If you’re looking for some of the all-time best Frangelico cocktail recipes, you’ve come to the right place!
Whether you have a sweet tooth and love decadent cocktails or you prefer your drinks on the lighter, drier side of the spectrum, these Frangelico cocktails are easy to make, beyond delicious, and always please a crowd.
What Is Frangelico?
Frangelico is a sweet Italian liqueur made with hazelnuts, cocoa, and vanilla berries that first entered the market in 1978.
Many can spot Frangelico from a mile away thanks to its super distinctive bottle that’s shaped like a monk’s habit. (It even has a little white rope belt around its waist to complete the look!) The name and bottle shape are both a reference to Fra’ Angelico, a hermit monk who created unique liqueurs in 18th century Northern Italy.
Frangelico sits at just 20% ABV, so it’s on the lighter side of the spectrum as far as sweet liqueurs go. As far as price, a 750ml bottle of Frangelico costs around $30 in the States depending on where you live, and you can easily find it at any local liquor store or online.
It’s the most well-known nut liqueur brand on the market, and for good reason — it’s really tasty for a great price!
What Does Frangelico Taste Like?
Frangelico pours a light amber color and has aromas of sweet roasted hazelnuts with a hint of mocha.
It has a smooth and lightly syrupy texture, which makes it great for drizzling on top of ice cream!
When you take a sip, it tastes a LOT like it smells. You’ll get strong notes of sweet roasted hazelnuts, mocha, vanilla bean, and a little bit of citrus.
The finish is clean with a nutty sweetness that lingers pleasantly on the palate.
Substitutes for Frangelico
The best substitutes for Frangelico are other nut liqueurs, and the following are what I would recommend!
Disaronno: Tastewise, the number one substitute for Frangelico is Disaronno Amaretto, which is an Italian almond liqueur. Disaronno is a little bit darker and stronger than Frangelico at 28% ABV, but it has very similar nutty and sweet flavors.
(PS: If you love Disaronno, I have a roundup of my favorite easy Disaronno cocktails here!)
Nocello: Another great substitute for Frangelico is the Italian walnut liqueur Nocello. Nocello is also a bit darker and stronger than Frangelico and has a more bitter finish, but it’s still sweet and nutty with notes of vanilla and chocolate.
Aside from the above substitutes, you should be able to find other hazelnut-flavored liqueurs at your local liquor store from big brands like DeKuyper.
What Can You Mix With Frangelico?
While Frangelico is delicious on its own straight up or on the rocks, it’s also a super versatile cocktail ingredient!
Thanks to its hazelnut flavor, Frangelico goes with pretty much any mixer that pairs well with nuts, as well as most hard liquors. Some popular mixers used with Frangelico are the following:
- Coffee/Coffee Liqueurs (like Kahlua)
- Irish Cream Liqueurs (like Baileys Irish Cream)
- Fruit Liqueurs (like Chambord)
- Chocolate Liqueurs/Hot Chocolate
- Milk/Cream
- Ice Cream
This is just to name a few mixers that go well with Frangelico, and often several of the above mixers will be in a cocktail recipe. For specific recipes and more pairing inspiration, read on!
20 Easy & Delicious Frangelico Cocktails
Hazelnut Frangelico Sour Cocktail Recipe
Starting off, we have a simple but delicious Frangelico Sour! Ingredients are just Frangelico, egg white, and lime juice. Shake them all up together and you have a lightly sweet, tart, and incredibly drinkable sour!
Hazelnut Bourbon Sour with an Isla Twist
Here's another more unique take on the Frangelico Sour! It has all of the same ingredients as the above recipe, but adds in bourbon plus two other fun twists that totally change the taste and smell of the drink.
The first is adding a sage leaf as a garnish for extra aromatics. Then, you put Scotch in a spray bottle and add a spritz or two to the final cocktail, which adds smokiness and nuance. It also uses Peychaud's bitters to add a pop of red.
Frangelico Espresso Martini
This cocktail is perfect for any coffee lovers in the room! It's equal parts Frangelico, espresso, Kahlua, and vodka.
While martini purists will insist this isn't an actual martini, which are just made with gin or vodka and vermouth, I'm perfectly fine with breaking the rules and this sounds incredibly tasty! (PS: on that note, prepare for more "martinis" on this list 😂) .
Zesty Frangelico and Lime Cocktail
While this cocktail might sound strange to some, it actually makes perfect sense! Citrus and nut flavors go together wonderfully in cocktails, and this is no exception. It's also only TWO ingredients!
All you need is lime juice and Frangelico. Shake them up together, pour it over ice, and you have a simple, refreshing cocktail.
Frangelico Old-Fashioned Cocktail
Who doesn't love a good riff on an Old Fashioned? If you're not familiar with the classic cocktail, it's made with sugar, bitters, and whiskey with an orange twist or cherry garnish.
