Pink Elephant Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 04/23/21
Amarula Cream's Pink Elephant Cocktail
Love Strandell/Getty Images
Prep: 4 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 4 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Yield: 2 cocktails
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
311 Calories
19g Fat
22g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 311
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 12g 59%
Cholesterol 60mg 20%
Sodium 29mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 23mg 116%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 151mg 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.)

The pink elephant is a fun cocktail recipe for two that's sweet, pink, and absolutely delicious. It features Amarula, pairing it with chocolate, raspberries, red wine, and cream. Filled with aphrodisiacs, it's an ideal drink for romantic dinners, but also works wonderfully as an indulgent dessert cocktail.

Amarula is a sweet, creamy liqueur from South Africa that's flavored with the fruit of the marula tree. The pink elephant gets its name from that ingredient: The plant is also called an "elephant tree" because of the animal's fondness for the fruit.

This is a fascinating drink on many fronts. Not only does it have a tempting flavor and pretty color, but it's also constructed in an unusual manner. You'll start by shaking the main drink and straining that into a pair of glasses. To finish it up, you'll quickly sweeten heavy cream by shaking it with sugar, which is then floated on top of the drink. It sounds like a bit of work, but it really is easy and the result is worth the effort.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces merlot

  • 1 1/2 ounces Amarula Cream Liqueur

  • 1 ounce chocolate liqueur

  • 3 ounces raspberry puree

  • 3 ounces heavy cream

  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

  • Raspberries, for garnish

  • Mint sprigs, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the merlot, Amarula, chocolate liqueur, and raspberry puree.

  3. Add ice and shake well.

  4. Strain into two cocktail glasses.

  5. In a separate shaker, combine the heavy cream and sugar and shake vigorously without ice.

  6. Carefully layer the cream on top of the base by slowly pouring it over the back of a bar spoon.

  7. Garnish each glass with a raspberry and mint sprig. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • For the best drink, chill the glasses before mixing it up. The extra frost will help marry the flavors and keep the mix colder from beginning to end.
  • As written the recipe produces an 11-ounce drink. That's a lot for a creamy cocktail, which is why it's better to share it. If you want to make a single drink, simply cut all of the ingredients in half.

Recipe Variation

  • For a "campfire" effect, flavor the cream with hickory smoke. This can be done quickly with just a dash of liquid smoke (don't overdo it) added to the shaker with the cream and sugar. Or, you can follow the approach of barbecue masters and actually smoke the cream in your backyard smoker. It's the secret to making smoked ice cream and other toasted desserts like smoked chocolate ganache.

How Strong Is a Pink Elephant?

There may be three alcoholic ingredients in this recipe, but they're all mild. When combined, they produce a low-proof cocktail. The pink elephant mixes up to just 6 percent ABV (12 proof), making it similar to drinking a high-point beer, only it's far more delicious.