite brand, creamy or thick, sweetened or unsweetened. Or, you can make your own homemade almond butter.
• Frozen pineapple: Frozen pineapple adds body and thickness to this puree. The flavor is sweet but neutral enough that it’s not detectable in the final smoothie. If you have ripe pineapple, substitute a frozen banana.
• Banana: This smoothie requires a room-temperature banana, so you don’t have to worry about freezing the banana first.
• Milk of choice: Use dairy milk or non-dairy. Oat milk is my plant milk of choice, but of course, almond milk would be natural here as well.
• Cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom or cloves: These spices evoke the flavors of masala chai or a chai latte.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla draws out the spiced flavor, but can be omitted if desired.
• Ice: Ice brings a fluffy, frothy body to the smoothie.

A Note on Serving Size

Blend it up, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the sweet, cozy-spiced flavor. The size is a bit smaller than many of my smoothies, so you could likely polish it off yourself! Or make 2 small smoothies if you want to store one for later.

A Few Protein Adders

Want to add more protein to this almond butter smoothie? This is helpful if you’re planning to drink it as a meal replacement, since it makes the drink more filling. Here are a few ideas:

• Chia seeds: Add plant-based protein and fiber with chia seeds. A serving of 2 tablespoons of chia seeds adds 4 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber to the mix.
• Vanilla protein powder: I use a protein powder that has natural ingredients and a flavor that’s not too artificial.

More Smoothies With Almond Butter

You can add almond butter to many different smoothies to add protein and a nutty depth in flavor. It’s often a better choice than peanut butter, which can have a stronger peanut flavor.

Keep in mind: adding nut butter slightly dulls a smoothie’s color, and sometimes it can compete with the purity of the fruity flavors. But it’s fun to experiment with! Here are a few more smoothies where 1 to 2 tablespoons of almond butter works well:

• Make a Banana Smoothie into an Almond Butter Banana Smoothie.
• Transform a Berry Smoothie into a Berry Almond Smoothie.
• Swap the peanut butter in this Vanilla Protein Smoothie for almond butter.
• Make a Cherry Smoothie into a Cherry Almond Smoothie.
• Add almond butter for even more protein in a Vanilla Date Smoothie.
• Make a Cinnamon Apple Smoothie in an Apple Almond Smoothie.

More Smoothie Recipes to Try

• Oat Milk Smoothie
• Almond Milk Smoothie
• Acai Smoothie
• Perfect Strawberry Smoothie
• Creamy Oatmeal Smoothie

Tools You’ll Need

It starts with a French press! Here’s what you may need to make this iced coffee, as most of these are entirely optional:

• French press coffee maker: I use a Bodum 34-ounce (1 liter) French Press. The Bodum brand has been making this coffee tool since the 1940s.
• Coffee grinder (optional): You can use any type of coffee grinder, and it’s optional if you have pre-ground coffee. An electric burr grinder is most consistent for a medium grind.
• Filtered water (optional): Filtered water has the best flavor for coffee!
• Food scale (optional): You can use a digital food scale to weigh out the coffee and water, or just use the ratio of 1 cup grounds to 4 cups water.
• Electric kettle (optional): To easily measure the temperature of water, you can use an electric kettle.

Ways To Serve Iced Coffee

If you like, you can serve iced coffee with a splash of milk and sweetener! Here are my top choices for this drink:

• 2% milk: A splash of milk adds just the right richness.
• Oat milk: Oat milk is a great dairy-free option with good creaminess and flavor. You can also try almond milk or cashew milk, but oat milk is my top choice for coffee drinks.
• Maple syrup: Maple syrup adds just the right hint of sweetness.
• Vanilla syrup: Use homemade vanilla syrup to make vanilla iced coffee.
• Other sweeteners: You can use other sweeteners like honey, agave nectar, or simple syrup.