This variation of an Old Fashioned uses Frangelico for sweetness instead of sugar, alongside whiskey, mole bitters, and Angostura bitters. Perfect for sipping next to a fire place when it's cold outside!
The Nutty Irishman Cocktail
Here's a warm, festive Frangelico cocktail that I love making in the winter! It's basically an Irish coffee on steroids.
Ingredients are Irish whiskey, Frangelico, Baileys, Kahlua, coffee, and whipped cream. So it's super decadent and creamy with strong notes of nuts and coffee. YUM.
Toblerone Cocktail
Here's another decadent cocktail that tastes just like a Toblerone chocolate bar. Ingredients are Frangelico, Kahlua, Baileys, honey, and double cream.
Garnish with chocolate sauce around the rim for a delicious and creative dessert cocktail!
Nutcracker Martini
While we're on the subject of decadent cocktails, this one is beyond tasty and perfect for the holidays! All you need to make it is Frangelico, Rumchata, vanilla vodka, and chocolate liqueur.
This drink proves you can have your cake and drink it too!
Hazelnut Hot Toddy
If you love Hot Toddies and hazelnut, this recipe is truly the best of both worlds! The base of the cocktail, which makes four servings, is a half cup each of Frangelico and bourbon. From there, you just need pantry staples like water, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
Roasted Apple Cider
Here's another hot cocktail made with Frangelico that's perfect for cold weather! Just the name alone makes me need a glass (or two) STAT.
OH and did I mention it's only three ingredients aside from spices!? All you need is Frangelico, rye whiskey, and apple cider. Simple fall perfection.
Frangelico Chocolate Birthday Cake Shot
I know this is technically a shot instead of a cocktail, but it's SO good and unexpected that I had to include it. Trust me when I say this shot will blow your mind. First off, there's actually no chocolate or chocolate flavoring in it, but it tastes exactly like a german chocolate cake.
Somehow it achieves this flavor with only Frangelico, vanilla vodka, and lemon. If you don't believe me, try it yourself and you're welcome in advance.
Frangelico Hot Chocolate
On the subject of chocolate, this is the easiest AND best Frangelico hot chocolate recipe I've ever had. You just need a packet of your favorite instant hot chocolate, milk of your choice, and Frangelico. Top it all off with some whipped cream for the ultimate winter or holiday treat! It doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious, people!
Satin Angel Drink Recipe
This cocktail is a very loose riff on a White Russian, which is a classic cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream. This variation subs out the coffee liqueur for Frangelico and ditches the vodka for a much lighter but equally decadent cocktail.
Hazelnut Hot Buttered Rum
If you've never had hot buttered rum before, it's exactly what it sounds like: a cocktail with rum and butter that's served hot. Sounds weird, tastes amazing.
Aside from dark rum and butter, you just need Frangelico, cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Such a fun alternative to mulled wine or spiked hot chocolate!
Eggnog Cocktail with Frangelico
Here's another deliciously decadent cocktail for the holidays! It's essentially a dolled up version of eggnog made with Frangelico, coffee, hazelnut coffee syrup, vodka, and pre-made eggnog. So it's as easy to make as it is tasty and wouldn't add any extra stress to your plate during the holiday season!
Frangelico Mojito
A mojito with Frangelico might sound strange, but I swear it works! The Frangelico adds a little bit of sweetness and goes so well with the mint and lime. The only other two ingredients needed are rum and soda water. Simple, refreshing, and a fun twist on a classic!
Lemon-Hazelnut Spritz
Champagne and Frangelico is another unexpected combination that has no right being as good as it is! The only 3 ingredients you need to make it are Frangelico, sparkling wine, and a twist of lemon. Would be perfect for New Years or if you just want to add a little extra something to your bubbles!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Martini
A drinkable version of a PB&J is everything I ever dreamed of in my adult life. And the best part is you only need 3 ingredients to make this glass of pure happiness! Shake up Frangelico, Chambord, and Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey in a shaker with ice, pour, and serve with a tiny PB&J garnish if you're feeling extra festive.
Heavenly Frangelico Shake
This drinkable boozy dessert is such a great after dinner treat! Ingredients are Frangelico, ice cream, creme de cacao, milk, chocolate syrup, and of course whipped cream. You genuinely can never go wrong with Frangelico and ice cream, so you know this cocktail is beyond delish.
Bellissimo Frangelico Cocktail
This cocktail is made up of exclusively Italian liqueurs and is a riff on a Negroni. It's made with Frangelico, Campari, Limoncello, and lemon juice. So it's going to have a super unique flavor that's a little bitter, nutty, and citrusy all at once.
And that’s all, folks! Which of these Frangelico cocktails is calling your name? Now that it’s getting chilly in North Carolina, I’m excited for ALL the hot cocktails and will definitely be making a batch of the Nutty Irishman. YUMMMM.
If you have a fave cocktail recipe with Frangelico, please let me know in the comment section below so I can give it a try 🙂