The Pink Squirrel is a dessert cocktail made with the flavors of almond and chocolate is about as delicious as it gets. This super easy drink has ice cream thrown in to create an adult milkshake that is perfect for sipping on hot summer evenings.
Looking for more interesting cocktail recipes? Then look no further than this Blood Orange Old Fashioned, it’s refreshing! Or make the Baby Yoda Cocktail that is a Kiwi Martini that looks just like Grogu himself.
Love ice cream cocktails? Then you are going to want to try this dessert cocktail, it’s flavored with chocolate liqueur and almond liqueur to make your taste buds sing.
It is a splendid combination of milkshake and cocktail, with a perfectly sweet taste that isn’t overly strong.
While the pink hue of this drink makes it pretty enough for Valentines Day, it seems like it would be more well suited to a hot summer evening enjoyed on the back porch.
If you don’t want to make it into a boozy milkshake, I have also included directions to make it solely as a cocktail.
If ya’ll don’t know, I have a fondness for unique drink recipes. They are especially high on my list if they have a hilarious name. If you don’t believe me, go check out this duck fart shot. I can’t drink it without laughing. Then there is also the purple gecko, which tastes a lot like a margarita but in shot form.
And if you really want to get dangerous, go try the water moccasin shot!
Why you will love this recipe
- Easy drink: This one is quick and easy, just throw all the ingredients in a blender and it’s ready.
- It’s unique: But good unique! If you haven’t tried it before, I recommend trying something new.
- Few ingredients: Only three ingredients needed! Plus toppings but those are optional.
What is a Pink Squirrel?
The pink squirrel drink is a retro cocktail that has been around for decades. It is said to have been created in Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge by Bryant Sharpe in the early 1940s.
The original recipe called for vanilla ice cream to be added along with white crème de cacao and crème de noyaux to make an ice cream drink. We are basically making the same recipe, but will instead be using crème de almond instead of creme de noyaux.
The recipe was later changed to remove the ice cream and in its place, heavy cream was added. I have also included this recipe below. But, in parts of the upper midwest, it is still made with ice cream.
What is Crème de Noyaux
Crème de Noyaux (sometimes also spelled crème de noyau) is a creme liqueur that is made with the kernels of the pits of apricots, cherries, or peaches that give it a distinct almond-like flavor. It is dyed a deep red color which is what gives the pink squirrel its pretty, light pink color.
I find that the most intriguing part about this liquid is that it contains trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide. While cyanide is a poison, there is typically not enough of it in the liqueur to cause an issue. That is however, unless you come across an old bottle from the 1900’s that has been sitting for decades. Then it is said to have all of the cyanide rise to the top of the bottle and could be lethal to the first person who drinks from it.
In more recent years, a company called Tempus Fugit Spirits recreated the liqueur still making it with cherry and apricot pits. But, good news, this time in the distilling process all traces of cyanide are removed. So now it is completely safe!
If you can find creme de noyaux, then by all means use it. Since, it is a little difficult to track down, I use creme de almond instead. Same great flavor, same great color.
What’s in a Pink Squirrel?
Only three ingredients are needed to make the squirrel. A sweet, clear chocolate liqueur and an almond liqueur get mixed with ice cream. The completed drink gets topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.
What does the Pink Squirrel Taste like?
The almond-flavored crème liqueur gives the pink squirrel cocktail recipe a sweet and nutty flavor similar to almond extract, while the white creme de cacao brings a touch of chocolate.
FREAKY FRIDAY
Hooray, it’s Freaky Friday (my favorite Friday)! If you are wondering what I am talking about, Freaky Friday is a blog hop that happens every quarter that was created by Michaela from An Affair From the Heart.
If you aren’t familiar with this event, I’ll explain it. A bunch of bloggers get assigned someone else’s blog within the group. But, shhhh, it’s a secret and you can’t tell anyone who you got. You then get to pick one recipe that goes along with the particular season and recreate it for your own blog. Then on the day of the reveal, you get to share with your readers and everyone in the group, which blog you got (and who got you!). So fun, right?!
This quarter is extra special because this time I was randomly assigned to Michaela’s blog, An Affair From the Heart, the creator of our blog hop!
I love Michaela’s blog and was more than ready to dive in and discover all of the amazing recipes she has to offer. And man does she have a lot of great things on her blog like her from scratch Pineapple Upside Down Cake, drooling over here. But, I will get more into her recipes in a minute.
