Spring is synonymous with fresh flowers, warmer temps, and fruity, sweet cocktails — and, we wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s why we’ve already started bookmarking recipes and planning the next batch of cocktails to try in the coming months. But instead of endlessly scrolling through Pinterest, we realized: Why spend so much time searching social media and food blogs when our first and only stop should have been our No. 1 chef and queen of entertaining, Ina Garten?
Garten’s website Barefoot Contessa, alone, has tons of refreshing cocktails from which to choose, from belly-warming whiskey-based cocktails to fruity sangria swimming with fresh fruits, like strawberries and raspberries. You can also flip through one of Garten’s 11 cookbooks for recipes of her favorite cocktails. Don’t worry, though; because we did the work for you.
Before we get to the cocktail recipes, though, we’ll leave you with Garten’s best tip for making cocktails: Do not — we repeat — do not eyeball your liquor. Instead, use a measuring cup for the best result. “I have a measuring cup; I brought my own,” Ina said to Seth Meyers during one of his “Day Drinking” segments.
Have your measuring cup ready? From raspberry liqueur-spiked champagne to sugary-sweet peach Bellinis, these are the Garten’s best, can’t-miss sweet cocktails.
Duke’s Cosmopolitan
Stir together lemon juice, Cointreau, cranberry juice cocktail, vodka, and, for those adventurous enough, egg white.
Get the recipe at Barefoot Contessa.
Raspberry Royale
This simple, sweet cocktail requires just three ingredients: raspberry liqueur, fresh raspberries, and champagne.
Get the recipe at Barefoot Contessa.
Watermelon Mojito
Wait, you mean to tell us you’ve never thought to stir pureed watermelon juice into your mojito? Well, we’re here to tell you: You’ve been missing out.
Get the recipe at Barefoot Contessa.
Summer Rosé Sangria
No need to wait until the summer months to make a batch of this rose sangria chockfull of raspberries, plums, and strawberries.
Get the recipe at Barefoot Contessa.
Limoncello Vodka Collins
For a cocktail that pulls back on the sweet and turns up the sour, Garten’s Limoncello Vodka Collins will hit just the spot.
Get the recipe at Barefoot Contessa.
Ina-Tini
The only thing better than the name of this cocktail, is how this raspberry, lime, and orange-flavored vodka cocktail tastes.
Get the recipe at Food Network.
French 75
Cognac fans, this cocktail’s for you: Mix cognac, simple syrup, and lemon juice; mix, then top the mixture with champagne.
Get the recipe at Food Network.
Pomegranate Cosmopolitans
Garten loves fruity cocktails, clearly. These pomegranate cosmos, for instance, combine vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, and lime juice.
Get the recipe at Food Network.
Fresh Peach Bellinis
It doesn’t get any sweeter than sugar-spiked peach Bellinis.
Get the recipe at Food Network.
Pink Grapefruit Margaritas
You’ll need red grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed lime juice, orange liqueur, and white tequila for this refreshing margarita recipe.
Get the recipe at Food Network.
Lemon Drop Cocktail
Lemon drop shots? No, it’s time to level-up with Garten’s lemon drop cocktails.
Get the recipe at Food Network.
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