The grasshopper cocktail is a classic drink that tastes like an after-dinner mint with its delicious creamy combination of mint and chocolate. The drink’s vibrant green color (thanks to the crème de menthe) makes it perfect for a Christmas holiday party or St. Patrick’s Day, but it can really be enjoyed any time of year.
The grasshopper drink is easy to make, so you can get your party cocktails together in a snap. Most recipes call for an equal parts crème de menthe and crème de cacao and you can play around with the cream proportion if you like to find the right balance for your taste. Try a pink squirrel for a cherry version of this drink!
Cocktail Ideas: Classic Mojito Recipe, White Russian, Peppermint White Russian, Classic Gimlet Cocktail, 50+ Fun Cocktails to Make at Home
What does a grasshopper cocktail taste like?
With its combination of mint, chocolate, and heavy cream, this after-dinner drink tastes like an Andes mint in liquid form. It’s basically a dessert you can drink as it has the flavor of melted mint chocolate chip ice cream.
What’s the origin of the grasshopper drink?
While the origin of the grasshopper cocktail recipe is unclear, the most popular story says that Philibert Guichet, owner of the New Orleans eatery Tujague’s, created the drink for a 1918 New York city cocktail competition (which won him second place). There is a mention of a drink from a 1907 cocktail book that layers crème de menthe and crème de cacao, so Prohibition caused the drink to fall out of fashion for a while but by the ’70s the drink was widely popular again.
Ingredients for a Grasshopper Cocktail:
Crème de menthe: The vibrant green crème de menthe is what gives this cocktail its amazing color and mint flavors.
Crème de cacao: This white liqueur brings the chocolate note to the drink with its buttery mouthfeel and sweet cacao profile.
Heavy cream: This is what gives the grasshopper its thick and creamy base and gives it that dessert-in-a-glass decadence. You can also use half-and half as a slightly less rich option.
While you can use any glass for a grasshopper, it’s traditionally served in a coupe style or martini glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use milk for a grasshopper instead of heavy cream?
While heavy cream creates the creamiest version of a grasshopper, milk can be used in a pinch or if you find the heavy cream too rich for your liking. A higher fat content milk (like a whole milk) will create a creamier drink than a lower fat option like skim or 1% milk.
How to Make a Grasshopper Drink:
COMBINE your creme de menthe, white creme de cacao, and heavy cream in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.
SHAKE your cocktail in the shaker until fully chilled.
STRAIN your drink into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with mint leaves and chocolate shavings if desired.
How to Make a Frozen Grasshopper:
A frozen grasshopper cocktail is quite possibly the most delicious boozy milkshake option ever. To make this, you simply swap the 1 ounce of heavy whipping cream for 1 cup of vanilla ice cream and blend in a blender until just smooth with the perfect milkshake consistency.
As you can tell from the ingredients, this is a very decadent and flavorful drink. Perfect for a holiday celebration!
Other Grasshopper Drink Variations:
Flying Grasshopper: While the recipe for a Flying Grasshopper varies a bit, you make the drink “flying” by adding an once of vodka either in addition to the regular ingredients, or as a substitution for the heavy cream. Try using vanilla vodka for an added note of vanilla!
Irish Grasshopper: Try adding a shot of Irish cream to the original recipe for a delicious St. Patrick’s Day twist.
Tips and tricks:
- For a festive look, add a mini candy cane to the side of the glass.
- Try garnishing with a few chocolate shavings (or chocolate sprinkles) and fresh mint.
- Keep your glasses in the freezer before using for extra frosty containers.
- For some extra chocolate taste, add chocolate sauce to the rim or drizzled inside the glass before pouring in your cocktail.
- Try serving it at a Halloween party to make use of its fun green color and frothy tops.
P.S. If you love this drink, try a Brandy Alexander or check out 50+ Fun Cocktails to Make at Home for more recipes!
More Recipes to Try
- Dips – French Onion Dip, Corn Dip, Taco Dip
- Salad – Creamy Pasta Salad, 7 Layer Salad, Best Potato Salad
- Pizza – Detroit-Style Pizza, Stuffed Crust Pizza, Pizza Dough
- Nonalcoholic Drinks – Virgin Mojito, Arnold Palmer, Agua Fresca
- Chocolate – Chocolate Banana Smoothie, Chocolate Cake Pops, Oreo Truffles
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A delicious and creamy mint and chocolate after-dinner cocktail
Instructions
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add all three ingredients.
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Shake until the shaker feels very cold in your hand.
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Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
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Garnish with chocolate shavings and/or fresh mint.
Notes
To make a frozen grasshopper cocktail, substitute the heavy cream for 1 cup vanilla ice cream and blend in a blender instead of a cocktail shaker.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Grasshopper Cocktail
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
