This Butterfinger martini tastes just like the candy bar you used to dig out of your trick-or-treat bag first. Vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and a splash of amaretto shake into a creamy, chocolatey dessert cocktail with that salty-sweet peanut-butter-crunch flavor. A crushed Butterfinger rim seals the deal. If you want an easy Halloween cocktail that doubles as dessert, this is the one.
A Butterfinger martini is a creamy dessert cocktail made with vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and amaretto, served in a glass rimmed with chocolate syrup and crushed Butterfinger candy. This recipe is for anyone hosting a Halloween party, a fall happy hour, or looking for a fun after-dinner drink. It takes about 5 minutes with a cocktail shaker and includes a big-batch method for 8 servings. What makes this version different is the amaretto: its toasty, nutty flavor fills in the peanut-butter note most Butterfinger martini recipes miss.
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You'll love this Butterfinger Martini
It actually tastes like a Butterfinger. Butterscotch gives you that caramelized, crispy-center flavor, chocolate liqueur covers the outside, and amaretto brings the nutty peanut-butter note. Sip it with the crushed candy rim, and it's eerily close to the real thing.
It's dessert and a drink in one glass. You don't need to bake anything for your Halloween party. Pass a tray of these after dinner, and everyone is happy.
It uses up leftover Halloween candy. A few fun-size Butterfingers are all you need for the rim. It's the best excuse I know to raid the candy bowl.
Ingredients
Vanilla Vodka. Vanilla vodka adds warmth and sweetness without any extra sugar. Smirnoff Vanilla and Absolut Vanilla are both easy to find and work great here.
Chocolate Liqueur. This is your chocolate candy shell. I like Godiva Chocolate Liqueur because it's rich and creamy. If you only have a clear crème de cacao, that works too, but the drink will be a little lighter in color and flavor.
Butterscotch Schnapps. Butterscotch is the secret to that crispy, toffee-like Butterfinger center. DeKuyper ButterShots is the most common bottle, and you'll find it at almost any liquor store.
Irish Cream. Irish cream makes the drink smooth and creamy and ties all the flavors together. Baileys is the classic pick and the one I use.
Amaretto. Amaretto is an almond liqueur, and its toasty, nutty flavor is what gives this martini its peanut butter taste. Disaronno is my go-to. Don't skip it, because it's what makes this taste like a Butterfinger instead of just a chocolate martini.
Butterfinger candy bars. You'll crush these for the rim. Two fun-size bars are enough for two to three glasses.
Chocolate syrup. A little chocolate syrup on the rim helps the crushed candy stick. Hershey's syrup is perfect.
How to make a Butterfinger Martini
- Crush the candy. Place 2 fun-size Butterfingers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a mug. Pour the crumbs onto a small plate.
- Rim your glass. Pour a little chocolate syrup onto a second plate. Dip the rim of a chilled martini glass into the syrup, then into the crushed Butterfinger.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and amaretto.
- Shake hard for about 15 to 20 seconds, until the shaker feels very cold and the drink looks frothy.
- Strain into your rimmed glass.
- Top with a pinch of extra crushed Butterfinger and serve right away.
Why I shake this one so long: creamy cocktails need a little extra time in the shaker. A hard, long shake chills the Irish cream and whips in tiny air bubbles, so you get a silky, frothy top instead of a flat, heavy drink.
NOTE: If you aren't adding a Butterfinger rim, I highly recommend adding a pinch of salt to the cocktail! The Butterfinger rim adds a slightly salty note, but without it, you'll miss the salty balance that complements the sweetness.
Substitutions and variations
Make it lighter. Swap the Irish cream for half-and-half or whole milk. You'll lose a little of the boozy depth, but it's still creamy and sweet.
Make it dairy-free. Use a dairy-free Irish cream like Baileys Almande, which is made with almond milk.
Serve it frozen. Blend the full recipe with a cup of ice and a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a boozy Butterfinger milkshake.
Garnish ideas
- A fun-size Butterfinger bar balanced across the rim
- A drizzle of chocolate syrup inside the glass before you pour
- A swirl of whipped cream topped with crushed Butterfinger
How to make a big batch of this Butterfinger martini
You can make 8 Butterfinger martinis at once by mixing the base in a pitcher ahead of time. Rim the glasses before guests arrive, then shake or pour as you go.
For 8 servings, stir together in a pitcher:
- 1 cup vanilla vodka
- 1 cup chocolate liqueur
- 1 cup Irish cream
- ½ cup butterscotch schnapps
- ½ cup amaretto
Chill the pitcher for at least 2 hours, or up to 1 day ahead. Keep it in the fridge since it contains cream, and don't add ice to the pitcher, since it will water the drink down as it sits.
Before guests arrive, rim all 8 glasses with chocolate syrup and crushed Butterfinger and line them up on a tray. You'll need about 8 to 10 fun-size bars for 8 glasses. The rims hold up well for an hour or two at room temperature.
When it's time to serve, give the pitcher a good stir, because the cream can settle. Shake each pour with ice for a few seconds for that frothy top, or pour straight from the cold pitcher if you're short on time.
Heads up for your guests: Butterfingers contain peanuts, and amaretto is almond-flavored. If anyone at your party has a nut allergy, let them know before you pour.
