A SWEET DAY FOR A SWEET ALCOHOLIC TREAT

Add a little bit of flavor and fun into the cocktail mix when you make candy-inspired alcoholic drinks today.

For a fun tasting and really luxurious looking drink, make a Whoppers-inspired drink called a ‘Guinness Double Chocolate Malted Milkshake.’ It’s a more lengthy process but it is definitely worth the time spent to make it. For the milkshake part: use 1 bottle of Guinness draught style stout beer (chilled), 1 pint chocolate ice cream, 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, crushed Whoppers Malted Milk Ball candies, and Bailey’s Whipped Cream (1/2 pint whipping cream, 1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar). To make the Bailey’s Whipped Cream: gently stir together the whipping cream, Bailey’s, and sugar until the sugar dissolves; use a mixer or your hand to create firm peaks. To make the Guinness Milkshake: add the Guinness, ice cream, and chocolate syrup to a blender. Begin the frozen drink cycle and blend on high until smooth. Divide the malted milkshake between 2 glasses, leaving an inch of space to add the whipped cream. Add a thick cap of Bailey’s whipped cream to the top of the glass; drizzle chocolate syrup over the top and then garnish with crushed Whoppers candies. Serve and enjoy.

For a bit of added flavor and color, make a ‘Blow Pop Martini Cocktail.’ It’s made with 2/3 c. frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed and strained to remove solids), 1 1/3 c. water, 1.5 c. bubble-gum flavored vodka, 4 tablespoons sour apple, sour watermelon, or berry blue sour liqueur, and 12 small lollipops for garnish. Combine liquid ingredients in a large pitcher and stir well; refrigerate that until ready to serve. When ready, pour into martini glasses, and then garnish with a lollipop to add more fun colors. Enjoy the sweet treat.