Want to know a secret? The best cocktails are really easy to recreate at home with a few simple ingredients and a stocked bar cart. Leave the blenders, bitters and obscure ingredients to the pros and make one of these 15 easy cocktail recipes instead, all of which you can whip up with ingredients already in your kitchen. (And nope, no bartender needed.)
15 Easy Cocktail Recipes You Can Make at Home (With Stuff That’s Already in Your Kitchen)
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Published May 8, 2020
1. Grapefruit Wine
Is it wine or a cocktail? (Who cares? It’s delicious…and only three ingredients.)
2. Cucumber Mint Gimlet
It’s so refreshing, it’s like a spa in a cocktail. You could even swap basil for the mint if you’re adventurous like that.
3. Maple Whiskey Sour
Aside from adding a hint of smoky sweetness, using maple syrup also means you don’t have to make simple syrup from scratch.
4. Classic Paloma
FYI, you can use any grapefruit soda available (like Squirt or San Pellegrino). If you don’t have grapefruit soda, don’t worry. Fresh juice would also work in a pinch.
5. Perfect Margarita
We like our margs extra cold and extra tart. Luckily, they’re easy to make at home with three ingredients. The salted rim is not optional.
6. Spiked Pink Lemonade
It’s kind of like the vodka-lemonades you drank in college, but a lot classier (and tastier).
7. French 75
If you ask us, the ideal reason to open a bottle of bubbly is any reason at all. This cocktail looks fancy, but it’s only four ingredients and so easy to whip up.
8. Espresso Martini
Psst: You don’t need an espresso machine (or even espresso) to make this one. Strong black coffee will do just fine.
9. Tequila Rosé Spritz
There’s nothing wrong with plain old rosé, but there’s also nothing wrong with adding tequila and whatever fresh fruit is already in your fridge.
10. Pomegranate Gin And Tonic
We imagine you could doctor up a G&T with any fruit juice you have on hand. The pomegranate just happens to pair deliciously with the crisp, botanical flavors.
11. Creamy Coconut Lime Mojito
Time to bring out the canned coconut milk from the back of your pantry. It’s the star ingredient in this indulgent take on a classic.
Spoon Fork Bacon
12. Simple Champagne Cocktail
If combining bitters and Champagne and calling it a cocktail is wrong, we don’t want to be right.
Get the recipe
13. Simple Bloody Mary
Let’s face it: Most Bloody Marys require a lengthy list of ingredients. But you can actually pare down to just the essentials and still wind up with a satisfyingly spicy sipper.
14. Negroni
It’s equal parts Campari, gin and vermouth, and it’s easier to make than opening a bottle of wine.
15. Tequila Sunrise
Tequila + orange juice + grenadine = Instagram likes out the wazoo. It’s just too pretty to pass up.