FAQs
What is in a Butterfinger martini?
A Butterfinger martini is made with vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and amaretto. Shake it with ice and serve in a martini glass rimmed with chocolate syrup and crushed Butterfinger candy.
What does a Butterfinger martini taste like?
A Butterfinger martini tastes like a creamy chocolate milkshake with butterscotch and a nutty, peanut-butter finish. It's sweet and rich, like the candy bar in drink form.
What alcohol tastes like a Butterfinger?
Butterscotch schnapps combined with chocolate liqueur tastes the most like a Butterfinger. Add amaretto or peanut butter whiskey to bring in the nutty, peanut-butter flavor that makes it taste like the candy bar.
Can you make a Butterfinger martini without butterscotch schnapps?
Yes, you can use butterscotch syrup or caramel liqueur instead. Use about ¼ ounce of butterscotch syrup, since it's sweeter and thicker than schnapps.
Can I use Baileys in a Butterfinger martini?
Yes, Baileys is the best Irish cream for a Butterfinger martini. Its chocolate and vanilla notes blend right in. Any Irish cream works, including flavored versions like Baileys Salted Caramel.
How long does a batched Butterfinger martini last in the fridge?
A batched Butterfinger martini lasts up to 1 day in the fridge. Because it contains Irish cream, keep it cold and stir well before serving, since the cream can separate as it sits.
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Want more Halloween cocktails?
Butterfinger Martini
This Butterfinger martini tastes just like the candy bar you used to dig out of your trick-or-treat bag first. Vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and a splash of amaretto shake into a creamy, chocolatey dessert cocktail with that salty-sweet peanut-butter-crunch flavor. A crushed Butterfinger rim seals the deal. If you want an easy Halloween cocktail that doubles as dessert, this is the one.
Ingredients
- ½ oz Irish Cream
- ¾ oz Butterscotch Schnapps
- ½ oz Chocolate Liqueur
- ¼ oz amaretto
- 1 oz vanilla vodka
Instructions
- Crush the candy. Place 2 fun-size Butterfingers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a mug. Pour the crumbs onto a small plate.
- Rim your glass. Pour a little chocolate syrup onto a second plate. Dip the rim of a chilled martini glass into the syrup, then into the crushed Butterfinger.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and amaretto.
- Shake hard for about 15 to 20 seconds, until the shaker feels very cold and the drink looks frothy.
- Strain into your rimmed glass.
- Top with a pinch of extra crushed Butterfinger and serve right away.
NOTE: If you aren’t adding a Butterfinger rim, I highly recommend adding a pinch of salt to the cocktail! The Butterfinger rim adds that slightly salty taste to the cocktail, but if you don’t have that, you’ll miss the crucial salty flavor that complements the sweetness!
Notes
Make it lighter. Swap the Irish cream for half-and-half or whole milk. You'll lose a little of the boozy depth, but it's still creamy and sweet.
Make it dairy-free. Use a dairy-free Irish cream like Baileys Almande, which is made with almond milk.
Serve it frozen. Blend the full recipe with a cup of ice and a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a boozy Butterfinger milkshake.
Garnish ideas
- A fun-size Butterfinger bar balanced across the rim
- A drizzle of chocolate syrup inside the glass before you pour
- A swirl of whipped cream topped with crushed Butterfinger
How to make a big batch of this Butterfinger martini
You can make 8 Butterfinger martinis at once by mixing the base in a pitcher ahead of time. Rim the glasses before guests arrive, then shake or pour as you go.
For 8 servings, stir together in a pitcher:
- 1 cup vanilla vodka
- 1 cup chocolate liqueur
- 1 cup Irish cream
- ½ cup butterscotch schnapps
- ½ cup amaretto
Chill the pitcher for at least 2 hours, or up to 1 day ahead. Keep it in the fridge since it contains cream, and don't add ice to the pitcher, since it will water the drink down as it sits.
Before guests arrive, rim all 8 glasses with chocolate syrup and crushed Butterfinger and line them up on a tray. You'll need about 8 to 10 fun-size bars for 8 glasses. The rims hold up well for an hour or two at room temperature.
When it's time to serve, give the pitcher a good stir, because the cream can settle. Shake each pour with ice for a few seconds for that frothy top, or pour straight from the cold pitcher if you're short on time.
Heads up for your guests: Butterfingers contain peanuts, and amaretto is almond-flavored. If anyone at your party has a nut allergy, let them know before you pour.
FAQs
What is in a Butterfinger martini?
A Butterfinger martini is made with vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, Irish cream, and amaretto. Shake it with ice and serve in a martini glass rimmed with chocolate syrup and crushed Butterfinger candy.
What does a Butterfinger martini taste like?
A Butterfinger martini tastes like a creamy chocolate milkshake with butterscotch and a nutty, peanut-butter finish. It's sweet and rich, like the candy bar in drink form.
What alcohol tastes like a Butterfinger?
Butterscotch schnapps combined with chocolate liqueur tastes the most like a Butterfinger. Add amaretto or peanut butter whiskey to bring in the nutty, peanut-butter flavor that makes it taste like the candy bar.
