18 of the Greatest Grand Marnier Recipes from Cocktails to Cakes
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Calling all orange liqueur lovers! Are you looking for new Grand Marnier recipes? Well, you’ve come to the right place. From light, summery sippers like the Grand Margarita to sophisticated desserts, discover the best Grand Marnier cocktails and food recipes for any occasion here.
What is Grand Marnier?
Grand Marnier is a French orange liqueur with a Cognac base, boasting aromas of orange peel, vanilla, and oak. It was borne out of Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle’s genius idea of combining Caribbean oranges with Cognac in 1880, creating a recipe that’s remained unchanged over the centuries.
A must-have for any respectable bartender or home mixologist, Grand Marnier is a key ingredient in countless classics like the Sidecar cocktail, Cadillac Margarita, Cosmopolitan, and more.
Now that you know everything about this French delicacy, discover 18 of the best cocktail and dessert recipes with Grand Marnier:
14 drinks & cocktails with Grand Marnier
1. Grand Margarita
Revisiting the classics can be tricky, but you’re in safe hands with this Grand Marnier Margarita recipe. The orange and nutty notes of Grand Marnier pair well with the earthy notes of tequila and the sourness of lime.
To make this recipe, start by filling a shallow dish with fine salt. Rub a lime wedge along the rim of your cocktail glass, then dip the wet rim into the plate to create the perfect salt rim. Next, combine 30 ml Grand Marnier, 30 ml tequila and 20 ml lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously then strain the cocktail into the prepared glass. Garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy your premium Grand Margarita.
2. Tequila Daisy
Like many amazing cocktails, the Tequila Daisy was created by a mixology mishap: An Irishman going by the name of Madden, who ran one of the few post-Prohibition bars left in Tijuana, reached for the wrong bottle (tequila) while making a Brandy Daisy… and the rest is history. The name is also a play on words, as daisy is the English word for Margarita.
To make a Tequila Daisy at home, combine 60 ml tequila, 1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon of superfine sugar in a shaker with ice. Shake well until icy cold and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Top off with a splash of soda water and enjoy this thirst-quenching delight.
3. Marnier and Bubbles
Impress with no stress with one of the simplest Grand Marnier cocktail recipes. Marnier and Bubbles will take your Mimosa game from meh to perfection. The rich and complex flavour of Grand Marnier combined with orange juice and bubbles elevates it from brunch cocktail to pure treat. When choosing the bubbles, go for a high-quality French sparkling wine, or Champagne if you want to go all in.
Read next: Best Champagne Cocktails
4. G & G
Take two of mixology’s favourites, Grand Marnier and Ginger Beer, and you get the G&G. The sweetness of Grand Marnier’s candied orange peel and vanilla notes goes hand in hand with the spiciness of ginger beer. Make it at home by pouring 40 ml of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge and 100 ml of ginger beer, and a squeeze of lime in a Collins glass with ice. Stir, garnish and enjoy!
5. El Presidente Cocktail
Created in Cuba during Prohibition, El Presidente has been a hidden gem for decades. Luckily, curious bartenders have blown the dust away and brought this alluring rum-based cocktail into the mainstream. Featuring white rum, dry vermouth, orange curaçao, and grenadine, it’s a well-rounded drink with a sweet, boozy kick. Elevate the recipe by swapping the curaçao with Grand Marnier for a slightly more complex flavour experience.
6. Singapore Sling
Juicy yet sophisticated, the Singapore Sling is the perfect choice for an elegant drink that is also playful on the palate. The original recipe is attributed to Raffles bartender Ngiam Tong Boon and is a variation of the gin sling, a single-serve punch. When mixed to perfection, this cocktail is sweet, tart, and delicious, achieving the perfect balance between boozy and refreshing.
7. Grand Old Fashioned
Give the timeless Old Fashioned a modern and sophisticated twist by adding Grand Marnier. This classic cocktail usually features whisky and Angostura bitters. However, the addition of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge gives an elegant and smooth finish, with notes of oranges and nuts. Serve the Grand Old Fashioned after dinner or pair it with dessert as a luscious treat.
8. B-52 Cocktail
Take the classic post-meal espresso and turn it into a lavish drink with the B-52. Blending coffee liqueur, triple sec, and Irish cream, this decadent sipper has a creamy texture with hints of orange. Swap the triple sec for Grand Marnier for an even richer flavour. Serve your B-52 as a shot or a cocktail; your guests will love it either way.
