31 Martini Recipes That Will Make You Think About The Classic Cocktail In A Whole New Way
Time to shake (or stir) things up.
If you've ever wondered what exactly a martini is, you're not alone. These old-school cocktails definitely have some mystery to them. Are they pretty much straight liquor in a glass, or a more complicated fruity drink that packs a punch? What exactly was James Bond drinking? Whether you’ve got a fully stocked at-home bar or are looking for inspiration for what to order when you go out, we’ve got some answers (and 31 martini recipes!) for you.
At its most basic, a martini is gin or vodka and dry vermouth in certain proportions (usually 2 ½ oz. alcohol to ½ oz. vermouth), with an olive or lemon peel for garnish. Though it’s a super simple recipe, there are some adjustments you can make. Making a martini “dry” means using less vermouth and more vodka (“wet” means the opposite, though is less popular), and “dirty” adding a splash of olive juice with your olives. “Perfect” means using an equal amount of both, and “neat” means using room temperature ingredients, rather than ones shaken or stirred over ice. No matter which way you go at home, the most important thing is to start with good ingredients, since they’re the stars of the show.
Have some… shall we say, less than desirable vodka or gin? That’s where martini’s sweet alter ego comes in to save the day. More guilty pleasure dessert drinks than liquor-forward sippers, “-tinis” (as they were coined in the ‘90s and 00s), are sweet, often creamy, cocktails that come in every flavor you can think of. Try our lemon drop or appletini if you like things tart, or our sugar cookie martini or crème brûlée martini if you want something sweeter. Though they might not seem it, these babies are STRONG. Some of them taste like a milkshake, but they all pack a punch, so drink responsibly.
Want more liquor inspiration? Check out our list of our top vodka drinks and bourbon cocktails. Have more of a sweet tooth? Try our Baileys Irish Creme cocktails—they’re pretty much dessert in a glass.
Pomegranate Martini
More like a cosmopolitan than a classic martini, this recipe replaces the cosmo’s traditional cranberry juice with pomegranate. Garnish with a sugar rim and a fresh rosemary sprig for the perfect drink to serve at all your winter gatherings.
Get the Pomegranate Martini recipe.
Classic Vodka Martini
Before you start, make sure your vodka and vermouth are quality—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do. Whether you go shaken or stirred, you'll feel on top of the world after your first sip.
Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.
Espresso Martini
Curious how to achieve this impressive garnish? Cover half the glass with a napkin or paper towel then dust the rest with either cocoa or espresso powder. Top the other side with coffee beans and voila! You have a drink that's not only delicious but also looks stunning.
Get the Espresso Martini recipe.
Chocolate Martini
We love topping ours with shaved chocolate or a pinch of cocoa powder, but feel free to get creative on the garnishes! Try adding a strawberry or a spring of mint, or even adding crushed Oreos to the rim.
Get the Chocolate Martini recipe.
Crème Brûlée Martini
These martinis taste just like a crème brûlée with very little effort. Be sure to keep the caramel in the freezer until you are ready to serve. The caramel will eventually melt into your drink making it extra indulgent.
Get the Crème Brûlée Martini recipe.
Peppermintinis
To make these peppermint-bark-inspired drinks, you'll combine white chocolate liqueur, vodka, peppermint schnapps, and heavy cream in a cocktail shaker with ice, before serving these shaken—not stirred—martinis with a homemade chocolate and peppermint rim. We're feeling festive already!
Get the Peppermintinis recipe.
Appletini
These babies are tart, bright green, and quite strong. Enjoy with caution 😈.
Get the Best-Ever Appletini recipe.
Dalgona Martini
Dalgona, or whipped coffee, is now the coolest thing to top all of your drinks with. Try it on top of this simple Baileys martini for an instant trendy pick me up.
Get the Dalgona Martini recipe.
Pecan Pie Martini
Rumchata, creme de cocoa, and bourbon come together to make this drinkable version of pecan pie. These martinis might look cute and innocent, but trust us, they're STRONG.
Get the Pecan Pie Martini recipe.
Sugar Cookie Martinis
Love Christmas sugar cookies? Us too, so we made this festive cocktail inspired by them. Baileys, vanilla vodka, and Amaretto give it that cookie-vibe, and the tiny candy cane-shaped sugar cookie hanging off the sprinkle-covered rim make it extra adorable—use seasonal favorites to enjoy this year-round!
Get the Sugar Cookie Martinis recipe.
Bikini Martini
🎶Put the rum in the coconut and shake it all up 🎶Not a fan of coconut? Regular rum works just fine here too.
Get the Bikini Martini recipe.
Cadbury Creme Martini
Cadbury Creme Egg lovers, we made this drink just for you. Not unlike the candy, these martinis are VERY sweet. If you'd like to tone down the sweetness, we'd suggest omitting the sweetened condensed milk. (Even though it looks so darn cute at the bottom of these!)
Get the Cadbury Creme Martini recipe.
Key Lime Pie Martini
This cocktail is modeled after our favorite key lime pie, without any of the hassle of baking! It manages to be both tart and creamy, and is the perfect summer drink.
Get the Key Lime Pie Martini recipe.
Banana Cream Pie Martini
Part dessert, part cocktail, this drink is seriously indulgent. The flavor of banana pudding, one of our very favorite desserts, comes from the combination of vanilla vodka, Baileys, and banana liqueur, and whipped cream. We know it sounds like a lot, but trust us, it's the real deal.
Get the Banana Cream Pie Martini recipe.
S'mores Martini
No campfire? No problem! We roasted our marshmallows over our oven burners. It's a totally optional step, but we think it really drives the s'mores flavor home.
Get the S'mores Martini recipe.
Drunken Peanut Butter Cups
These martinis use Reese's Pieces to infuse the vodka so that they taste just like your favorite peanut butter cup. This takes a chocolate martini to a whole new level. The Reese's and peanut butter rim isn't technically necessary, but it makes these extra delightful.
Get the Drunken Peanut Butter Cups recipe.
Almond Joy Martini
If Almond Joys are your favorite candy bar, then you need to give this martini a try. Coconut rum, chocolate syrup, creme de coconut, Amaretto, and half and half make this super decadent cocktail fit for dessert.
Get the Almond Joy Martini recipe.
Apple Cider Martini
Caramel and cinnamon sugar rim the glass of this apple cider cocktail. The butterscotch schnapps really puts this over the edge, so we recommend seeking it out!
Get the Apple Cider Martini recipe.
Samoa Martini
Arguably the best Girl Scout cookie of all gets a boozy makeover here with this easy and delicious martini. Want even more Samoa flavor? Try our Samoa dessert lasagna or frozen Samoa pie.
Get the Samoa Martini recipe.
Gingerbread Espresso Martini
Spice up the espresso martini trend with this gingerbread version that takes the cocktail to new heights. An aromatic simple syrup made with molasses, ginger, and warming spices is the perfect foil for Kahlúa’s robust coffee flavor. It’s a festive cocktail guaranteed to give you a pleasant buzz and get you in the holiday spirit.
Get the Gingerbread Espresso Martini recipe.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
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