Recipes Drinks Cocktails 9 Cocktails to Serve as Dessert Don't feel like baking? Make one of these sweet cocktails instead. By Oset Babür-Winter Oset Babür-Winter Instagram Twitter Title: Senior Drinks Editor, Food & WineLocation: New York CityExperience: Oset Babür-Winter has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust's (WSET) Level 3 Award in wines and was previously the magazine's associate culture editor, where she edited Obsessions. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 28, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Photo by Caitlin Bensel / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Let's say you meticulously planned and executed the perfect dinner party menu, complete with batched cocktails, dips and spreads to get the night going, and a few mains and sides for everyone to share. While your guests expect and look forward to dessert, baking a centerpiece bundt cake or cheesecake can feel like a step too far. And, after all that delicious savory food, a traditional dessert might leave everyone feeling uncomfortably stuffed. That's when knowing how to make a dessert cocktail comes in handy. Our ideal version of a cocktail to end the night with can involve a little coffee, some frozen elements, and warming spirits like whiskey and bourbon. No matter what you're looking for with a nightcap, these nine cocktails are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. 01 of 09 Affogato Martini Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon With this glitzed-up version of an Espresso Martini, vodka haters will be delighted and surprised to know that rum is the spirit in the spotlight. Get the recipe 02 of 09 Bushwacker Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling Lucy Simon This chocolaty, caffeinated cocktail might look like an average milkshake, but it packs a deliciously boozy punch. Get the recipe 03 of 09 Miami Vice Photo by Caitlin Bensel / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Frozen canned pineapple and bitters-infused strawberries take this daiquiri-piña colada mash-up to the next level. Get the recipe 04 of 09 Indulgent Hot Chocolate Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely The ultimate chocolate lover’s hot chocolate, this recipe yields a drink that’s thick and rich in flavor and texture and topped with an airy chocolate-infused whipped cream. Get the recipe 05 of 09 Whiskey Chai Fredrika Stjärne This Whiskey Chai makes for a warming, boozy nightcap in a teacup. Get the recipe 06 of 09 Frozmopolitan Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Fruity and citrusy, Toby Cecchini's "froze-mopolitan" (a portmanteau of "Frozen" and "Cosmopolitan'') tastes so much like a delicious fruit punch that you might not notice there's alcohol in it. Get the recipe 07 of 09 Mudslide Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Created in the 1970s at Grand Cayman's Wreck Bar at Rum Point, this potent blend of vodka, Kahlúa, and Baileys Original Irish Cream might taste like a milkshake, but it can't be ordered virgin because all you'd get is a cup of crushed ice! The trio of alcohol blends into a smooth and velvety cocktail just sweet and chocolaty enough without being cloying. A generous drizzle of chocolate syrup and a bright red maraschino cherry with a dusting of ground cinnamon top off each glass. Get the recipe 08 of 09 Espresso Martini Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter This recipe from Simon Sebbah, beverage director at NYC's American Bar, gets you a perfectly frothy, caffeinated cocktail every time. Get the recipe 09 of 09 White Russian Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon While a White Russian can be made with milk or half and half, heavy cream adds unmatched flavor and texture to this simple cocktail. Get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit