Retro Grasshopper Cocktail Recipe
Drinks come in all sorts of colors, of course, but how often have you heard of a green cocktail? Meet the Grasshopper, a sweet and minty drink that was apparently born in the early 1900s in New Orleans. "The color on this is just spectacular! Super fun to surprise your guests with something unexpected," Molly Madigan Pisula says, who has whipped up a simple, satisfying Grasshopper recipe. "Also, this is not a very alcoholic cocktail, since the crème de cacao and crème de menthe aren't as boozy as something like gin or vodka. So it's fun to have this as an after-dinner cocktail without worrying about consuming too much alcohol."
Mint is typically more of a holiday flavor, but you can enjoy this drink any time of year. Pisula even has a tip for shaking this up on an especially hot day: "You can make a frozen Grasshopper by substituting ice cream for the heavy cream and blending in a blender. Try with mint ice cream to double down on the mint!" Here's how to make this eye-catching, verdant drink.
Get your cocktail ingredients together
This cocktail doesn't require many components — just heavy cream, crème de cacao, crème de menthe, and some fresh mint for garnish. "If you want a less rich version of this cocktail, you can substitute half and half or light cream instead of the heavy cream," Pisula says, adding, "This recipe calls for white crème de cacao, which is actually a clear liquid. There is also a dark crème de cacao, with the same flavor — but unfortunately, you'll lose the beautiful green color of this cocktail if you use the dark crème de cacao."
Prep your shaker
The first step is easy. Just fill your cocktail shaker (or another suitable item, if you don't have a cocktail shaker) with ice! The ice won't make it into the final product, but Pisula offers another frosty tip, especially if it's warm out: "Consider chilling the glass so the cocktail stays cold longer."
Shake up this retro drink
Once your shaker is suitably iced, pour in your liqueurs and heavy cream, pop on the lid, and vigorously shake up your cocktail. This recipe makes one drink, but if you're serving more, no problem. "You can easily batch this cocktail for a crowd — combine ingredients together and keep in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve," Pisula says.
Serve and sip your Grasshopper cocktail
Strain your freshly-made Grasshopper into your favorite glass (we suggest a coupe or martini glass), add a sprig of mint, and enjoy. "You can also garnish the rim of the cocktail glass with chocolate shavings, or dust the top of the cocktail with nutmeg or cocoa powder. Or top with whipped cream," Pisula suggests to those wanting to lean into the sweet nature of this beverage.
"I prefer to serve this as an after-dinner drink, either by itself or with dessert," she says. "It pairs beautifully with chocolate, of course, but also tastes like a dessert in its own right!"
- 1 ounce white crème de cacao
- 1 ounce crème de menthe
- 1 ounce heavy cream
- 1 mint sprig, for garnish
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Pour in the crème de cacao, crème de menthe, and heavy cream.
- Shake for 15 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into martini glass or coupe glass.
- Optionally garnish the cocktail with a fresh mint sprig and serve.