This collection of recipes with advocaat as an ingredient at the heart of them proves that there is more to this tipple than just the Snowball cocktail. Advocaat liqueur can be used in a multitude of hot and cold drinks and it can also add a new dimension to desserts and sweet bakes.
Before we take a look at my growing collection of recipes with advocaat as the star ingredient, let’s delve into a key question: exactly what is advocaat?
What is advocaat?
Advocaat is a traditional Dutch liqueur made from eggs, sugar, and brandy. It has an unmissable bright yellow colour and a smooth & creamy, relatively thick custard-like consistency.
In the Netherlands extremely thick advocaat is used in a variety of ways:
- To top waffles or pancakes (poffertjes).
- As an ingredient for ice cream, custards, pastries and other desserts.
- As an apéritif.
- Or as a digestif – often topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder and a spoon to scoop it all up.
However, a less thick version is exported to the rest of the world.
Sometimes a few additional ingredients may be added to the base recipe, including honey, vanilla, cream or condensed milk. My favourite brand, Warninks, contains none of these extras, so it’s a great traditional version, which is why I always opt for it.
How to serve advocaat
Here are a handful of popular and exceedingly simple ways to enjoy advocaat:
- Chill the bottle and serve it neat in small glasses with a small spoon alongside to help scrape the glass clean.
- As above but with a cocktail cherry added to the glass and/ or a sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg on the top.
- On the rocks
And if you fancy a sweet nibble as you sip upon your glass of advocaat try pairing it with white chocolate, gingerbread cookies, florentine biscuits, cantucci or simple shortbread.
What does advocaat mean?
Advocaat not only applies to the drink but it is also the Dutch word for lawyer.
When used to denote the drink, it is actually the shortened version of the original name advocatenborrel, where borrel is Dutch for a small alcoholic beverage. So, essentially, advocatenborrel translation as lawyer’s drink.
What is the alcohol content of advocaat?
The alcohol content of advocaat varies depending on the brand. It can be as low as 14% ABV (alcohol by volume) or as high as 20% ABV. Warninks, comes in at 17.2% ABV.
Is advocaat the same as eggnog?
Although they may look similar, advocaat and eggnog are not the same drink at all. Eggnog is much less thick than advocaat as milk is included in the recipe. This drink is often whisked until frothy and it is served in larger measures too.
How should advocaat be stored?
Once opened, advocaat should be stored in the fridge. It will keep for up to 6 months, but don’t worry, with my plethora of recipes with advocaat, you’re unlikely to have it taking up fridge space for long.
Now, let’s get to those recipes.
Hot Advocaat Drinks
The Bombardino
This warm and cosy advocaat drink was created in the Italian ski resort of Livigno in 1974 and it’s still a popular après-ski drink half a century later.
What exactly is The Bombardino? Well, it’s a combination of advocaat with brandy. It is served hot and comes topped with a good portion of whipped cream. It’s a very potent, but incredibly warming drink that should not be missed by advocaat lovers.
Latte with Advocaat
Labelled as a Christmas latte, but when you get down to it, coffee lovers should allow themselves to enjoy this milky coffee and advocaat drink throughout the year. The combination of coffee and advocaat is sublime, whether or not you choose to dress up your latte with cream or just let those flavours sparkle on their own.
Advocaat cocktails and cold drinks
The Snowball
No collection of recipes with advocaat as the headline act would be complete without the Snowball cocktail. The classic version blends advocaat with lime juice and lemonade, to create a fun, charming and instantly recognisable cocktail.
But there are plenty of ways this classic can be modernised, and I’ve got a few ideas in that department by introducing ginger beer, Champagne or ice cream into the mix.
Easter Cocktail
Despite its strong association with Christmas, advocaat makes a great addition to cocktails at any time of the year. I have a particular liking for using it at Easter, perhaps because that gorgeous golden colour ties in well with Spring and Easter themes.
It’s put to good use in this Easter cocktail with subtle hints of vanilla and chocolate. This libation is also ideal for dressing up with seasonal goodies such as creme eggs or crushed Mini Eggs. In fact, advocaat fans can have outrageous fun with this cocktail.
Fluffy Duck
Believe it or not, there are several renditions of the Fluffy Duck cocktail. One includes gin and the other pairs the advocaat with rum. There’s also an ongoing debate about whether or not lemonade should be added to this drink.
Well, having tried both the gin and rum versions, my personal preference leaned toward the rum. So, I created a version of this cocktail that marries advocaat with spiced rum.
I’ve left it up to you to decide what to do about the lemonade. But if you want my advice, leave it out and enjoy the pure heaven that is the shorter, headier version of the Fluffy Duck cocktail.
Advocaat Milkshake
And talking of fun ways to take your advocaat habit throughout the year, there’s no reason this luxurious drink cannot evolve into a drink for the hottest of days. Try it in a thick and creamy milkshake. I promise you, you’ll have no regrets.
Advocaat desserts and bakes
Affogato al caffè with advocaat
Sometimes the simplest of recipes give the most amazing results. A case in point is the pairing of the classic Italian affogato dessert recipe with advocaat. It’s really a trio of ingredients: ice cream, espresso and advocaat.
This dessert is ideal dinner party fodder for anybody consistently short on time. It’s ready in a flash, exceedingly simple and yet there are still ways this simple dessert can be customised to showcase your own particular flavour whims.
Advocaat cake
Don’t be fooled by the images of this advocaat cake, it’s for any time of the year, not just Easter. The crowning glory on this delectable cake is the advocaat-infused whipped cream. Top the cream as you wish to match your occasion or the season.
Advocaat Tiramisu
Spot the recurrent theme – the wonderful partnership of advocaat and coffee. With that in mind, treat yourself to a glass of Italian tiramisu laced with your favourite yellow liqueur. This is a sensational coffee dessert recipe featuring advocaat that is worth swooning over.
Mince pies with advocaat butter
A surefire way to impress guests at Christmas is to surprise them with the unexpected. Everybody is familiar with brandy butter or rum butter. But advocaat butter? That’s something entirely out of the ordinary.
So whip up a batch of homemade mince pies (or pick up a pack at the supermarket – you’re in a judgement-free zone here) and serve them with a pot of advocaat butter alongside.
Snowball truffles
White chocolate truffles pepped up with advocaat liqueur and rolled in coconut are a lighthearted take on all things Christmassy (I’m thinking snow and the Snowball cocktail). They make a great gift if you can bring yourself to part with them.
I hope that one or two of these recipes with advocaat as the star attraction has grabbed your attention. Keep checking back as more recipes might well be added to this collection.