Michaela’s love for her family and entertaining really shines, you can just feel her heart the moment you open up her blog. She even did a post on why she named her blog An Affair from the Heart, very interesting read.
On her blog, Michaela shares easy to make recipes, no weird ingredients here, just normal stuff you would find in your kitchen. Her favorite things are her family being gathered around her table and her animals, I can completely relate!
Ok, back to her delicious recipes. Some of the ones I was drooling over were her Award Winning Crack Dip for an amazing appetizer or these Reuben Pot Pies, which would make a great dinner idea. And there is always room for dessert, Michaela has pages and pages of desserts! Make these Vanilla Crown Royal Cookies, French Silk Pie, or the classic German Chocolate Cake.
Go check out her blog all while sipping this delicious drink!
Pink Squirrel Recipe Ingredients
- Crème de Almond (Crème de Noyaux)
- White Crème de Cacao
- Vanilla ice cream
- Maraschino cherries and whipped cream for garnishing
How to Make Pink Squirrel
- In a blender add creme de almond, white creme de cacao, and ice cream.
- Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and whipped cream.
- Enjoy!
See all of our 2023 Freaky Friday Spring Recipes
Hosted by – An Affair from the Heart- An Affair from the Heart – Frito Corn Salad
- The Culinary Compass – Firecracker Meatballs
- Devour Dinner – Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- Feast + West – Shishito Peppers
- Home Cooked Harvest – Pink Squirrel Drink
- Take Two Tapas – Mississippi Sin Dip
Tips for Success
- Place glasses in the freezer to keep drink colder.
- Pull ice cream out last so it doesn’t get all melty.
Recipe Variations
- Make even more. Easily double the ingredients to make 2 servings instead of just 1.
- Make it stronger. Make this a stronger drink by adding a shot of vodka or white rum.
- Nutmeg. Garnish with some freshly grated nutmeg.
- More color. If you want a deeper pink color, add some red food coloring or food gel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many servings does this recipe make? This recipe only makes one serving of the pink squirrel drink.
How many calories are in the pink squirrel? This pink squirrel drink has about 470 calories.
How much alcohol is in the pink squirrel? There are only two shots of alcohol in this drink.
Do I need a cocktail shaker? No, you do not need a cocktail shaker to make this drink (unless you make it as a drink instead of a milk shake). But, you will need a blender.
Are pink squirrels rare? Lol, technically they are rare since the pink squirrel cocktail isn’t nearly as popular as it used to be.
What is a good substitute for creme de noyaux? The best substitute would be creme de almond, which is what we use here. The next best thing would be amaretto. It is also an almond flavored liqueur, but since it is brown you have to add red food coloring or grenadine to make the drink pink (and the hue may still be off).
How to Store & Reheat
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for melted results. If you store it in the freezer, the drink will need to sit out for a few minutes to become drinkable.
Try these other drink recipes!
If you’ve tried this pink squirrel cocktail recipe, don’t forget to give me a star rating and leave me a comment below in the comment section. I love to hear from people who have made my recipes!
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Pink Squirrel Drink
Ingredients
- 1 ounce crème de almond (crème de noyaux)
- 1 ounce white crème de cacao
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- maraschino cherries and whipped cream for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender add creme de almond, white creme de cacao, and ice cream.
- Blend until smooth. Pour into a glass.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and whipped cream. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make even more. Easily double the ingredients to make 2 servings instead of just 1.
- Make it stronger. Make this a stronger drink by adding a shot of vodka or white rum.
- Nutmeg. Garnish with some freshly grated nutmeg.
- More color. If you want a deeper pink color, add some red food coloring or food gel.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out!
I love hearing from you! Share a picture of the recipe on Instagram and hashtag it #homecookedharvest.
Tristin! My heart is so full reading through your post for the Pink Squirrel! Your photos are STUNNING! I am wishing I were drinking that pretty pink drink right NOW … for breakfast! Thank you for the kind words, too. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you through Freaky Friday! xo
Love love this easy recipe and what fun to highlight a fellow blogger!
I love this drink! It’s a cocktail and dessert all in one sip:) I always make a few batches when we watch Grease and other classic movies!
These turned out so well! I love the color!
It’s just as gorgeous as it is delicious! Hard to beat an adult milkshake!