Pumpkin Pie Martini

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Serve up a holiday favorite in a chilled glass with the Pumpkin Pie Martini.

While I’ll never claim to be an expert, I do have a fair number of years—decades, actually—in the making of pumpkin pies. One Thanksgiving when I was a young teenager, I took it upon myself to bake a pumpkin pie for the family meal. Not only did the pie turn out great, but I also assumed I was a genius because I followed the instructions on the can. The following year, the pie was awful… Loose half-cooked filling, burnt crust. I had no idea what happened. I thought my brilliant baking skills would repeat themselves upon following the same exact directions provided on the pie mix’s label.

As I learned through trial and error, one must never only trust the timer you put on after your pie is in the oven, especially since no two appliances are created equally, it seems. You need to eyeball things, trust your judgement and keep popping a toothpick or knife in the filling as it gets close to completion, until they come out clean. Now you can place that dessert on your windowsill to let it cool, like grandma used to do. Mine didn’t, though. If you put a fresh pie on an open windowsill in Brooklyn back in the day, someone would steal it.

Tonight’s cocktail doesn’t need ovens or open windows, nor does it have to worry about random pie thieves either. The Pumpkin Pie Martini is a creamy, boozy treat that recreates those indulgent, whipped cream-topped bites of the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas favorite. And with a lovely, crunchy graham cracker covered rim, every sip you take will make you forget about the pie you accidentally burned earlier in the day.

Remember, you gotta eyeball these things.

What is the best alcohol to use in a Pumpkin Pie Martini?

We want our cocktail to be sweet as well as strong, and the two spirits that’ll be required to craft it help make this possible. First, we’ll need a vanilla vodka that offers a lovely warmth on the finish, while melding in a balanced way with the more dessert-like elements used. Absolut, Smirnoff, Grey Goose, and Stoli all produce very nice vanilla vodkas, and these will also pair well with whatever creamy Irish cream liqueur you decide on, be it a classic Baileys, Saint Brendan’s or Five Farms, the latter of which is becoming a very popular choice among cocktail enthusiasts.

What glassware and garnish are used?

Chill a long-stemmed martini glass or cocktail coupe in your freezer for up to 30 minutes before prepping and serving your drink. Dip the rim in maple syrup, line it with graham cracker crumbles and pour your libation in, garnishing with a cinnamon stick or two on top.

What is the best pumpkin purée to use?

I’ve been a longtime pumpkin pie guy, even got hit in the face with one my freshman year of high school, and I always go back to a can of Libby’s when I require pumpkin anything.

Other Martini variations worth trying

Let’s say you love the idea of a Martini, but actually imbibing a traditional Gin Martini or a classic Vodka Martini doesn’t exactly delight your tender palate. That’s why a plethora of sweeter-tasting ‘Tini-inspired cocktails are so popular. If tonight’s tipple put you in the mood for more delectable and indulgent concoctions, try out some of these recipes found right here at Twist & Toast.

• Chocolate Martini – A chocolate and vodka lover’s dream come true.
• Eggnog Martini – Serve this elegant and smooth elixir at your next holiday soirée.
• Key Lime Martini – Sip on a slice of pie with this tasty and tangy treat.
• Sugar Cookie Martini – This is what Santa Claus craves on Christmas Eve.