Pink Squirrel Cocktail

This recipe for a Pink Squirrel is a retro cocktail made with vanilla ice cream, Crème de Cacao, and Crème de Almond. Garnished with a maraschino cherry and whipped cream it’s the cocktail that drinks like dessert!

It seems these days if you label it “vintage” it’s worth twenty times more than it was when it was brand new.  Some people have a knack for incorporating retro and antique furniture into their modern-day homes. I am not that person.

I do love old music and old movies though. The Rat Pack stuff tops the list. One of my favorite movies of all time is “Same Time Next Year.”  Have you watched it? It’s a great movie with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn. They meet by chance and do so every year in the same place at the same time.  Or how about the series “Mad Men?”  I loved  Don & Betty Draper — they pretty much always had a drink in their hand, didn’t they?  Those old classic cocktails.  Manhattans in the office, Dirty Martinis at lunch.

Pink Squirrel

Rich creamy vanilla ice cream mixed with nutty creme de almond and creme de cacao come together for a funky adult drink that dates back to the 1940s.  Since everything old is new again, I thought you’d appreciate this pink and indulgent drink as Valentine’s Day approaches. 

Pink Squirrel Drink

Perfect for your next girls’ get-together, bridal shower, Valentine’s Day celebration, or any time you need a bit of a pick-me-up, this pink squirrel drink fits the bill. Slightly sweet, refreshing, and with a touch of chocolate, and a bright pink color, this cocktail is a nice change of pace.

Though not as popular as it once was, you should be able to find all the ingredients listed here for the original recipe but you can find the list of substitutions below. It won’t taste exactly like the original but you’ll get a pretty close match. 

If you love this pink squirrel cocktail recipe, you are sure to love these dessert cocktail recipes too: Grasshopper Cocktail, Dirty Shirley Floats, or Dreamsicle Martini.

Pink Squirrel Cocktail

Dating back to the 1940s, this cocktail was developed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by a man named Bryant Sharp. A refreshing indulgence, named for its bright color, the pink squirrel was often served as an after-dinner drink. 

So the next time you’ve got a special event or it’s one of those hot summer evenings, pull out the cocktail shaker and whip up a batch for a tasty boozy milkshake. You can easily double or triple the recipe if you are serving a few people. 

Ingredients for this pink squirrel drink recipe

For complete ingredients and instructions scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe. 

• Crème de Almond:  Or use crème de noyaux. 
• White Crème de Cacao: White creme de cacao adds a chocolate flavor. Or sub another chocolate liquor if you can’t find it.
• Vanilla ice cream: Use your favorite vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt. 

For garnish:

Garnishing is optional but takes it over the top!

• Maraschino cherries: Use canned maraschino cherries for a pop of color. 
• Whipped cream: You can use a spray can of whipping cream or whip the cream yourself. 

How to make this pink squirrel recipe

This pink squirrel drink recipe comes together quickly and easily. 

Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Pour into a glass and drink it as is.

Or garnish with whipped cream and a cherry on top before serving.

Store leftovers of this ice cream cocktail in a mason jar in the freezer. You can refrigerate it but it’ll melt and get quite thin. Add it to the blender once again before drinking. (or eat it with a spoon!)

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this pink squirrel drink with ice cream, make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Are crème de almond and crème de noyaux the same?

No, crème de almond and crème de noyaux are not the same, although they share some similarities. Both are flavored liqueurs, but they get their flavors from different ingredients.

Both liqueurs have almond flavor, but the difference is the source of the almond flavoring. Crème de almond flavoring comes from almond extract or essential oil, and crème de noyaux gets its flavor from the bitter almonds found in stone fruit pits. The distinct color of crème de noyaux is also a noticeable difference.

FAQs about this pink squirrel ice cream drink

• What is a pink squirrel drink made of? A Pink Squirrel is made by combining ice cream, Crème de Cacao, and an almond-flavored liqueur and blending it into a thick creamy drink. 

• What is the pink squirrel drink on Roseanne? The Pink Squirrel cocktail recipe on Roseanne is made with the following: 1 oz Creme de Noyaux, 1 oz Creme de Cacao, and 1 oz Heavy Cream and ice. 

• What is a substitute for creme de noyaux? If you haven’t got any creme de noyaux on hand you can use amaretto or grenadine. Or you can use a combination of amaretto and pomegranate juice to get the red color.             

• Where was the pink squirrel invented? The pink squirrel was invented in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1941 by Bryant Sharp at Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge. 

• How many calories are in a pink squirrel drink? Depending on the ingredients you use and how you garnish it, a pink squirrel can be anywhere from 250-500 calories.

Substitutions

Remember that when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, you don’t need to be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Make it your own!

• To lighten up the drink, use heavy cream instead of ice cream. You won’t get an ice cream drink but it will still be creamy and delicious.  

• Use almond liqueur if you can’t find the creme de almonde. 

• Can’t find crème de cacao? Use another chocolate liqueur in its place.

Tips & Tricks

• Place your cocktail glasses in the fridge or freezer while you prepare the pink squirrel so they are nice and cold. 

• For a deeper pink color, add a drop of food coloring or add some of the maraschino cherry juice or grenadine to pink it up.

• Serve in a martini glass for more of a classic cocktail feel. 

More Recipes to Love

• Kentucky Mule

• Dirty Vodka Martini

• Pumpkin White Russian Cocktail (pictured above)

• Frozen Vodka Slush

• Rose Sangria

• Brandy Alexander

See ALL of my Cocktail Recipes

This Pink Squirrel is a tasty drink; a true adult milkshake. The combination of ice cream, chocolate, and almond flavors will satisfy any sweet tooth. 

This recipe was originally posted on January 18, 2018. It has been updated to improve user experience and reshared on February 2, 2024.