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    Home » Classic Cocktails » The Pink Squirrel Valentine's Day Cocktail

    Published: Feb 13, 2021 · Modified: Feb 18, 2022 by Kevin Mayfield · This post may contain affiliate links.

    The Pink Squirrel Valentine's Day Cocktail

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The Pink Squirrel is a fun fifties cocktail that is perfect for Valentines Day. Remember to make enough for two, though!

    A frozen Pink Squirrel cocktail with two cherries and the bottles of liquor required.
    This fun forties invention from Milwaukee is perfect for Valentines Day

    Fun Frozen Cocktails Hit the Big Time

    Americans fell in love with blender cocktails and ice cream drinks in the 1950's for good reason. They finally had a cheap and ready supply of ice, and many homes now sported modern conveniences like a blender.

    The Pink Squirrel comes to us from Wisconsin, the same region that created the Grasshopper. This cocktail was invented in the 1940's by John Dye of Bryant's Cocktail Lounge in Milwaukee.

    While this cocktail was a popular drink in the 50's, by the 60's it had already started to fade from view. Probably because the main ingredient was expensive and not used very often. By the 70's this drink was relegated to the memory banks. But proving that everything old is new again, it started popping up in television shows and movies such as Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise.

    It turns out there a few variations on the Squirrel cocktails depending on what color the ingredients turn when mixed together. There's a Black Squirrel made with Cynar, a Brown Squirrel made with amaretto, and a Chocolate Squirrel that features more chocolate liqueur. I'm guessing there are probably several others if you look hard enough. The recipes are very similar, featuring creme de cacao, another liqueur, and heavy cream or ice cream. Typically, these drinks are served with a dusting of nutmeg or a dash of whipped cream.

    You can make this drink a couple of different ways -- shaken, or blended with ice. Some folks prefer to use vanilla ice cream rather than heavy whipping cream for an even richer dessert drink.

    Ingredients for a Pink Squirrel

    I'm pretty sure you probably don't have the main ingredient for this drink, which is Creme de Noyaux. I know I didn't. In fact, I had never even heard of it. Knowing I probably wouldn't see a lot of demand for this specialized liqueur, I decided to improvise. I replaced it with one of my favorite cherry liqueurs that provides a nice shade of pink color and tastes delicious.

    Here's what you need:

    • Creme de Cacao
    • Creme de Noyaux--if you have it. This red liqueur is what gives the drink its pink coloring. It's an almond-flavored liqueur made from apricot kernels and probably a bunch of artificial red dye. If you don't have it sitting on your bar waiting to be used, I recommend something that you can use in several cocktails such as Luxardo Cherry liqueur. It tastes delicious and can be used in a variety of drinks such as the Martinez, and is also a wonderful addition to a Rye Manhattan. Using this liqueur gives the drink the perfect color and a tasty cherry flavor that blends well with the chocolatey Creme de Cacao.
    • Heavy whipping cream

    Tips for a Successful Pink Squirrel

    Since I'm already deviating from the recipe, let's go even more off-script.

    • Add a few Luxardo Maraschino cherries to the blender in addition to the cherry liquor for a stronger cherry flavor.
    • Swirl in some of the cherry syrup to the finished drink to give it the perfect shade of pink.
    • Top it with a spritz of whip cream and/or nutmeg, and garnish with a cherry or two.

    If you have had a traditional Pink Squirrel, let me know if you feel strongly about the Creme de Noyaux and I'll give it a go.

    A frozen Pink Squirrel cocktail with two cherries and the bottles of liquor required.

    The Pink Squirrel Valentine's Day Cocktail

    Kevin Mayfield
    This delicious frozen cocktail is perfect to celebrate Valentine's Day. Made with Cherry liqueur and cream it is a fun, tasty retro drink.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Total Time 3 mins
    Course Classic Cocktail
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 Drink
    Calories 98 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 ounce Creme de Cacao
    • 1 ounce Creme de Noyaux or Luxardo Cherry Liqueur 
    • 1 ounce Heavy Whipping Cream
    • 4 Cocktail cherries
    • Nutmeg (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Place a cup of fresh ice in a blender
    • Pour the ingredients in and blend for approximately one minute
      1 ounce Creme de Cacao, 1 ounce Heavy Whipping Cream, 1 ounce Creme de Noyaux or Luxardo Cherry Liqueur 
    • Pour into a stemmed cocktail glass
    • Add a couple of Luxardo cherries into the drink with a splash of syrup from the jar, then lightly stir to mix
    • Dust with a garnish of ground nutmeg (optional)
    • Add a couple of stemmed cherries for garnish

    Notes

    You can replace the heavy whipping cream and ice with vanilla ice cream in the blender if you prefer. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 11mgPotassium: 21mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 417IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword ice cream drink, mid century cocktails
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

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