As the weather gets chillier, sweet-tooths tend to crave hyper. What better way to saty warm than satisfying it two-fold?
Snickerdoodles and Brandy Alexander
If you're one to always get seconds on dessert, here are your thirds and fourths. Brandy, creme de cacao, and heavy cream come together at the side of crispy, chewey, cinnamon-y cookies, beggin you to put your feet up. Get those fuzzy socks on, the charcoal mask out, and the crew on FaceTime. This is self-care like no influencer has done it before.
Orange-Cranberry Cookies and a Ramos Gin Fizz
For 60 days out of every year, ornage-cranberry cookies become a personal obsession. Bake 'em yourself for that warm and giddy, Martha Stweart-esque, kind of feeling. And if you're in the modd to impress, the Ramos Gin Fizz's impressive milky snow-top is just the thing to top off the night. Gin, citrus, orange water, cream, and club soda. The only thing missing is Mariah Carrey and a mistloe themed karaoke set up.
Ginger Snaps and Irish Coffee
There are few things warmer and more feel-good than a freshly baked, crystallized, ginger snap cookie. Set down a baking tray full of them neatly next to a mug of hot coffee, cream float, Irish whiskey and Demerara syrup, and you've got a recipe for cuddly night (or a very interesting Saturday morning.)
Molasses Cookies and Vieux Carre
Feeling French? New Orleans is pretty close, the French Quarter that is. A heavenly balance of a little-bit-of-everything - brandy, whiskey, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Angostura, and Peychaud's bitters (say that three times fast) - use the molasses cookie to sweeten the cooling bitter.
Lebkuchen Cookies and Bramble
We've all gone traditional gingerbread before, so let's take this opportunity to travel together - all the way to Germany. Lebkuchen, a traditionally Germany cookie, is a Chirstmas time favourite. It's sugar and spice will go oh so very nice with a 1980s era Bramble, with a blackcurrant tang from Merlet Creme de Mures, gin, and simple syrup.
Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons and Amaretto Sour
We know it's getting colder, and one may be inclined to opt for something more pumpkin, pecan-pie, or peppermint centered (like that allieration?). But instead of cementing ourselves in the present, why not relive summer a little? Soft coconutty insides with a crunchy exterior, made sultry in a bath of dark chocolate, couples with the sickly sweet almondy amaretto, a lemon-sour and whisked egg white, for an evening so decadent you may have to turn down the lights.
Date Nut Pinwheels and Penicillin
If you're into smoke and mirrors, the Penicillin is your game. Dark Islay Scotch, honey-ginger syrup, and lemon juice bring a revival like no other. With the molasses-like taste of thick and rich dates, and the aromatics of walnut and almond blends into a thin and crispy wheel, this is combination that'll keep you singing as Moulin Rouge rages full volume in the background.
Strawberry Sugar Cookies and French 75
For all the Dolce and Gabbana, Louboutin, rose-toting people out there. Throw on your gowns, apply the glitter, and watch yourself dance to French Indie Pop as the French 75's gin, lemon juice, sugar, and Champagne whisk you away to a dreamy-pink ether. Soft sugar cookies with pieces of whole strawberries and Champagne bubbles come together in a sumptuous and heavenly daze, asking you to turn on Sex and the City and stay a while.
Walnut Tassies and Boulivardier
Rye, amaro, sweet vermouth, and an orange peel, for pizazz of course, gives your everyday Negroni a soulful tender. Paired with cinnamon, and brown sugar heavy, the traditionally Southern walnut tassies are bite sized cuties for a warm, fluffy-blanket, kind of night.
White Chocolate Macadmia Nut Cookies and Espresso Martini
Good morning and good night, chocolate lovers. An energy shot for a sweet tooth, vanilla vodka, espresso, and cream are the perfect warm dip-in for white chocolate macadmia nut cookies. Their rich, milky, and fatty qualities are high brow for the decadent, and envy worthy for those watching (because we know you're not sharing).
