31 Recipes to Make with a Splash of Liquor
Updated: Jan. 14, 2022
Cleaning our your liquor cabinet? These flavorful recipes will put the leftovers to good use.
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Brownie Bourbon Bites
Chocolate and chopped pecans flavor these simple, spirited treats. Make a double batch so you can give some as gifts and savor the rest!—Paula Kirchenbauer, Newton, New JerseyLiquor: 1/4 cup bourbon
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Penne alla Vodka
This easy and impressive pasta is always on the menu when my husband and I invite first-time guests over for dinner. Many friends have asked me to make the recipe again years after they first tried it. —Cara Langer, Overland Park, KansasLiquor: 1/4 cup vodka
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Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie
When my fiance first made this chocolate bourbon pecan pie for me, I declared it to be the best pie ever! Creamy chocolate combines with crunchy nuts in a great, gooey filling. We can't get enough of this recipe inspired by Kentucky Derby bourbon chocolate pecan pie. —Tanya Taylor, Cary, North CarolinaLiquor: 1/4 cup bourbon
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Bloody Mary Soup with Beans
I love a good Bloody Mary, which inspired this recipe. The soup packs a spicy punch, and it'll warm you right up on a chilly day. —Amber Massey, Argyle, TexasLiquor: 1/4 cup vodka
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Pork Medallions with Brandy Cream Sauce
I adapted this easy, elegant main dish from a recipe my mother-in-law cooked for our family. Cayenne lends a bit of heat to its rich, creamy sauce. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, LouisianaLiquor: 1/4 cup brandy
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Tequila-Lime Fruit Salad
Looking for a fast, colorful side to round out any meal? This refreshing fruit salad is pure perfection! —Angela Howland, Haynesville, MaineLiquor: 3 tablespoons tequila
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Bagel Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
I worked in a health club where bagels arrived daily, so I experimented with leftovers. I wasn’t a bread pudding fan until I tried it with bagels. —Kathy Hawkins, Gurnee, IllinoisLiquor: 2 tablespoons bourbon
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Chicken & Garlic with Fresh Herbs
The key to this savory chicken is the combination of garlic, fresh rosemary and thyme. I like to serve it with mashed potatoes or crusty Italian bread. —Jan Valdez, Lombard, IllinoisLiquor: 2 tablespoons brandy
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Bourbon Pumpkin Tart with Walnut Streusel
Because my husband loves pumpkin pie, I've looked high and low for that "perfect" recipe. But as soon as he tasted this tart, he told me to stop searching, declaring this the best he's ever tried! —Brenda Ryan, Marshall, MissouriLiquor: 1/4 cup bourbon
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Brandy-Glazed Carrots
Carrots sport a light brandy sauce for a beautiful side with mass appeal. —Tammy Landry, Saucier, MississippiLiquor: 1/4 cup brandy
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Gentleman's Whiskey Bacon Jam
You can slather this smoky bacon jam on pretty much anything. It lasts only a week in the fridge, so I freeze small amounts for a quick snack with crackers. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, VirginiaLiquor: 1/2 cup whiskey
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Pork Chops with Mushroom Bourbon Sauce
The golden crusted pork chops are accompanied with a rich mushroom sauce. This scrumptious entree is loved by my family and makes a terrific company dish. This is wonderful served with mashed potatoes. —Nadine Mesch, Mount Healthy, OhioLiquor: 2 tablespoons bourbon
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Glazed Spiced Rum Pound Cakes
My recipe makes two loaf-sized treats, perfect for sharing. The spiced rum flavor really comes through in both the cake and the glaze. —Christine Russell, Littleton, New HampshireLiquor: 1/3 cup + 2 teaspoons spiced rum
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Barley Risotto and Beef Stroganoff
I was missing my Russian grandma's barley porridge and beef stroganoff, so I combined the two dishes. Cook the barley using the risotto method to keep the grains whole and irresistibly chewy. —Tatiana Kireeva, New York, New YorkLiquor: 3 tablespoons Cognac or brandy
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Roasted Banana & Pecan Cheesecake
We always keep bananas on hand, but with just two of us in the house, they usually ripen faster than we can eat them. That makes them perfect for roasting and baking into this cheesecake with a nutty crust. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, PennsylvaniaLiquor: 2 tablespoons spiced rum
