Remember those hard Jolly Rancher candiesyou couldn't resist as a kid? You're going to love them even more as an adult becauseit's time to enjoy the Jolly Rancher as a co*cktail.
The Jolly Rancher co*cktail is a great way todress upthe popular Cape Cod (orvodka cranberry). It is,quite simply, a mix of apple vodka, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice. These ingredients make for a refreshing mixed drink with a sweet, fruity taste similar to the candy.
Thisfruityrecipeisincredibly easy to make anda quick, cheap mixed drink. It's also versatile enough to be served as a stylish martini, a fruity punch, or a tasty party shot.
How Strong Is the Jolly Rancher?
TheJolly Rancher is a very mild co*cktail, which makes itperfect for happy houror anytime you want a casual mixed drink. Most flavored vodkas are bottled at 35 percent alcohol by volume (ABV, 70 proof), so they're a little lighter than standard vodka. When you mix thatwith the popular Peachtree (24 percent ABV),the drink weighs inaround 9 percent ABV (18 proof).
Choose an Apple Vodka
You will find no shortage of apple vodka options.Ahomemade apple vodka infusion is one of the easiestand a great project for beginners. There are also plenty ofapple-flavored vodka available on the market.
If you prefer to buy vodka, any liquor store should have at least a few options. They range from inexpensive to top-shelf and can be crystal clear or bright green. A green-colored vodka will alter the look but that's perfectly fine because the Jolly Rancher is all about the taste.
Among the apple vodkas available, four stand out from the crowd:
- UV Green: This isthegreenest of all-green apple vodkas you will find. A bottle doesn't cost much and the color is a fun addition to any bar. If you like UV Blue, you'll love this one.
- Smirnoff Green Apple: Many liquor stores stock a nice selection of Smirnoff's flavored vodkas and one of the best budget-friendly brands. Their green apple vodka is as clear as any unflavored vodka and tastes pretty good for the price.
- Effen Green Apple: If you're looking for a top-shelf vodka, Effen Green Apple is one of the best options. It has a clean taste and the green apple flavor is true to the source.
- Van Gogh Wild Appel: It may not be flavored with green apples, but has great apple flavor. Van Gogh's apple is another premium option and it's typically pretty easy to find.
Tips for Making Jolly Rancher co*cktail Recipe
While this recipe doesn't call for using Jolly Rancher candies, you can use the actual candy to make colorful Jolly Rancher-infused vodkas and pour that into the drink.
- Use about 10 to 15 candies for every cup of vodka. Divide them by color and make multiple infusions of different flavors at one time.
- Drop unwrapped candies into a jar and fill with vodka. Seal and let sit for about 12 to 24 hours, or until the candy is completely dissolved. To speed it up, shake the jar every couple of hours. Unlike other candy infusions (such as Skittles), there's no need to filter it.
What You'll Need to Make This Jolly Rancher co*cktail Recipe
"This drink tastes just like a Jolly Rancher, which means this co*cktail tastes good. Drinks named after candy seem a little juvenile, but this one is a lot better than similar drinks of the same ilk. The cranberry helps keep it from being too tart and syrupy. Overall, it's pretty delightful." —Tom Macy
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
1 ounce green apple vodka
1 ounce peach schnapps
See AlsoJolly Rancher Shot4 ounces cranberry juice
Orange wedge, for garnish
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
Pour 1 ounce green apple vodka and 1 ounce peach schnapps into a highball glass filled with ice.
Top with 4 ounces cranberry juice and stir.
Garnish with an orange wedge. Serve and enjoy.
Feeling Adventurous? Try This:
The Jolly Rancher can be served however you like and modified to fit any occasion, from casual to fancy.
- Make it bubbly - To make the highball version a little more refreshing, top the Jolly Rancher with ginger ale or another clear soda.
- Make it fancy - Transform your Jolly Rancher into a high-class martini by shakingthe ingredients and serving it "up" in a co*cktail glass.
- Shots, shots, shots! - Create a Jolly Rancher shot that goes down smoother than most. Pour 1 ounce of each ingredient, shake the drink with ice, then strain it into two or three separate shot glasses.
- Turn it into jello shots - Pick up a package of cranberry gelatin and skip the juice.
Gummy Bear Martini
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
178 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
24g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 1 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 178 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 8mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 24g | 9% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 2% |
Total Sugars 22g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 48mg | 238% |
Calcium 30mg | 2% |
Iron 0mg | 1% |
Potassium 119mg | 3% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Recipe Tags:
- Apple
- american
- cookout
- beverage