Classic Grasshopper Drink is a minty chocolate green cocktail made with Crème de Menthe, Crème de Cacao, and cream. This is the perfect St. Patrick's Day cocktail, after-dinner drink, or fun party drink.
Grasshopper Drink
The Classic Grasshopper Cocktail is one of my favorite cocktails to make. The perfect combination of mint and cocoa flavors in a pretty green cocktail.
I remember being in bartending school 20+ years ago and loving the Grasshopper. It was the drink I wanted to make for all of my friends.
There is something magical about pouring a green cocktail that tastes like mint chocolate and then adding the shaved chocolate garnish on the top.
I am pretty sure I made tons of these cocktails when I was done with bartending school. LOL!
The sweet and creamy mint and chocolate flavor of this drink along with the heavy cream make this a dessert cocktail to sip and enjoy.
The Grasshopper cocktail is said to have originated at Tujague's bar in New Orleans. Their website states - Tujague’s, one of the oldest bars in New Orleans, is known for some of its signature cocktails it introduced to the world, such as the Grasshopper and Whiskey Punch.
This makes me want to plan a trip to New Orleans to visit this bar. I am a fan of so many New Orleans Cocktails and the history behind them.
The Grasshopper Cocktail became incredibly popular in the 1950s. It was a mainstay in bars through the 50s and 60s.
What is in a Grasshopper Drink?
- Green Creme de Menthe
- White Creme de Cacao
- Heavy Cream/half and half
Garnish - chocolate shavings
Creme de Menthe is a sweet mint liqueur that comes in either white or green. You will want to use the green version for this cocktail.
Creme de Cacao is a sweet chocolate liqueur that comes in either white or dark. You will want to use the white version for this cocktail so it stays green.
Heavy Cream - You can use heavy cream or half n half for this recipe. The only difference will be the texture of the drink depending on the type of cream you use.
Equipment needed
Cocktail Shaker – This cocktail shaker comes with a fantastic set of tools
Coupe/Martini Glasses
Microplane Zester - to shave the chocolate.
How to make a Grasshopper Drink
Step 1 - Add crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and cream into a cocktail shaker with ice.
Step 2 - Shake until chilled and well mixed.
Step 3 - Strain into a martini glass and garnish with chocolate shavings.
Grasshopper Drink with Ice Cream
To make a grasshopper drink with ice cream all you need to do is switch out the heavy cream for 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Blend all the ingredients together in a blender. To make this frozen green cocktail really festive you can add chocolate syrup to the inside of your shake glass.
Garnish with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. YUM!
To make this frozen grasshopper milkshake even more minty you can use mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Flying Grasshopper
A flying grasshopper adds in 1 part regular or vanilla vodka.
Recipe Tips
Serve in a chilled cocktail glass to really enhance the minty flavor.
The green creme de menthe creates the green color of this cocktail. It can be made with white creme de menthe but the drink recipe will not be bright green.
Creme de cacao comes in a light and dark version. Make sure to use the light version to keep the green color of this cocktail.
Add a bit of whipped cream to the top of this drink with chocolate sprinkles for a fun garnish.
This recipe can be adjusted to find your favorite flavor. I prefer 2 parts cream to 1 part of creme de menthe and 1 part creme de cacao. Many people will make this with even proportions between the three ingredients.
If you are hosting a party you can make up a large pitcher of this drink easily. Just scale the recipe to the number of cocktails you need. Store the pitcher in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving.
Change up the chocolate shavings and use ground nutmeg for a new flavor.
For a pretty party cocktail you can rim the glass with simple syrup and add a chocolate sprinkle rim. You can also dip the rim of the glass into chocolate.
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Classic Grasshopper Drink
Ingredients
- 1.5 Ounce Creme De Menthe
- 1.5 Ounce Creme de Cacao Liqueur
- 2 Ounce Heavy Whipping Cream
- Shaved Chocolate Garnish
Instructions
- Add Creme de Menthe, Creme de Cacao, and heavy cream to a cocktail shaker. Shake until chilled.
- Strain into a martini glass and garnish with shaved chocolate.
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