Dessert Cocktails
Next time you go out to dinner and contemplate on of the rich, delicious desserts that although so good, are so bad for you, consider a liquid dessert instead! What this refers to in commonly known as an after dinner cocktail. Bartenders refer to these ad "froufrou" drinks and bar snobs who only drink ten-year-old Scotch may sneer, but they don't know what they're missing! Dessert cocktails are a delicious alternative to heavy, fat and calorie-laden desserts and appeal to your sweet tooth just as much.
There are dozen's of options in liquid desserts. A typical gin or vodka martini doesn't compare to a chocolate or strawberry one after dinner. This way you get your dessert and after-dinner drink all at once. Women are more likely to indulge in liquid desserts, but men aren't opposed to them, either. Well, unless they are out with "the boys". When men do indulge in one, their choices are a little different. They will go for something like a Spanish Coffee - a flamed, alcohol-laced drink that is making a comeback - or an Nutty Irishman, a 50-50 mix of Frangelico hazelnut liqueur and Bailey's Irish Crème, served on the rocks or stirred into coffee.
Ordering a dessert cocktails is also a smarter way to drink - providing you don't over-indulge, of course! The cocktails are more satisfying and filling. One or two should be enough to satisfy. One does have to be careful though, as the sweetness of the drinks can mask the alcohol it can be easy to forget what is in it. In some of these tasty, smooth drinks you cannot even taste any alcohol, so do limit yourself lest you wake up with a nasty headache and an angry stomach. You want to avoid that!
As mentioned earlier, there are many options to choose from in liquid desserts. Chocolate is a very popular choice, especially with women. Flavored vodkas are also amongst the most often ordered after dinner cocktails. Two of the most popular flavored Vodka drinks are Vanilla and diet coke and Raspberry and 7-up.
Soy Protein Concentrates
Having a nice dinner at home? You can still choose a liquid dessert. Following are some recipes for some of the more popular after dinner "Dessert" cocktails.
Recipes:
Raspberry Cocktail
Ingredients
1 cup fresh raspberries, cleaned
4 ounces gin
Ice cubes
8 ounces full-bodied white wine
4 ounces kirsch
Directions
Chill two wineglasses. In small glass bowl, combine raspberries and gin. Marinate one hour.
In blender half full of ice cubes, combine raspberry-gin mixture, white wine and kirsch. Blend at high-speed 30 seconds. Strain mixture into glasses.
Yield two cocktails.
Note: For non-alcoholic version, pour one-ounce raspberry syrup into glass. Fill to top with soda water. Stir gently. Garnish with three fresh raspberries.
Per Serving:
449 calories
33g carbohydrates
1g protein
9g total fat
9mg. Cholesterol
4g fiber
10mg sodium
Calories from fat equal 0 percent.
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Mocha Liqueur Cocktail
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 cup milk (use skim or 2 percent for fat reduction)
1 cup strong hot coffee
4 tablespoons brandy (divided)
Whipped cream (optional)
1 tablespoon finely grated chocolate or chocolate syrup (optional, see note)
Directions:
In small bowl, blend cocoa powder and brown sugar with a few teaspoons of the milk to form a paste. In small saucepan, place remaining milk and bring it almost to a boil. Pour hot milk onto the paste and stir until cocoa is smooth and blended. Return cocoa to pan and add hot coffee. Heat gently until very hot but not boiling.
Evenly divide mixture into two large mugs and add two tablespoons brandy to each. If desired, top with dollops of whipped cream and a sprinkling of grated chocolate or drizzle t chocolate syrup over whipped cream lightly. Yield two drinks.
Note: To make chocolate syrup, mix together two cups light brown sugar and ¾ cup cocoa powder. Stir in 1-1/4 cups boiling water. Transfer mixture to small, heavy saucepan and simmer gently ten minutes, stirring frequently. Allow syrup to cool, add two teaspoons vanilla extract. Cover and shill in freezer.
Makes about 2-1/4 cups.
Per Serving:
185 calories with whole milk
16 carbohydrates
5g protein
5g total fat - 3 grams saturated
17mg. Cholesterol
2g fiber
69mg sodium
Calories from fat equal 24 percent
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Essence Chocolate Martini
Ingredients:
Chocolate flavored confectionery coating, melted
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces chocolate liqueur
½ ounce dark creme de cacao
2 ounces half-and-half cream
Directions:
Drizzle melted chocolate coating in a pattern on the inside of martini glass. Chill glass.
Pour vodka, chocolate liqueur, crème de cacaos and half-and-half into cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain and pour into prepared glass. Makes one drink.
Per Serving:
503 calories
36g carbohydrates
3g protein
11g total fat (7 saturated)
32mg cholesterol
0g fiber
59mg sodium
Calories from fat equal 20 percent.
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Berry White Martini
Ingredients:
Crushed ice
3-1/2 ounces raspberry-flavored vodka
2 ounces Cointreau
1 ounce lime juice
Directions:
Chill martini glass. In cocktail shaker half-filled with crushed ice, combine vodka, Cointreau and lime juice. Shake, then strain into chilled martini glass. Yield one cocktail.
Per Serving:
300 calories
19g carbohydrates
0g protein
0g total fat
0mg cholesterol
0g fiber
6mg sodium
Calories from fat equal zero percent.
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French Kiss Martini
Ingredients:
Crushed ice
1-1/2 ounces vodka
2 ounces raspberry liqueur
3 ounces pineapple juice
Directions:
Chill martini glass.
Into cocktail shaker half-filled with crushed ice, pour vodka, raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice. Shake vigorously. Strain and pour into the chilled martini glass. Makes one martini.
Per Serving:
250 calories
12g carbohydrates
0g protein
0g total fat
0mg cholesterol
0g fiber
4mg sodium
Calories from fat equal zero percent
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Nutty Irishman
Ingredients:
2 ounces hazelnut liqueur
2 ounces Bailey's Irish Creme
Ice
Coffee
Directions:
Mix hazelnut liqueur with Bailey's Irish Cream. Serve over ice or mix with coffee.
Makes one drink.
Per Serving:
358 calories
15.8g carbohydrates
0g protein
10g total fat
0g fiber
6mg sodium
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Coffee Frappe
Ingredients:
18 to 22 ice cubes, crushed
7 ounces double-strength coffee, chilled
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla, hazelnut, raspberry or other flavored syrup
Whipped cream or ice cream for garnish
Directions:
In blender, place ice, coffee, sugar and syrup. Blend until frappe is smooth. Pour into large, tall glass. Garnish with dollop of whipped cream or scoop of your favorite ice cream.
Recipe makes one 16-ounce serving.
Per Serving:
234 calories
53g carbohydrates
1g protein
3g total fat (2 unsaturated)
10mg cholesterol
0g fiber
12mg sodium
Calories from fat equal 11 percent.
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Enjoy - in moderation! As you can see by the nutrition analysis, most cocktails aren't exactly low calorie, but considering the caloric content of a rich, heavy dessert, you're better off. Everyone needs to indulge from time to time and this is a good alternative and a treat to boot!
See also: Fitness and Freebies: Home Made Liquors
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