Creamy Espresso Martini (Plus 2 Cozy Drinks I Make on Repeat)
I didn’t plan to write a drink post. I am not a recipe blogger…I am a joy chaser, and these drinks bring me and others a lot of joy!
So, over the holidays, something kept happening: people dropped in, evenings stretched a little longer, and I found myself making the same creamy espresso martini again and again—because it was easy, delicious, and didn’t require a scroll marathon or a specialty ingredient scavenger hunt.
And honestly?
I’m tired of online recipes that make a simple drink feel complicated.
I don’t want:
- a 14-paragraph backstory
- twelve variations I’ll never make
- ads covering half the screen
- or instructions that assume I’m opening a cocktail bar
I want a go-to drink I can make for myself, share with family, or serve guests—without thinking too hard.
So this post is intentionally simple. I am sharing the three drinks I actually make on repeat. No fluff. No over-explaining. Just cozy, crowd-pleasing favorites that fit real life and bring a lot of joy!
Creamy Espresso Martini (Easy + Repeat-Worthy)
This creamy espresso martini is my number one. It’s got me in a chokehold! It’s rich, smooth, slightly indulgent, and forgiving—meaning you don’t need bartender skills to get it right.
I love this version because Baileys does the heavy lifting. It softens the espresso, adds creaminess, and removes the need to overthink ratios. This is the easy espresso martini recipe I come back to every time.
Creamy Espresso Martini Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces Baileys Irish Cream
- 2 ounces Unsweetened Medium Roast Iced Coffee (sold in the grocery store)
- 1.5 ounces vanilla vodka (I use Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka)
- ½ ounce coffee liqueur (like Kahlúa), optional
- Ice
- Dairy Whipped Topping (optional, but highly recommended)
- 3 coffee beans (optional, for garnish)
Creamy Espresso Martini Steps
- Chill a martini glass in the freezer for a few minutes.
- Add Baileys, cold coffee, vodka, and coffee liqueur (if using) to a shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 15–20 seconds to create a creamy, frothy top.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with three coffee beans or whipped topping.
Simple. Creamy. No complicated espresso martini mix required.
Chocolate Raspberry Hot Chocolate (Adult + Cozy)
This chocolate raspberry hot chocolate is my favorite cold-night drink. It feels indulgent but familiar—and it’s incredibly easy to scale up when family or guests are around.
I start with a quality hot chocolate mix because this is meant to be easy. The upgrades come from what you add—not from reinventing the base.
Better Hot Chocolate Mix Options
Skip Swiss Miss and reach for something richer, if you can. It makes a big difference in the taste:
- Ghirardelli Double Chocolate
- Candy Shop Cocoa HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Cocoa Powder
- Lake Champlain Hot Chocolate
- Starbucks Hot Cocoa Mix
- Williams Sonoma Hot Chocolate
Chocolate Raspberry Hot Chocolate Ingredients
- Prepared hot chocolate (according to package directions)
- 1–1.5 ounces Baileys Irish Cream or raspberry liqueur
- Dairy Whipped Topping
Optional Garnishes
- Crushed peppermint
- Peppermint sticks
- Chocolate stirring spoons
- Andes chocolate mints
- Heath bars
- Chocolate shavings
- Marshmellows
Chocolate Raspberry Hot Chocolate Steps
- Prepare hot chocolate according to package instructions.
- Stir in Baileys or raspberry liqueur.
- Top with whipped cream.
- Finish with any garnish you love—or whatever you already have.
This one is cozy, forgiving, and easy to make alcohol-free, then spike individual mugs as needed.
Lavender Gimlet (Light, Elegant, and Simple)
When I want something lighter—but still special—this lavender gimlet is my go-to. It’s fresh, softly floral (not soapy), and feels quietly elegant without trying too hard.
Yes, there’s a lavender syrup involved—but once you make it, you’re set for weeks. And I promise, this is much simpler than most recipes make it seem.
STEP 1: Make the Lavender Simple Syrup (One Time)
This takes about 10 minutes and keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Lavender Simple Syrup Ingredients (or buy the Lavender Simple Syrup in the cocktail mixer section of the package store)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 teaspoons dried lavender flowers (food grade)
Lavender Simple Syrup Steps
- Add sugar, water, and lavender to a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Let it boil for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 15 minutes.
- Strain into a container, pressing the lavender to release all the syrup.
- Cool and store in the refrigerator.
STEP 2: Make the Lavender Gimlet
Once the syrup is ready, the drink itself takes less than a minute.
Lavender Gimlet Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
- ¾ ounce lavender simple syrup
- Ice
Lavender Gimlet Steps
- Add gin, lime juice, and lavender syrup to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for 15 seconds.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
Note: A lavender gimlet is usually very light in color—more clear or softly tinted than purple-tinted. The lavender shows up in the flavor and aroma, not the hue.
Why I Love These Drinks (And Why I Kept This Easy)
Because joy doesn’t need to be optimized.
I didn’t want to write another recipe that makes you work harder than necessary for something that should feel simple and good. These are drinks meant to be enjoyed—not perfected.
Make them for yourself.
Make them for family.
Make them when people drop by unexpectedly.
And don’t overthink it.
Sometimes the best recipes are the ones you come back to—again and again—because they fit real life. I hope they bring you joy!
One Last Thing
Again, I’m not a cook. And I’m definitely not a chef.
But I do know a good hack recipe when I see one—the kind that works in real life and doesn’t try to make things harder than they need to be.
If that’s your style too, you might like how I use my Keurig and my no-fuss birria tacos.
👉 How to Make Keurig Hot Chocolate Taste Better (Fast Fixes That Work!
👉 Easy Trader Joe’s Birria Recipe
Because easy can still be really good.
