Sugar Cookie Martinis

Sugar cookie fans—these sweet martinis are the perfect excuse to double-down on dessert this holiday season. What better way to complete your festive cookie decorating party than by adding these sugar cookie martinis into the mix!? With a frosting and sprinkle rim, this rich and creamy winter cocktail is the perfect companion to your favorite holiday cookie. Here’s everything you need to know on how to make them the best they can be:

What People Are Saying:
"Made them three times for different groups. They were a big hit." - caeklund

"These are delicious! They're not too sweet at all, and are absolutely amazing with a sugar cookie accompaniment." - RedBone

How To Make Sugar Cookie Martinis

INGREDIENTS

• Milk: I prefer whole milk, but you can use whatever milk you like: skim, 1%, 2%, or even a non-dairy option like oat or almond. Just keep in mind that this cocktail is designed to be rich, and if you chose a low-fat, non-fat, or dairy-free milk, it won’t be quite as creamy. If you really want a creamy, rich cocktail, turn to half and half.
• Baileys: Store-bought (or homemade!) Baileys adds that boozy, rich creaminess to these martinis.
• Vanilla Vodka: Vanilla vodka is my preferred choice for this sweet cocktail. The vanilla in the vodka is one of the key ingredients that makes this cocktail taste specifically like a sugar cookie. If you use regular vodka, your drink might not be as sweet as you'd like.
• Amaretto: This adds that subtle almond flavor that gives a complexity to this cocktail.
  
• Vanilla Frosting: I suggest using store-bought vanilla frosting for ease—we just use this on the rim of our glasses to keep the sprinkles on.
• Sprinkles: Use whatever sprinkles you prefer here—I chose to use a festive red, green, and white blend to really up the holiday vibes.
• Sugar Cookie Dough: Our cut-out sugar cookie recipe will make the perfect sugar cookie garnish for these martinis. Make the dough ahead, then store until you’re ready to use.
• Royal Icing: Our homemade royal icing is just the thing to make the adorable candy cane cookie decorations.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

First, we’ll make our sugar cookies. Preheat your oven, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, get out your sugar cookie dough, and roll it out to around ¼” thick. Then, using a cookie cutter (I went for candy canes so they can hang off the glass), cut out the shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until just set and lightly golden around the edges, then let cool while you prepare the rim.

Grab your glasses, then using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting onto the rim of the glasses. Pour some sprinkles onto a small plate, then dip the rim in the sprinkles to coat.

Once your cookies are cool, frost them with your prepared royal icing in your desired shapes. Because I’m making candy canes, I’m using red and white icing to create the signature stripes.

Now, we can move onto creating our drink. In a cocktail shaker, combine milk, Baileys, vodka, and amaretto. Then, add ice and shake very well—until your hands start to feel cold.

Once your drink is combined and shaken well, strain into your glasses and garnish with your sugar cookies!

Full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• Make these martinis in advance (& for a crowd). If you want to make this in advance for your holiday party, simply combine all of your cocktail ingredients—minus the ice—in your cocktail shaker or pitcher, then store in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, add your ice, shake (or stir), and serve.
• How can I make my martini extra festive? The options are endless! I chose to garnish with candy cane-shaped cookies because we love the look of it hooked on the rim of martini glass, but you can make your cookie garnish whatever shape you like, if you can find a way to perch it on your glass. While I went with Christmas-themed sprinkles for the rim, feel free to choose any colors/design that suits your fancy.