Dessert Cocktails

After enjoying a frothy dessert cocktail on Valentine's Day, I decided to try another recipe, this one with a St. Patty's theme. It combines vanilla vodka with coffee and chocolate liqueur to create a decadent liquid dessert. My favorite part is the frothy whipped cream that gets poured into the mixture at the last minute — it reminds me of the thick cream that sits atop a classic Irish coffee. Although you really can't have more than one of this potent drink, it's a delightful treat worth making. Get the recipe after the jump.

When the mercury rises, one of the drinks I crave is an Orange Julius; the nostalgic concoction reminds me of Summers past as a mallrat, wandering the food court of the King of Prussia Mall with my schoolmates.

So I couldn't resist trying a dessert drink described as a "grown-up Orange Julius." This version, named after Latin band leader Tito Puente, is spiked with amber rum and made sweeter with condensed milk. Flecked with bits of ice, it's rich yet refreshing — and almost makes me wish I were back in school again. To make the cocktail, read on.