Royal Citrus Mojito

Mojito’s are such a classic cocktail and they are actually my favourite one to create, so it is always harder thinking of fun variations that haven’t been attempted before. This one is quite sharp, so if you’re sweet toothed (like me) it might not be for you!

What you’ll need:

• Sugar
• Lime Juice
• Lime wedge
• Rum
• Lemon vodka
• Prosecco
• Ice
• Cocktail mixer
• Shot measure
• Jam Jars

How to create them:

1. Place 2 spoons of sugar into the glass and add the squeeze a lime wedge, stir.
2. Put 1 shot of lime juice, 1 shot of lemon vodka and 2 shots of rum into the cocktail mixer and shake.
3. Pour the mix into the glass and give everything a stir. Fill the jam jar to the top with cubed ice.
4. Pour the prosecco over the ice and enjoy!

Salted Caramel Dessert Cocktail

This cocktail is slightly more specialist as the main ingredient isn’t something which is available everywhere. I got mine from Hotel Chocolat but a similar salted caramel vodka would also work.

This recipe makes two cocktails.

What you’ll need:

• Salted Caramel Cocoa Vodka
• Vanilla Vodka
• White chocolate chunks
• Milk
• Cocktail mixer
• Shot measure
• Dessert glasses

How to create them:

1. Melt 30g of white chocolate chunks with a splash of milk in a microwave for 10-20 seconds.
2. Take the stem of the glass and gently dip the rim into the white chocolate mix until the whole rim is coated.
3. Add two shots of the salted caramel cocoa vodka and two shots of the vanilla vodka to the cocktail mixer. Pour in the rest of the melted white chocolate and shake vigorously.
4. Pour the mixture in the dessert glass and enjoy!

Haribo Fizz

Who doesn’t love Haribo Tangfastics? I’m a huge fan and thought what better way to enjoy them than in a boozy cocktail? Hence the Haribo fizz.

I went with the cherries but you can make this cocktail with any of the sweets in the mix, the trick is to make sure they have soaked in the vodka long enough to give it the Haribo flavour.

These are a great cocktail for when you’re looking for something fun and playful for a catch up or dinner party.

What you’ll need:

• Vodka
• Prosecco
• Haribo Tangfastics
• Sugar
• Gomme (sugar syrup)
• Blue curacao
• Cocktail mixer
• Shot measure
• Martini glasses

How to create them:

1. Pour half a bottle of vodka into a sealable container and add a packet of the Tangfastic cherries, give a stir and let sit for minimum 3 hours.
2. After the 3 hours are up, strain the vodka back into the container minus the cherries, and leave to one side until you’re ready to use. For 2 cocktails, you will only need four shots of vodka.
3. Pour the gomme onto a plate and gently dip the rim of the martini glass into the mixture. If you do not have gomme, you can use water it will just be harder to stick the sugar.
4. Pour sugar onto a plate and gently tap the edge of the martini glass into the rim of the sugar, swirl the glass around until the whole rim of the martini glass has a sugar coat.
5. Add the soaked cherries into the martini glass.
6. Place the vodka and 2 shots of blue curacao into the cocktail mixer and give it a good shake.
7. Pour into the haribo filled martini glasses and top with prosecco until full.
8. Enjoy!

Garden Gin

So my boyfriend Greg is the biggest fan of gin and is always challenging me to come up with new and quirky ideas. As he is a chef he gave me some garden herbs to see what I could create and voila the Garden Gin was born.

What you’ll need (makes 2):

• 2 sprigs of parsley
• 2 sprigs of Sage
• 2 sprigs of Rosemary
• 4 shots of gin (I like to use Hendricks or Bombay Sapphire)
• 2 small bottles of tonic water
• Ice
• Cocktail mixer
• Shot measure
• Jam Jars

How to create it:

1. Fill the jam jar with cubed or crushed ice and set to one side.
2. In the cocktail mixer add the gin, then rub the sprigs of herbs between your hands to release the essence of them. Add these into the cocktail mixer and give it all a good shake.
3. Once shaken take the herbs out of the cocktail mix and place to one side.
4. Pour the rest of the mixture into the jam jar and top up with tonic.
5. Add the sprigs into the glass as decoration.
6. Enjoy!

Chocolate and Banana shake with a twist

This one takes me back to my childhood (minus the alcohol!) Chocolate and banana milkshakes have always been a favourite for my sister and I when we were on holiday, so I thought it would be fun to recreate them with a boozy twist!

This recipe makes two cocktails.

What you’ll need:

• Banana Liqueur
• 60g Chocolate Chunks
• Milk
• Biscuits
• Cocktail mixer
• Shot measure
• Martini glasses

How to create them:

• Melt 60g of chocolate chunks with a splash of milk in a microwave for 10-20 seconds.
• Take the stem of the glass and gently dip the rim into the chocolate mix until the whole rim is coated. Take a spoonful of the chocolate mixture and gently swirl around the glass to coat it in a layer of chocolate.
• Add four shots of banana liqueur to the cocktail mixer. Pour in the rest of the melted chocolate in and shake vigorously.
• Pour the mixture in the martini glasses and crumble the biscuit on top.
• Enjoy!

Indulgent Brownies with Lotus Biscoff

This recipe is perfect for those days when you feel like treating yourself, I like to eat healthy don’t get me wrong but I also have a massive sweet tooth and this is the perfect recipe for when you feel like really indulging.

Featuring Lotus Biscoff spread (best spread in the world if you ask me), the brownies are decadent and fudgy with just the right amount of biscuit spread. Plus they are pretty damn easy to make, what more could you ask for!

What you’ll need:

100g white caster sugar

200g brown sugar

100g butter (softened)

4 eggs

2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

120g plain flour

200g Lotus Biscoff spread (I like crunchy for texture)

15g cocoa powder

150g chocolate chips

How to create them:

1.       Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking dish with parchment paper.

2.       Place the white and brown sugar into a mixing bowl and set aside.

3.       In a microwave proof bowl melt the chocolate chips and the butter together. Once melted and combined pour the melted chocolate mixture in with the sugars. Mix to combine.

4.       Once mixed add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix.

5.       Add 60g of flour into the mix and combine. Once fully mixed, add the remaining flour and mix until combine.

.       Pour half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Melt the Biscoff spread in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. Pour half of the spread into the batter mix in the pan and use a butter knife to mix the spread into the batter.

7.     Add the remaining brownie batter into the pan, then repeat the same step with the rest of the spread, adding dollops and swirling into the mix.

 Bake the brownies for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Qcumber Gin Cocktail

I love going to food shows as they give me the chance to see food and drink products that aren’t always available at your local supermarket. One of my favourite finds was Qcumber water which I found at the BBC Good Food Show a couple of years ago.

There are so many types of water available now but I have to say this one is very refreshing. I decided to play around with it and see what else I could add in to make it more exciting, a splash of gin turned out to be one of the best combinations and now you have the Qcumber gin cocktail.

This recipe makes one cocktail. The Qcumber water is available in Ocado.

What you’ll need:

·         Gin

·         Qcumber water

·         Cucumber

·         Ice

·         Shot measure

·         Jam Jars

How to create it:

1.       Fill a jam jar to the top with ice and set aside.

2.       Cut cucumber into chunks and add into the jam jar.

3.       Add two shots of gin into the jam jar and top with the Qcumber water.

4.       Give everything a stir and enjoy!