Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini
Sweet, tart and fruity, this Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini is a tasty way to brighten up your spring. It even looks cheery!
I usually think of the holidays as the most fun time for martinis. I mean, how do you beat a Candy Cane Martini or a sweet-spicy Gingerbread Martini–sipped in front of a roaring fire!
But truly, a special martini—such as this Raspberry Lemon Drop—can be welcome all year round.
Of course, it’s extra nice when you need a touch of spring. Which I did this week after we got hit with a near record (almost 3-foot) snowfall. Yes, after days of making do…. plows getting stuck, work-around hand shoveling and lack of fresh greens, I was ready for a drink.
And this Raspberry Lemon Drop cocktail came to the rescue. With sweet fruitiness from the raspberries, balanced tartness from the lemon, and just enough booze to relax and soothe the sore muscles, it was perfect. And I think it would be equally at home as an Easter cocktail or Mother’s Day drink.
Who could use a little more pink in their life!
Why You’ll Love This!
Flavorful. Sweet-tart and fruity, this Raspberry Lemon Drop is like a taste of spring!
Easy. Just simmer sugar, water and (likely frozen) raspberries, strain, cool, then shake with a little booze and ice.
Fun. How do you beat a rosy-pink cocktail for a celebration or pick-me-up!
Step by Step Overview
Make the raspberry syrup:
Add water and sugar to a saucepan on high heat and stir until sugar is dissolved.
Add raspberries. Bring to a boil, then simmer until fruit is very soft and shapeless, about 10-15 minutes.
Strain liquid into a storage container. You can stir the pulp to release juice but don’t press on it. Reserve pulp for yogurt or baking if desired.
Refrigerate until used.
Make the cocktail:
Add ice, then the cocktail ingredients to a shaker.
Shake then pour into a martini or other glass.
Variations
Because my liquor cabinet is growing out of control, I am sympathetic to not wanting to buy a new bottle of… fill in the blank. So I’ve provided substitutes for the Cointreau and Limoncello in the recipe
I haven’t actually tested all of these (a person can only drink so many martinis in a week) but I’m confident that the substitutions will get you pretty close to the original.
If you’d prefer to do a Raspberry Lemon Drop Mocktail, mix the Raspberry Syrup and Lemon Juice then top with fizzy water or white soda.
Now I admit that I really didn’t need to do a whole new recipe to get a fun fruity martini. The blog already has a few including a Watermelon Martini, Key Lime Martini, Orange Cranberry Martini (aka Cosmo), and Limoncello Martini shown clockwise below. But I think there’s always room for one more!
On Adding Cointreau
Cointreau (or Grand Marnier or Triple Sec) is not a usual ingredient in most Raspberry Lemon Drop Recipes. But I tested the drink with and without and it was clearly better with.
Popular in drinks from Margaritas to Cosmopolitans (aka Cosmos), I feel a little orange helps mellow and blend flavors. And perhaps more importantly, the sweetness helps counter the bitterness from the lemon.
So I decided to include it in my version, though I do offer substitution guidelines in the recipe.
Tips & FAQs
You can make the raspberry syrup a day or two ahead to streamline your preparations.
A pretty martini glass is always fun to serve in. I regularly check resale shops and TJ Maxx for options that don’t break the bank.
Save the strained fruit pulp to blend in smoothies or stir into yogurt. It should keep 2-3 days, and I can attest it’s delicious!
Recipes in Pastel for Spring
- Chocolate Dipped Peeps from Creative Cynchronicity
- Lemon Posset from Jen Around the World
- Peeps Rocky Road Oatmeal Blondies from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Raspberry Lemon Drop from Art of Natural Living
- Rose Milk Gelatin from That Recipe
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Raspberry Lemon Drop
Ingredients
Raspberry syrup (you may substitute a good commercial raspberry syrup):
- ½ cup sugar (or ¾ cup allulose for sugar free—other sweeteners may crystalize)
- ½ cup water
- 8-10 ounces raspberries (may be frozen)
Martini:
- ½ ounce Cointreau or Grand Marnier or Triple Sed (may sub 1 T simple syrup--see note, with 1 T vodka)
- ½ ounce Vodka
- ½ ounce Limoncello may sub 1 T lemon juice with 1 T vodka
- 2 ounces raspberry syrup
- 1 ounce lemon juice
Instructions
Make the raspberry syrup:
- Add water and sugar to a saucepan on high heat and stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Add raspberries. Bring to a boil, then simmer until fruit is very soft and shapeless, about 10-15 minutes.
- Strain liquid into a storage container. You can stir the pulp to release juice but don't press on it. Reserve pulp for yogurt or baking if desired.
- Refrigerate until needed.
Make the cocktail:
- Add ice, then the cocktail ingredients to a shaker.
- Shake then pour into a martini or other glass.
These are so pretty! And I love making my own simple syrup for drinks. The combo of citrus liqueurs with the simple syrup sounds delicious.
Thanks Christie!
What is not to love about this? While I really dislike the traditional gin or vodka martini, flavored ones like this are fabulous. And the color is so beautiful, too! Saving this to make for a summer dinner with friends.
I agree, David, sweet martinis are the best!