Pumpkin Pie Martini

Go ahead and enjoy your pumpkin spice latte in the morning, but as soon as the clock strikes five o'clock, it's time for a pumpkin pie martini. Made with real pumpkin puree (which your PSL is most likely not) and topped with a dollop of frozen whipped cream that melts into a heavenly foam topping, this recipe is equal parts fall dessert and fall cocktail. Want to get ahead of happy hour? Freeze the whipped cream beforehand so you can quickly have this martini recipe in hand! You'll thank us later.

How do you make a pumpkin pie martini?

First things first, you're going to want to get your martini glasses in the freezer. Once that's set, freeze dollops of whipped cream or whipped topping. Not only does the latter add a delicious creaminess to the drinks, it helps keep them cold. Once this is prepped, combine everything in a cocktail shaker, get your 20-second arm workout, strain the mixture into your cold glasses and voilá! A martini that tastes like pumpkin pie. 

Can you rim your glass for a pumpkin martini?

Certainly! To make the seasonal cocktail feel even more pie-like, crush up a few graham crackers and rim the glass with the crumbs. Dip the rim in maple syrup beforehand to act as glue. You could also coat the rim in simple cinnamon sugar. There are no rules, so have fun with it!

What is the best type of alcohol for pumpkin pie martinis? 

Though pumpkin spice alcohols do exist, vanilla vodka is much more versatile. When paired with spiced rum, half-and-half, maple syrup, spices and, of course, pumpkin puree, you get the dessert cocktail effect without buying an expensive bottle of something that will just sit in your liquor cabinet collecting dust. 

I can't find vanilla vodka. What else can I use?

If you can't find vanilla vodka or don't want to take an extra trip to the liquor store, simply substitute regular vodka plus 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. It works like a charm!