Our 25 Best Amaretto Cocktails

Homemade Amaretto Liqueur poured into a glass — The Spruce / Bahareh Niati

Amaretto's sweet, nutty taste is perfect for cocktails. Extremely versatile, the almond-flavored liqueur is essential in any well-stocked bar and appears in countless mixed drink recipes.

You'll find amaretto in simple lowballs where it's paired with brandy, rum, vodka, and whiskey. It's often featured in sweet dessert and inviting cozy drinks—both warm and cold—and excellent with coffee. Amaretto is also a great mixer for fruity cocktails alongside apple, cranberry, orange, pear, and much more. From martinis and sippers to fun party shots in many flavors, there's a delicious amaretto drink for every occasion.

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01 of 25

Bocce Ball

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

The bocce ball is a throwback drink that will never lose its appeal. As amaretto's answer to the screwdriver, it showcases the wonderful flavor sensation of amaretto and orange juice. Add vodka for a stiffer drink or keep it nice and mellow without it. This is a great choice any time of day and works just as well at brunch as it does during happy hour.
02 of 25

Godfather

The Spruce

Scotch whisky and amaretto come together wonderfully in the simple but satisfying godfather. Requiring only those two ingredients, this slow sipping lowball is a fantastic way to dress up scotch. As a bonus, the drink's profile will change with each scotch you pour; try it with a smooth blended whisky or a semi-peaty single malt and taste the difference for yourself.
03 of 25

Godmother

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For drinkers who prefer vodka, there's the godmother. Without the whiskey background, it's a little softer but just as pleasant. It's an easy pouring and slow sipping drink that's the perfect way to end a night, especially when cooler weather begins.
04 of 25

Toasted Almond

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

As you explore amaretto's mixability, you'll quickly notice that coffee is one of the best pairings for this liqueur. In the toasted almond mixed drink, amaretto and coffee liqueur come together in perfect harmony. Adding milk or cream creates a lighter version of the white Russian, though you can add vodka for a roasted toasted almond.

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05 of 25

French Connection

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Another brilliant pairing for amaretto, the French connection mixes the almond liqueur with cognac. Best with top-shelf spirits, it's a great way to sweeten up and soften a good brandy. Enjoy it on the rocks or straight, this two-ingredient drink is charming either way. The combo also works well with hot coffee, which is sometimes called French connection coffee.
06 of 25

Amaretto Sour

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The amaretto sour is a classic cocktail that came out of American bars during the 1970s. Made with just a few ingredients, it's also easy to mix up, and there are several tasty variations to explore. Since it's the lone liquor, this cocktail is best with top-shelf brands of amaretto. It's also an excellent use for homemade amaretto. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential because the bottled varieties simply won't make a great sour cocktail.
07 of 25

DIY Amaretto

The Spruce / Bahareh Niati

As great as amaretto is in cocktails, it is very enjoyable on its own, particularly the premium brands or this easy, homemade version. A good amaretto can be enjoyed neat, straight up, or on the rocks, and it makes a quick and soothing after-dinner drink. Pour it into an old-fashioned glass anytime or sip it slowly from a dainty cordial glass along with dessert.
08 of 25

Triple Espresso Martini

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There's no need to brew coffee when you want to enjoy that taste in an amaretto cocktail. Instead, pick up a bottle of espresso vodka and use it in the triple espresso martini. It's a tasty three-ingredient drink, and the coconut rum is a brilliant surprise.

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09 of 25

M&M Shooter

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

What's the secret to the M&M shooter? Nothing more than that perfect combination of amaretto and coffee liqueur. There are alternatives, including recipes that use hazelnut liqueur or chocolate vodka. All are easy, so you can try a few and discover your favorite liquid version of this candy-inspired shot.
10 of 25

Spiked Apple Cider

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Apple cider becomes a popular cocktail mixer as the cool winds of autumn begin to blow. The spiked apple cider recipe is best with unfiltered apple cider because its bolder apple flavor is a great base for the aged rum and amaretto. The drink is topped with club soda and accented with bitters, but it's the caramelized oranges that make it really special.
11 of 25

Fireball Eggnog

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In this twist on a classic spiked eggnog, amaretto teams up with Fireball cinnamon spiced whiskey to create a festive party-worthy drink. The two are simply shaken with prepared eggnog and ice and served in a cinnamon-sugar rimmed glass.
12 of 25

Eggnog Martini

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The holidays require a little eggnog, and there are so many ways to enjoy this seasonal favorite. One of the easiest is the eggnog martini because it uses premade eggnog. Shake with vanilla vodka and amaretto, add a cinnamon stick and dusting of nutmeg, and this festive drink is ready to enjoy.