9. Grand Collins
Straightforward and refreshing, the Tom Collins is one of the most popular classic cocktails. A Collins is a sour beverage that consists of a spirit (typically gin), sugar, and citrus. Give a tasty spin to this simple combo by replacing the gin base with Grand Marnier. The result is the Grand Collins: a velvety citrusy treat.
10. Sidecar
Introducing the Sidecar cocktail, a 3-ingredient wonder that’s been served up for over a century. This bright sour features Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice, with a dainty sugar rim to garnish. You can make this cocktail with several orange liqueurs, but the Sidecar with Grand Marnier recipe is our favourite for its rich and velvety flavour.
11. Grand Smash
Simplicity is key in the Grand Smash recipe, as it allows the star ingredient, Grand Marnier, to shine. With the addition of lemon wedges and mint leaves, the Grand Smash provides an unexpected burst of flavour to enjoy with every sip.
12. Grand Mai Tai
The Mai Tai is on the International Bartenders Association (IBA) list of classic cocktails for a good reason. This Tiki favourite combines Jamaican rum, orgeat, orange liqueur, simple syrup, and lime juice for fresh and zesty notes with a hint of almond.
The original recipe calls for curaçao, but we recommend making a Grand Mai Tai to take this iconic cocktail to the next level.
13. Between the Sheets
Make your Valentine’s Day candlelit dinner one to remember with the Between the Sheets cocktail. This irresistible mix of rum, Cognac, lemon juice, and Grand Marnier lives up to its name, with a rich and spicy flavour profile, featuring notes of oak, fruit and the tropical touch of rum. If you really want to go all out, flame an orange peel over the surface of the drink for an aromatic hint of citrus oils.
14. Cosmopolitan
Our list of Grand Marnier drink recipes wouldn’t be complete without the classic Cosmopolitan. This lush pink drink rose to fame thanks to Carrie Bradshaw and co. and is an unmissable item on any bar menu. Featuring vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice and lime juice, it is refreshing, delicious and fun. Make yours with Grand Marnier instead of the usual triple sec for a richer sipping experience.
4 Grand Marnier dessert recipes
If you thought Grand Marnier only belonged in the bar, get ready to change your mind. This orange French liqueur is also a fantastic ingredient for dessert recipes.
1. Grand Marnier Soufflé Recipe
This may not be one for baking novices, but if you manage to master this Grand Marnier soufflé recipe, it will become your go-to dessert. Simply take any standard sweet soufflé recipe and add around 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier to the crème pâtissière before combining with the egg whites.
Tip: The key to the soufflé’s dramatic puff is keeping air in your whisked egg whites; for this, we recommend room-temperature egg whites as they allow you to create more volume.
2. Grand Marnier Cake
Calling all orange lovers, you need to try a Grand Marnier cake recipe. It ticks all the boxes: fluffy, moist and elegant. Its orange flavour is enriched by a filling of orange zest and crunchy pecans, topped off with a delicious orange liqueur sauce.
First, make your favourite airy sponge cake (with optional orange zest and pecans). To make the Grand Marnier sauce, combine ½ cup of sugar with Grand Marnier and orange syrup. Pour it on top of your cake as soon as it’s out of the oven to give it a distinctive zesty Cognac glaze.
Leave it plenty of time to cool and soak in the sauce to serve at teatime or as a heart-warming autumnal dessert.
3. Tiramisu Recipe with Grand Marnier
Almost everyone loves a Tiramisu for its velvety notes of espresso and cream. But what if we told you there’s an even tastier Tiramisu recipe with Grand Marnier? The Italian dessert usually features dark rum in its creamy Mascarpone mixture. The Italian dessert usually features dark rum in a creamy Mascarpone mixture, but for this version we add Grand Marnier to the espresso before dipping in the ladyfinger biscuits.
The orange liqueur makes this dessert even more irresistible, and we suggest saving this recipe for a special occasion.
4. Cranberry Sauce with Grand Marnier
Nothing says Christmas time more than cranberry sauce. And we have an ace up our sleeve to impress your friends and family this season: a cranberry sauce recipe with Grand Marnier. To make this decadent sauce, simply add 4 tablespoons of Grand Marnier to simmering cranberries to turn them into a sweet and tart jam-like dreamy goodness that you will want to spoon over just about everything. Simple and delicious.
Discover the world of Grand Marnier, including news and recipes here.
