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The Pumpkin Martini recipe is cozy and creamy, infused pumpkin pie spice and topped off with a crunchy graham cracker rim. This fall cocktail is a crowd-pleaser that’s the perfect signature drink for all the occasions of the season.
Is it fall drink season? Good, because we’ve got the perfect cocktail to add to your repertoire: the Pumpkin Martini! It’s creamy, it’s pie-spiced, and made with real pumpkin for the best natural flavor.
Coat the glass rim in crushed graham crackers and you get a hint of crunchy sweet in each sip! You can even serve it up as a Pumpkin Pie Martini topped with whipped cream! Alex and I absolutely love this drink, especially for fall occasions like Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Ingredients in a Pumpkin Martini
The Pumpkin Martini is an autumnal spin on the flavored vodka martini using pumpkin flavors. There are many ways to achieve the flavors of the season, like pumpkin spice syrup or pumpkin liqueur. But for our recipe, we wanted to use the natural flavors: real pumpkin and pumpkin spice! It’s an ideal drink for Halloween or Thanksgiving, or any fall gathering. Here’s what you’ll need for this Pumpkin Martini recipe:
- Vodka
- Heavy cream (or coconut milk)
- Pure maple syrup
- Canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- Pumpkin pie spice (purchased or homemade)
- Vanilla extract
- Graham crackers, for the rim
Prepping the graham cracker rim
Glass rims aren’t just for decoration: they add an important pop of flavor and texture to each sip! Here the graham cracker crumbs add just the right hint of sweetness and crunch to the Pumpkin Martini. It takes a few minutes to do, but it’s absolutely worth it. Here’s how to do it:
- Crush the graham crackers and add to a plate. You can simply use your fingers to crush them, or use the bottom of a jar or can.
- Add a pool of maple syrup to another plate. This is the glue that will hold on the cracker crumbs.
- Place the outer edge of the glass in the maple and rotate. Repeat with the cracker crumbs. Hold the position of the glass constant and just rotate the stem so you get an even coating. The maple syrup will glue the crumbs to the rim.
Variation: Pumpkin Pie Martini
Want to make this Pumpkin Martini into a Pumpkin Pie Martini? Simply add whipped cream! Adding a dollop of whipped cream takes it to over-the-top dessert drink status. Here are a few homemade whipped cream recipes to try:
- Classic: Try our Homemade Whipped Cream: fluffy and lightly sweetened.
- Boozy: Top it with Bourbon Whipped Cream for massive flavor.
- Dairy Free: Go for Dairy-Free Whipped Cream.
Frequently asked questions
Our recipe testing found that ½ ounce maple syrup creates that perfect balance—especially with the graham cracker rim. If you’re craving something sweeter, here’s a guide:
½ oz = beautifully balanced
¾ oz = decidedly sweet
1 oz = dessert-in-a-glass territory
Brown sugar syrup takes just 5 minutes to make. Honey works too, though it brings a different personality to the drink. Both are solid understudies for maple syrup.
Yes, sub in full-fat coconut milk for the heavy cream. it’ll bring a subtle tropical note, but it works surprisingly well.
Pumpkin Martini
The Pumpkin Martini recipe is cozy and creamy, infused pumpkin pie spice and topped off with a crunchy graham cracker rim. This fall cocktail is a crowd-pleaser that’s the perfect signature drink for all the occasions of the season.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces* vodka
- ½ ounce heavy cream (or coconut milk, for vegan)
- ½ ounce (to 1 ounce**) pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Graham crackers, for the rim
Instructions
- Prepare the rim: Crush a graham cracker with your fingers, and place it on a plate. On another plate, add a small pool of maple syrup. Run the rim of a martini glass in the maple syrup first, rotating the glass so the rim is evenly coated. Then roll the rim in the crushed graham crackers until evenly coated.
- Shake the drink: Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add a handful of ice and shake until cold. Strain the drink into the prepared martini glass.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
**½ ounce maple syrup makes a balanced drink (and you’ll still get sweetness from the cracker rim). Use ¾ or 1 ounce maple syrup if you like a very sweet drink. If you don’t have pure maple syrup, try homemade Brown Sugar Syrup (it takes just 5 minutes).
A few more pumpkin recipes
Love pumpkin? If you’re here for it this season, here are some the top pumpkin recipes and pumpkin drinks to try:
- Bake up Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins or a Pumpkin Cake.
- Start the day with cozy Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal, Pumpkin Pancakes, or Pumpkin Waffles.
- Sip a Pumpkin Smoothie or Pumpkin Spice Coffee.
- Make show-stopping Vegan Pumpkin Pie or Mini Pumpkin Pies.
Looks good. Is the maple syrup just for the rim or does it get added to the drink?
It’s included in the drink! There is just extra for the rim.
Hi, do you have a homemmade recipe for the pumpkin pure?? I am in the UK and all I can find is canned pie filling
We don’t, sorry!
Can you make a larger batch to serve many.? Will it keep for a couple of hours?
It won’t keep too well… I’d try to serve within an hour. You could definitely do a large batch whisked in a bowl. Change ounces to cups for 8x recipe.
Can you recommend an appetizer to serve with this?
Thank you!!
Great question! Baked brie could be nice with this; here’s a recipe: https://www.acouplecooks.com/baked-brie/ You could also do something like whipped ricotta with crostini and maybe topped with pomegranate seeds? https://www.acouplecooks.com/whipped-ricotta/
I’m hosting Thanksgiving and wanted to have dueling martinis! To keep it simple for a large group, I need to make the recipes in a large batch – do you think this recipe and your pear martini would work well premixed or do you have any other fall martini recipes that you recommend instead?
Since they both have actual fruit in them they will start to separate if done in a pitcher ahead. The pumpkin would work if you made it in a blender maybe!
Otherwise, you could try the https://www.acouplecooks.com/pomegranate-martini/ or https://www.acouplecooks.com/apple-cider-martini/
Best!
I thought that would probably be my issue – thank you for the other recommendations!! I think the apple cider martini will be perfect!
Hey! Love this concept!! What kind of vodka would you recommend?
We usually use Tito’s.
Can you use tequila or another alcohol substitute or only vodka?
This looks delicious! Do you have any ideas to substitute the vodka? I am hosting a small Halloween get together and we are making various drinks and one of my friends does not drink alcohol. I would love for him to have a great experience as well and am trying to pick options that I can easily make non-alcoholic as well! I was thinking maybe add a bit more pumpkin puree and some more coconut milk but was wondering if you had any other ideas. Thanks in advance (:
I would try cutting the maple syrup and replacing vodka with tonic water. Top off with a bit more tonic water at the end as the bubbles will help the flavor.
Let us know if you have any questions!
Hello, this looks great. I feel like I should have made this years ago!
But does it need to be blended at all? I’m imagining it being chunky in a shaker with the pumpkin. I assume canned pumpkin puree works for this?
It doesn’t need to be blended — it shakes up perfectly creamy! Yes, use canned pumpkin puree; we’ll add a note in the recipe! Hope you enjoy it!