5 Sweet-Tart Drink Recipes That Satisfy Your Candy Craving

From your childhood straight to a cocktail glass, these sweet-tart drink recipes will transport you to a simpler time.

Updated November 6, 2023
Fig and honey martini

Ah, candy. Just the taste of a childhood favorite can bring all the memories rushing back. Transport yourself with the flavors of a candy that combines sweetness with a satisfying pucker.

Welcome to the adult SweetTART — boozy with a touch of sugar and sour. It's just enough for a sweet tooth, but with a tart tang that reminds you of childhood.

Raspberry-Lime Sweet Tart

raspberry-lime sweet tart

More sweet than sour, this fruitier version of the classic SweeTARTS candy hits you right in the nostalgia. Looking to make this a little more rad like your childhood? Add some extra lime juice. 

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, raspberry liqueur, amaretto, and lime juice.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice.
  4. Top off with lemon-lime soda.
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Blue Sweet-Tart Martini

blue martini

The blue ones were the best. Somehow, they were the sweetest while being the sourest, all at the same time. We're still not sure how the scientists made that happen.

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • ¾ ounce blue curaçao
  • ¾ ounce amaretto
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Lemon ribbon for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, blue curaçao, amaretto, and lime juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into the chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with a lemon ribbon. 

Melon Sweet Tart

melon sweet tart

Lean into the tart side of classic sweet-tart candies. Cranberry juice offers the perfect amount of tart, while the sweet fruit liqueurs give it that candy flavor touch.

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces raspberry vodka
  • ¾ ounce melon liqueur
  • ¾ ounce orange liqueur
  • 4 ounces cranberry juice
  • Splash sour mix
  • Ice
  • Orange slice for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, raspberry vodka, melon liqueur, orange liqueur, and cranberry juice.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice if desired.

Apple Sweet Tart

green apple martini

Just because there was no apple-flavored SweeTART candy, doesn't mean you can't give yourself the gift of what should have been. It's called self-care. 

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • 1½ ounces sour apple schnapps
  • ¾ ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • Ice
  • Apple slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, sour apple schnapps, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into the chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with an apple slice. 

Saturday's Are for SNICK

Fresh summer strawberry cocktail

Saturday night Nickelodeon was the best night of the week. No plans? You and SNICK. Sleepover? Your group was definitely watching SNICK. With a sour candy, of course.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce citron vodka
  • ¾ ounce strawberry liqueur
  • ½ ounce amaretto liqueur
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Lemon-lime soda to top off
  • Strawberry slices for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, citron vodka, strawberry liqueur, amaretto liqueur, and lime juice.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
  4. Top off with lemon-lime soda.
  5. Garnish with strawberry slices. 

A Classic Combo

One of the best parts of being an adult? That's easy. Enjoying candy whenever you feel like it. Better yet, enjoying sweet and sour candy in the form of a drink. Talk about an all-new and different buzz from when you were little. We'll take a round of nostalgic sweet-tart cocktails, please. 

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5 Sweet-Tart Drink Recipes That Satisfy Your Candy Craving