Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

12 months ago 65

A Cosmopolitan Cocktail is a simple four-ingredient vodka drink that is so easy to make at home. It’s my absolute favorite drink and it’s so easy to make it at home – save your money and host happy hour...

A Cosmopolitan Cocktail is a simple four-ingredient vodka drink that is so easy to make at home. It’s my absolute favorite drink and it’s so easy to make it at home – save your money and host happy hour with a bunch of these martinis!

pink drink in a clear glass with a sliced lime on the edge.

Best Cosmopolitan Drink

A classic cosmo cocktail is my absolute favorite martini recipe and I never realized how easy they are to make at home. This drink became all the rage in the 1990s – that’s when I discovered how much I like it.

I love going out for a drink, but sometimes drink prices – especially for cocktails – are so expensive…plus I like being in my pajamas. So, I say let’s have an at-home happy hour, shall we? And I have the perfect drink for you to try: a classic cosmopolitan! You just need fresh lime juice, vodka, cranberry juice, and triple sec.

I’ve been making this cocktail for years – I first fell in love with it the night I got engaged – and have been loving them ever since.

ingredients in cocktail set up

Cosmopolitan Cocktail Ingredients

You only need four ingredients to make it. It’s sweet, tart and pink – perfect for a girl’s night happy hour, but the fellas love them, too (my husband included).

Vodka – pick your favorite brand! I love Tito’s but I know Absolut Citron Vodka is good too, it adds more citrus flavor. Just use a top shelf vodka so you enjoy the drink more. Triple sec – also called orange liqueur or cointreau, this adds a pop of orange flavor Cranberry juice – Use unsweetened cranberry juice to give the drink it’s signature pink color and adds tartness, but you can also use sweetened if you like a sweeter drink. Lime juice – adds a fresh splash of citrus, plus a slice of lime for garnish. Simple Syrup – I do not add simple syrup to my drink becuse I find the triple sec adds enough sugar. But if you want a sweeter drink add some to taste.
Cosmopolitan drink being poured into the clear glass by the gold shaker.

How to Make a Cosmo Martini

Add all ingredients to a shaker full of ice, secure the cap and shake it for at least 10 seconds. I took a mixology class once and the bartender told us the secret to a good martini is how long you shake it! Open it up strain the drink into the glass. Add a slice of lime for garnish!
Cosmopolitan cocktail in a clear shaker with the drink in the background.

Make a pitcher of Cosmopolitan Drink

The recipe I’m sharing is for one drink, but you can easily scale it up and make a big batch of cosmopolitans for dinner parties – or a bachelorette party!

I often like to mix it all and then shake as I go, so I’m not measuring out ingredients during a party.

To scale up your drink: multiply the ingredients by the number of cocktails you’ll need. I figure two per person!

Just mix all of the ingredients in a pitcher and keep it the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve the drinks. Then you can shake and serve individual cosmos when you’re ready.

pink drink in a clear glass with a sliced lime on the edge.

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

You will also need a martini glass and a cocktail shaker. Use a chilled cocktail glass for an even icier cocktail! The shaker makes a big difference in preparing the drink. It’s an easy way to mix the ingredients, but it also quickly chills the drink with ice. That way, you don’t have to add ice to the actual drink which can dilute it. Some restaurants will serve this drink with an orange twist or orange peel, but I prefer a lime garnish. Don’t like vodka? Substitute gin!

FAQs

Is cosmopolitan a strong drink?

I think this is the perfect cosmopolitan recipe, but feel free to play around with it and adjust to your liking! You can add or reduce the vodka to adjust the strength.

Is cosmopolitan a sweet drink?

This is the perfect balance of sweet and tart for my taste but if you want a sweeter drink you can add some simple syrup or more juice or triple sec. For a stronger or less sweet drink, reduce the triple sec.

clear cocktail glass with a red drink and lime on the rim
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Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

A Cosmopolitan Cocktail is a simple four-ingredient vodka drink that is so easy to make at home. It’s pink, a little tart and a little sweet and a perfect cocktail for happy hour!
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 202kcal
Cost $3

Ingredients

1 ˝ ounces vodka1 ounce triple sec1 ounce cranberry juice˝ ounce lime juice

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for at least 10 seconds.
Strain into martini glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Notes

TIP: for a party, make a pitcher then measure out each drink and shake and serve. This way you’re not measuring all night long. To scale it up: multiply each ingredient by the number of drinks (figure at least 2 per person). Then to make your drink, measure out 4 ounces of the mixture, shake and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 7mg

Favorite Martini Recipes

Candy Cane Martini (Candy Cane Infused Vodka)

Midori Martini

Sugar Cookie Martini

Lemon Cupcake Martini

Last Updated on December 26, 2023

The post Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe appeared first on Crazy for Crust.


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