15 Pumpkin Cocktail and Drink Recipes for Fall

Thanksgiving cider recipe — The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

As the leaves begin to change every year, many people get a craving for all things pumpkin. Pumpkin cocktails and coffee drinks are among the most popular autumn drinks, and they're a lot of fun to mix up.

Pumpkin is a unique flavor in the beverage world. While it's not the most versatile, there is a pumpkin-flavored drink recipe for every taste and occasion.

Adding Pumpkin to Drinks

A few ingredients will bring that sweet pumpkin taste into your drinks, and they become relatively easy to find come fall. Some recipes use pumpkin ingredients commonly found in food, including pumpkin butter, purée, and seeds, and pumpkin pie filling or spice.

You will also notice pumpkin syrups, liqueurs, and vodkas appearing on store shelves as early as September. However, if you have a favorite brand, it's not a guarantee that it will be around next year. Pumpkin is a very seasonal flavor, and producers cannot always keep them going. If your favorite disappears, move on to the next option or learn how to make a substitute at home. There's always a way to get your pumpkin fix; sometimes, you just have to get creative.

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Polished Princess

The Spruce / Teena Agnel

The lovely polished princess cocktail is a great way to ease into pumpkin drinks. It offers a gentle taste of a pumpkin pie without an overload of the flavor. A fantastic vodka martini for fall, the recipe pairs vanilla vodka with fresh cranberries and a pinch of pumpkin spice. The egg white gives it a terrific texture, and the flavor profile is one that anyone can enjoy.
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Pumpkin Old-Fashioned

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What can't you do with a great cocktail like the old-fashioned? This classic has been transformed countless times over the years, and this recipe gives it a pumpkin twist. In the pumpkin old-fashioned, you'll combine pumpkin purée with bourbon, Grand Marnier, and maple syrup to create a fine whiskey cocktail.
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Pumpkin Spice Cocktail

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While you have that pumpkin purée, mix up the intriguing pumpkin spice cocktail. For this recipe, you will need to pick up or make your own ginger vodka. The play of spicy ginger against the pumpkin is quite interesting, and the lime and honey syrup bring it together admirably.
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The Great Pumpkin

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The great pumpkin is a unique cocktail with an exceptional ingredient. To pull it off, you'll create a pumpkin-flavored Scotch whisky. The infusion takes about two days and is worth the wait. You'll then pair the whisky with ginger liqueur, maple syrup, and lemon juice and finished it off with a dash of cinnamon. One taste, and you'll fall in love.

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Pumpkin Fever

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Pumpkin-flavored liqueurs come and go each year, though Bols Pumpkin Spice is one of the few that tends to stick around. This is great news for the pumpkin lover because it has a wonderful flavor and is a reliable mixer for drinks like the pumpkin fever cocktail. It's backed up by spiced rum and a little milk and cream to smooth it all out. The drink is as delicious as pumpkin pie and even better with a cinnamon sugar rim.
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Pumpkin Martini

Personal Creations

Pumpkin martini recipes are everywhere, and it's fun to find your personal favorite. This one is extremely simple, mixing vanilla vodka and cream liqueur with pumpkin liqueur. You can also switch to a pumpkin spice syrup. This might be easier to find from brands like Monin because they offer it annually for all those pumpkin spiced lattes.
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Pumpkin Pie Martini

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A similar recipe, the pumpkin pie martini, also uses vanilla vodka. This time it's paired with RumChata, a popular cream liqueur that creates delicious drinks. If you want to skip the pumpkin liqueur search, you can always turn to pumpkin pie filling or pumpkin butter as a substitute.
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Ghost-tini

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Caramel-kissed Irish cream liqueur plays a starring role in the ghost-tini. It's a funky drink designed for Halloween, but it's as delicious as all the others. The cream is mixed with vanilla vodka and pumpkin spice liqueur, and the sandwich cookie rim and gummy worm garnish add a whimsical touch.

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Pumpkin Spice Martini

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The pumpkin spice martini does not shy away from complex flavors, and it's a great option for whiskey lovers. Once again, you'll need a pumpkin liqueur. Add that to a robust rye whiskey, then pour a little triple sec and a hint of an anise liqueur, such as absinthe. The egg white marries the flavors perfectly and creates a pumpkin cocktail that is sure to impress.
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Spiced Pumpkin Martini

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Beyond liqueurs, you can also use a pumpkin-flavored vodka to create an amazing martini. While there are commercial options available, you can make it in just a few hours. The spiced pumpkin martini recipe includes a homemade spiced pumpkin vodka made with roasted, honey-braised pumpkin and bay leaves. Once ready, the drink requires spiced syrup and a piece of fresh ginger. It's a fascinating cocktail that is a perfect seasonal treat.
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Spiced Pumpkin Cocktail

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

When it comes to pumpkin vodkas that you can buy, the most reliable is Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie. The brand has offered it as a seasonal release since 2013, so it's one of the regulars of this niche flavor. The spiced pumpkin cocktail was created for it, and the creamy drink is simply yummy.
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Thanksgiving Cider

The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

For something significantly lighter and more refreshing, try the super-easy Thanksgiving cider recipe. It's a perfect pumpkin vodka drink for holiday meals, and the only other ingredients you need are apple cider and club soda.

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Pumpkin Spice Latte

The Spruce / Julia Estrada

Pass by the coffee shop and make a pumpkin spice latte at home. It is sure to save some money, and you'll love how easy it is to make. The recipe uses a pumpkin purée and various spices to create the popular drink's signature flavor. Simply brew a great cup of espresso or coffee, froth milk as it heats up, then bring it all together in your favorite mug.
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Pumpkin Spice Coffee

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When you want to skip the dairy, try this pumpkin spiced coffee recipe. It includes enough pumpkin spice mix to get you through the entire season, and all you have to do is add a teaspoon to your preferred brewer. Whether you use a pour-over system, moka pot, French press, or drip machine, it's a fabulously easy way to enjoy the seasonal flavor.
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Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Fire up the blender for a pumpkin spice protein shake. It's both healthy and satisfying, using pumpkin pie filling, maple syrup, and vanilla protein powder and extract. Add bananas or pecans, and use your favorite milk to customize it to your taste.

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