Celebrating your birthday or anyone's birthday is a great chance to enjoy a few special or unique cocktails you wouldn't ordinarily get the chance to shake up or sip. From sparkling to cake in a glass, there are plenty of ways to say "Happy Birthday!" with a few birthday cocktails.
Birthday Cocktails to Replace Cake
It's your birthday - drink your calories! If you like the idea of cake in theory but find it too sweet or just not your jam, then enjoy these fabulous cake-like cocktails instead...or have both. Go ahead. It's your birthday.
Pink Birthday Cake Cocktail
You can skip the sprinkles on this rim, but why not enjoy a little extra merriment?
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sprinkles for rim
- 2 ounces vanilla vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- ¼ ounce grenadine
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
- With the sprinkles on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sprinkles to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and grenadine.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Chocolate Cake Martini
Just one of many birthday cake martinis, don't let the color fool you, and this martini tastes exactly like a piece of rich chocolate cake.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and salt for rim
- 1 ounce vanilla vodka
- 1 ounce hazelnut liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce white creme de cacao
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, hazelnut liqueur, lemon juice, and white creme de cacao.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Cake Batter Martini
Remember those days of being asked if you wanted to lick the cake batter spoon? It's exactly like that.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cake vodka
- 1 ounce white chocolate liqueur
- ¾ ounce heavy cream
- ½ ounce white creme de cacao
- ¼ ounce almond liqueur
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, white chocolate liqueur, heavy cream, white creme de cacao, and almond liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon wheel, if desired.
Mudslide
Skip the blender with this classic and tasty mudslide. After all, birthdays are for treating yourself.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces chocolate vodka
- 1½ ounces Irish cream
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- Ice
- Chocolate syrup for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, chocolate vodka, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Swirl chocolate syrup over top.
Chocolate Martini
If you're looking for a creamy chocolate drink to be your dessert or go hand in hand with your dessert, the chocolate martini is the way to go. Go big by using chocolate vodka and a few dashes of chocolate bitters.
Ingredients
- Chocolate syrup for swirl
- 1½ ounces vodka
- 1 ounce chocolate liqueur
- ¾ ounce creme de cacao
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- Swirl chocolate syrup inside of glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, chocolate liqueur, and creme de cacao.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Red Velvet Martini
The best of delicious red velvet but in a glass, meaning that there's no tedious baking involved.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces red velvet Irish cream
- ¾ ounce whipped cream vodka
- ½ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ¼ ounce white creme de cacao
- Ice
- Cherry and lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, red velvet Irish cream, whipped cream vodka, raspberry liqueur, and white creme de cacao.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cherry and lemon wheel.
Fancy and Festive Cocktails for a Happy Birthday
Make sure you have a happy birthday by sipping on these fancy and festive drinks.
Kir Royale
Make your birthday, or the one's you love, a royal occasion with this elevated cocktail.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce crème de cassis
- Prosecco to top off
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a Champagne flute.
- Add crème de cassis.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Champagne and Flowers
A sparkling wine cocktail with floral notes, it's like two birthday gifts in one.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce honey liqueur
- ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, honey liqueur, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Nutty Old-Fashioned
An old-fashioned is a great drink not only for everyday sipping but celebrations as well, especially when you add some flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- 3-4 dashes walnut bitters
- 2-3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange twist
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, cinnamon simple syrup, walnut bitters, and aromatic bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice or king cube.
- Garnish with orange twist.
Piña Colada
Celebrate your birthday in style with a tropical cocktail, even if you're just dreaming of your next birthday in the sunshine.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1½ ounces cream of coconut
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Birthday Cocktails Worth Wishing For
A birthday is a festive occasion; even if it's as simple as celebrating with one other friend, you can still make a toast using a beautiful birthday cocktail. Or, if pudding's more your thing, try these yummy birthday cake pudding shots. You may even want to share a few extra happy birthday cocktails and make it a whole birthday week. It's your birthday, do what you want.