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Liquor:Â 1/4 cup brandy
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Bourbon Barbecue Chicken Tacos
I wanted to try a different take on taco night and decided on a barbecue theme. Even my father enjoyed this meal, and he doesn’t usually care for tacos. —LaDale Hymer, Cleveland, OklahomaLiquor: 3 tablespoons bourbon
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Warm Cabbage, Fennel and Pear Salad
This crunchy salad makes an elegant first course or side, but it's hearty enough to be an entree when paired with a crusty artisan bread. We love it served warm. —Grace Voltolina, Westport, ConnecticutLiquor: 1/4 cup brandy or Cognac
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Bourbon Candied Bacon Deviled Eggs
At our house, it doesn’t get any better than deviled eggs with bacon—bourbon candied bacon, that is. See if you can resist them. We can’t. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, VirginiaLiquor: 2 teaspoons bourbon
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No-Bake Chocolate-Pecan Tartlets
At the last minute, I frantically came up with this treat for a holiday tea. The tartlets were quickly gobbled up. Now, I make them for our annual Teacher Taster's Choice and special family gatherings. —Joy Johnson, Culbertson, MontanaLiquor: 1 tablespoon spiced rum
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Chicken Thighs with Tomato-Vodka Sauce
I originally invented this scrumptious dish to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday, and it has since become a quick and easy family favorite. —Karen Kuebler, Dallas, TexasLiquor: 1/4 cup vodka
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Liquor:Â 1/3 cup spiced rum or Amaretto
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Coconut-Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
What is it about sweet potatoes that unnerve some people? For those who firmly state they hate a yam because of the color or texture, the rich addition of coconut, bourbon and spices might just win them over. —Rebecca Anderson, Driftwood, TexasLiquor: 1/2 cup bourbon
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Carrot Soup with Orange & Tarragon
A pretty orange color, a delicious hint of citrus and a garden-fresh flavor make this soup a requested dish at my many celebrations. Try sprinkling individual bowls with fresh tarragon before serving. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, KansasLiquor: 2 tablespoons brandy
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Brandied Apricot Tart
Canned apricots make this golden, buttery tart a wonderful option any time of year. I brush them with preserves and brandy, then sprinkle on almonds for a bit of crunch. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, ArizonaLiquor: 2 tablespoons apricot brandy
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Bourbon Ham Balls
Grandma Nette was the queen of ham ball recipes. I make them salty-sweet with a bourbon and vinegar kick. Serve them alone, in a sandwich or over pasta or rice. —Kimla Carsten, Grand Junction, ColoradoLiquor: 1/2 cup bourbon
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Browned Butter Spice Cookies
If you like spice cake, you’ll love this recipe! Browned butter, dark chocolate and a splash of rum produce an unconventional spice cookie that’s guaranteed to please. —Kristin Kenney, Newport Beach, CaliforniaLiquor: 1 tablespoon spiced rum
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Marinated Steak & Pepper Fajitas
These fajitas are the best, and a much healthier version of the typically pan-fried ones you find in restaurants. I like to serve them in flatbreads instead of tortillas. —Erin Michniacki, Manhattan, KansasLiquor: 1/2 cup tequila
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Bourbon-Glazed Ham
Smoky and sweet flavors come through in every bite of this Kentucky-style ham. Since I found this recipe, it’s the only ham I make. —Sue Schiller, Tomahawk, WisconsinLiquor: 3/4 cup bourbon
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Apple Brandy Cheesecake
If you like apple pie, you will also enjoy this cheesecake. Bits of apple are scattered throughout the filling and a cinnamon-brown sugar streusel is a delightful topping to this impressive dessert.—Marian Platt, Sequim, WashingtonLiquor: 1/4 cup apple brandy or brandy
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Maple-Glazed Green Beans
After I picked my first green beans of the season one year, I wanted to make a savory side dish that was unique, quick and packed with flavor. I loved this so much I couldn't stop eating it. The next day I picked more beans and made this delicious side dish again. —Merry Graham, Newhall, CaliforniaLiquor: 1 tablespoon bourbon
Originally Published: August 30, 2018