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13 of 25

White Christmas Dream

The Spruce

Understandably, not everyone enjoys eggnog, and the white Christmas dream is a great alternative. Using the eggnog martini's vodka-amaretto base, this recipe opts for heavy cream. Offer holiday party guests a choice between the two, and you can save money when stocking the bar.
14 of 25

Santa's Whiskey Flip

The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Inspired by the whiskey flip, this recipe gives the classic cocktail a winter-worthy flair. The Santa's flip recipe uses amaretto and cinnamon whiskey, which you can buy or make yourself with your favorite whiskey within a week. Shaking those with egg and heavy cream creates a luscious drink with an irresistible foam, perfect for fireside sipping.
15 of 25

Flaming Dr. Pepper Shot

The Spruce / Loren Runion

The flaming Dr. Pepper is one of the most popular flaming shots you can make and the namesake soda is surprisingly not needed. Instead, when the drink is lit on fire, magic happens and the combination of rum, amaretto, and beer mimics the taste of Dr. Pepper.
16 of 25

Chocolate Almond Cocktail

The Spruce / Anita Schecter

Chocolate lovers will swoon over the chocolate almond cocktail. The recipe uses vodka and amaretto is a great choice for the almond liqueur. Mix those with chocolate liqueur, chocolate ice cream, and milk, then strain it into a rimmed glass of melted chocolate and almonds. It's delicious and a great dessert alternative.

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17 of 25

Blueberry Tea

The Spruce

Some cocktails are like a chemistry experiment in which a particular flavor is created with totally unrelated ingredients. This blueberry tea is a perfect example because you won't find any blueberries in the recipe. However, when a deeply flavored orange liqueur, amaretto, and orange pekoe tea come together, the warm cocktail hints at the sweet berries.
18 of 25

Lounge Lizard

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

For a quick way to sweeten up your rum and Coke, turn to the lounge lizard. This highball prefers a shot of dark rum, which gives it a deeper background. Add a small pour of amaretto, then top it with your favorite cola and you're all set. While you might be inclined to choose one of the big-name colas, try this one with a soda that uses kola nut. They tend to be drier, so your drink won't be too sweet.
19 of 25

Snickertini

The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

While sometimes made from apricot kernels, amaretto is enjoyed for its almond-like taste. That's useful when you want to replicate the nuttiness of a favorite candy bar. Caramel vodka, amaretto, chocolate liqueur, and Irish cream do just that in the snickertini. It's nice on the rocks but can also be tossed in the blender for a frozen treat.
20 of 25

Cafe Caribbean

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When you want to spike your hot coffee, turn to the dynamic duo of rum and amaretto. They'll sweeten the brew while giving it a nice kick. Dress up your café Caribbean with whipped cream and sliced almonds to make it even more indulgent.

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21 of 25

Sugar Cookie Martini

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Dessert cocktails are a favorite venue for amaretto. When your sweet tooth hits, few recipes will satisfy it like the sugar cookie martini. Served with a colorful sugary rim, the recipe is surprisingly simple and uses common bar ingredients. Shake vanilla vodka with Irish cream and amaretto and this sweet treat is ready to drink.
22 of 25

Italian Margarita

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Though it's made worldwide today, amaretto has roots in Italy, so it's only natural to find it in an Italian margarita. In this recipe, the liqueur is added to the typical margarita ingredients of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice, giving the drink a lush sweetness. Choose an aged reposado tequila and serve it with an extra shot of amaretto on the side, if you like.
23 of 25

Red Snapper Shooter

The Spruce

The red snapper is a favorite in bars and it's also a tasty little drink. The combination of Canadian whisky, amaretto, and cranberry juice goes down easily, though it's great on the rocks, too.
24 of 25

Peartini

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Pear vodka and amaretto team up to create a delightful peartini. Featuring a spiced simple syrup made with brown sugar and seasonal spices, it has an inviting, cozy touch. This is a fantastic fruity vodka martini for autumn and holiday dinner parties.

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25 of 25

Wedding Cake Cocktail

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Your summer celebrations deserve a unique cocktail, and few will surprise everyone who drinks it like the wedding cake cocktail. The recipe mixes gin, amaretto, and orange and pineapple juices into a creamy frozen cocktail. It's best described as a tropical gin smoothie, and it's sure to be a new favorite.

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