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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails

    October 7, 2022 · Updated August 11, 2025

    Wisconsin Grasshopper Cocktail (with or without ice cream!)

    5 from 1 vote
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    · by Amanda Gajdosik

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    This post may contain affiliate links. This blog generates income via ads.

    Found on Supper Club menus far and wide, the Wisconsin Grasshopper Cocktail combines crème de menthe, crème de cacao and heavy cream. The result is a refreshing mint-chocolate cocktail that’s ready to serve in 5 minutes or less. For an extra special treat, try a blended variation made with vanilla ice cream!

    A grasshopper cocktail sits on a silver tray garnished with chocolate shavings and whipped cream.

    Enjoying a grasshopper is like drinking a liquid Andes mint. It’s so smooth, just sweet enough, and full of delicious mint-chocolate taste. This Midwestern drink recipe is sure to be one of your new favorite homemade cocktail recipes!

    How to make a grasshopper cocktail

    This is just a brief overview, find detailed instructions in the recipe card below!

    A hand pours creme de menthe into a glass cocktail shaker filled with ice.
    Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until chilled.
    A hand pours a grasshopper into a coupe glass garnished with chocolate shavings along the rim.
    Strain into a coupe glass, garnish, and enjoy!

    It’s really that easy to enjoy this cocktail! I’m guessing that’s why it’s such a popular digestif (that means "after dinner drink"). It will freshen your breath, satisfy your sweet tooth, and doesn’t require too much effort after a big meal.

    A coupe glass on a silver tray filled with a grasshopper drink and garnished with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and a mint sprig.

    Making a blended grasshopper with ice cream

    While the original grasshopper cocktail was developed in the South, we Midwesterners got ahold of it decades ago and, of course, added more dairy.

    The most common way I see grasshoppers offered in Supper Clubs in Wisconsin is as a boozy milkshake made with vanilla ice cream. In fact, most people here don't even know the original doesn't contain ice cream!

    To make an ice cream grasshopper: add 2 scoops of vanilla bean ice cream to a blender, followed by the crème de menthe and crème de cacao and blend until smooth. Serve with whipped cream and a cherry to garnish, if desired.

    A blended ice cream grasshopper garnished with whipped cream and a cherry sits on a silver tray.

    If you love a Wisconsin supper club cocktail, be sure to check out my recipe for Brandy Old Fashioned that can be made sweet, sour, or press!

    Big Batch Blended Grasshoppers

    Every New Year’s Eve our family toasts to the new year with a big, blended batch of grasshoppers. Here’s how to make enough ice cream grasshoppers for a group of four:

    • Add 8 scoops (about 4 cups) of vanilla ice cream to a blender.
    • Add ¾ cup of crème de menthe and ¾ cup of crème de cacao.
    • Blend until smooth.
    • If necessary, add a splash of heavy cream to make it blend easier.
    • Serve in tall glasses garnished with whipped cream and maraschino cherries.

    You can use this same method of big batch blended ice cream cocktails for my Pink Squirrel with Ice Cream and Brandy Alexander with Ice Cream!

    A glass cocktail shaker filled with a green grasshopper cocktail and ice.

    Watch the recipe video!

    A grasshopper cocktail sits on a silver tray garnished with chocolate shavings and whipped cream.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    3-Ingredient Homemade Grasshopper Cocktail

    Found on Supper Club menus far and wide, the Wisconsin Grasshopper Cocktail combines crème de menthe, crème de cacao and heavy cream. The result is a refreshing mint-chocolate cocktail that’s ready to serve in 5 minutes or less. For an extra special treat, try a blended variation made with vanilla ice cream!
    Cook Time3 minutes mins
    Total Time3 minutes mins
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: digestif recipe, grasshopper cocktail, grasshopper ice cream
    Servings: 1 serving
    Calories: 498kcal
    Author: Amanda Gajdosik
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Cocktail shaker, optional
    • Cocktail jigger, optional
    • Coupe or martini glasses, optional

    Ingredients

    For a classic grasshopper cocktail:

    • 1 ½ oz crème de menthe
    • 1 ½ oz crème de cacao
    • 2 oz heavy cream
    • Chocolate shavings to garnish
    • Whipped cream to garnish

    For a blended grasshopper:

    • 2 scoops vanilla bean ice cream

    Instructions

    For a classic grasshopper cocktail:

    • In a cocktail shaker (or mason jar with leak-proof lid) filled with ice, add 1 ½ ounces crème de menthe, 1 ½ ounces crème de cacao, and 2 ounces heavy cream. Cover and shake until well chilled, about 10 - 20 seconds.
    • Strain the drink into a coupe glass and garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, if desired.

    For an ice cream grasshopper:

    • Add 2 scoops of vanilla bean ice cream to a blender, followed by 1 ½ ounces crème de menthe and 1 ½ ounces crème de cacao and blend until smooth. If necessary, add a splash of heavy cream to make the shake thinner.
    • Pour into a large glass, garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry and serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    • For a fun serving idea - rim the edge of the cocktail glass with chocolate syrup and coat in chocolate shavings. Yum!
    • No cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with a lid and a small strainer to shake your grasshopper.
    • If you don't have a cocktail jigger, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 54mg | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 833IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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