6 Boozy Treats to Beat the Heat

Can you feel it? The summertime heat? It’s all around us.

When the weather starts scorching, the party begins. Between rooftop parties, outdoor barbecues and poolside festivities, there are so very many reasons to booze up during the summer months. Because, hey, you gotta cool down somehow.

This summer, instead of sipping the heat away, eat it away and remember, silly rabbit, these treats aren’t for kids.

1. Grapefruit & Tequila Paloma Ice Pops

There’s something about tequila that just belongs in a popsicle, and this Paloma-inspired ice pop recipe sounds like it deserves a spot in our coolers. With ingredients like fresh grapefruit and orange juices, simple syrup, club soda and tequila, this frozen snack is refreshing without being overwhelmingly sweet. Get the recipe.

2. Watermelon Campari Granita

Summertime is the time to relax. No one is interested in strenuous activity, so follow that line of thinking with an effortless dessert. The Watermelon Campari Granita is so simple to make that your freezer almost does all the work for you. Add watermelon puree, sugar and Campari to a shallow pan and after a few steps, you’ll have a nice chilled dessert with the perfect blend of sweet and bitter. Get the recipe.

3. Bourbon Baked Apples

Bourbon. Poured on Apples. Stuffed with a crumbled crisp. Topped with cinnamon ice cream. Are you even ready for all this? If you can handle turning on your oven during the swelter, this dessert will be worth it. Don’t like whiskey? A dark rum will work equally well. Get the recipe.

4. Beer-soaked Watermelon

Is there anything better than sitting on the patio with an ice-cold beer and a juicy chunk of watermelon? Yes, there is: beer-soaked watermelon. It’s painfully simple to do and ridiculously delicious to eat. What beer you use is your choice. Pick anything ranging from a light wheat beer to a hoppy IPA. Get the recipe.

5. Whiskey–Lucky Charms Ice Cream

Set your inner child free by combining whiskey with a favorite childhood cereal. This recipe from the Coolhaus Ice Cream Book takes some effort. But for the ultimate boozy treat, it’s worth it. Sandwich this dessert between two cinnamon-sugar cookies for palm-sized paradise. Damn, being an adult tastes great. Get the recipe.

6. Tequila-Spiked Mango Popsicles with Chile

Let’s end this list of recommendations with a kick. Mangos and chiles are a classic pairing and, in this incarnation, the duo is joined by agave, lime juice and three ounces of tequila. The result is like a spicy mango Margarita on a stick. Get the recipe.