37 Easy Cocktail Recipes, Each With 5 Ingredients or Less

No one said being a home bartender was easy, but with this collection of easy cocktail recipes, you'll be shaking and stirring perfectly balanced beverages in no time. They require no muddling, blending, infusing, or pureeing.

Each recipe makes one cocktail and has no more than five ingredients (excluding optional garnishes), so you can likely concoct at least a few without having to dash to the liquor store. First, let's make sure you have the minimal equipment, and then come the simplest cocktails. Cheers!

Two-Ingredient Cocktails

We enjoy a complicated, cleverly crafted, bespoke bevvie as much as the next person, but sometimes, a simple two-ingredient cocktail recipe fits the bill.

Paloma

This refreshing, bubbly drink from Mexico is enjoyed worldwide.

• 2 ounces tequila (Casamigos)
• 2 ounces grapefruit soda (Gus Ruby)

Add ingredients to a rocks glass with ice, stir, and garnish with a lime wedge or grapefruit slice.

Gimlet

This classic, sweet-tart cocktail is great with vodka, too.

• 2 ounces gin (The Botanist)
• ⅔ ounce lime juice (Rose's)

Fill a rocks glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with a sprig of rosemary, fresh mint, or wedge of lime.

Lillet Spritz

This recipe features Lillet (pronounced lil-LEY) Blanc, a French, wine-based apéritif sipped best cold from the fridge.

• 1 ounce Lillet Blanc
• 4 ounces sparkling wine (J Vineyards California Cuvée)

Pour ingredients into a glass and garnish with fresh cucumber and strawberry, or an orange slice.

Bourbon Buck

In this recipe, ginger ale gives bourbon a sweet, zippy, bubbly treatment.

• 2 ounces bourbon
• 5 ounces ginger ale
  

Fill a tall glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with lemon.

Chai and Irish Cream Cocktail

This hot, tea-based cocktail brings spiced warmth, creaminess, and flavor to a cold winter's night. 

• 2 chai teabags
• 2 to 3 tablespoons Irish cream

In a mug, steep teabags in hot water for about 5 minutes. Remove the teabags, add Irish cream, and serve.

Cider Shandy

This variant of a classic shandy swaps lemonade with apple cider for a crisp fall refresher.

• 6 ounces lager
• 6 ounces apple cider

Combine ingredients in a pilsner glass and garnish with orange.

Garibaldi

Named for a hero of the liberation of Italy and Uruguay, this cocktail's red-orange color is reminiscent of the red shirts worn by followers of Giuseppe Garibaldi.

• 1½ ounces Campari
• 3 ounces orange juice

Fill a rocks glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with an orange slice.

Pimm's Cup

This cocktail features Pimm's No. 1, a gin-based spirit with refreshing spice and fruit flavors. Try it with lemonade, too.

• 2 ounces Pimm's
• 6 ounces ginger ale

Fill a tall glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with orange.

St. Germain Fizz

St. Germain is the most famous brand of elderflower liqueur: a floral, fruity drink made from white elderflowers.

• ½ ounce elderflower liqueur
• 4 ounces chilled sparkling wine

Combine ingredients in a champagne flute and garnish with lemon.

Vodka Cocktails

You can drink vodka neat, but we think you'll love it in these two- to four-ingredient cocktail recipes.

Cape Cooler

In this recipe, cranberry juice takes vodka on a trip to New England.

• 2 ounces vodka
• 4 ounces cranberry juice

Fill a tall glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with lime.

Greyhound

Serve this two-ingredient cocktail over ice in a tall glass or a rocks glass, and with vodka or gin.

• 2 ounces vodka
• 4 ounces grapefruit juice

Fill a glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with lime.

Black Russian

This super simple, two-ingredient cocktail calls for Kahlua, but any coffee-flavored liqueur will do.

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce Kahlua

Fill a rocks glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with coffee beans.

White Russian

Just a smidge of heavy cream turns a black Russian into this decadent, creamy, white one.

• 2 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce Kahlua
• 1 ounce heavy cream

Fill a cocktail glass—preferably a rocks or Old Fashioned glass—with ice. Pour vodka and Kahlúa over the ice, top with heavy cream, and stir.

Chambord French Martini

Raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice give a standard martini a sweet, fruity twist.

• 5 ounces Chambord (raspberry liqueur)
• 1½ ounces vodka
• 2 ounces pineapple juice

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Strain into a martini glass and top with a raspberry or lemon twist.

Apple-Cinnamon Spiced Cocktail

Dial up your fall festivities with a four-ingredient cocktail that tastes crisp, cozy, and refreshing.

• 1½ ounces vodka
• 1½ ounces apple cider
• ½ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce Aperol
  

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake vigorously until well combined. Strain into a chilled glass rimmed with turbinado sugar, and then garnish with star anise, a cinnamon stick, and/or apple slices.

Cosmopolitan

The 1990s called, and they want you to revisit this Sex In The City staple.

• 2 ounces vodka
• ½ ounce Triple Sec (orange liqueur)
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• ½ ounce lime juice (from half a lime)

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, add ingredients, and shake. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lime slice.

Sex on the Beach

Planning a staycation? Plan on making plenty of these.

• 1½ ounces vodka
• 1 ounce peach schnapps
• 2 ounces orange juice
• 2 ounces cranberry juice or grenadine

Fill a hurricane or other tall cocktail glass with ice. For a beautiful sunset hue, add ingredients in the order listed and then garnish with an orange slice, cherry, or tropical fruit. 

Rum Cocktails

Long favored by pirates and organized crime, rum takes the high road as an ingredient in these easy cocktail recipes.

Dark and Stormy

Just add ginger beer to dark rum for a refreshing cocktail that's anything but scary.

• 2 ounces dark rum
• 4 ounces ginger beer

Fill a tall glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with lime.

Cider Dark and Stormy

Add apple cider and a splash of lime juice to the classic version for the crisp taste of fall in a drink.

• 2 ounces apple cider
• 2 ounces dark rum
• ¼ ounce fresh lime juice (from a quarter of a lime)
• 4 ounces ginger beer

Combine ingredients in an ice-filled Collins glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

Coffee Old Fashioned

Just five ingredients make this cozy coffee cocktail, perfect for long winter nights.

• 1 sugar cube (2 teaspoons)
• 4 dashes orange Angostura bitters
• 1½ ounces bourbon
• ½ ounce dark rum
• ½ ounce Turkish (or very strong) coffee, chilled or at room temperature

Combine sugar with bitters and 1 teaspoon water in a cocktail glass, stirring vigorously until sugar is dissolved. Fill a shaker with ice cubes, and then add bourbon, rum, coffee, and the sugar mixture. Stir gently to combine, pour into a rocks glass over a single large ice cube, and garnish with an orange twist.

Gin Cocktails

While it's most commonly known as the better half of a gin and tonic, try it in one of these easy gin-based cocktails.

London Lemonade

For best results, use homemade lemonade from freshly squeezed lemons. For expedience, use whatever's available.

• 2 ounces gin
• 4 ounces lemonade

Fill a rocks glass with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with a rosemary sprig.

Tom Collins

This recipe pairs down the ingredients for this iconic, sour, refreshing cocktail to just two.

• 5 ounces lemon soda (such as San Pellegrino Limonata)
• 3 ounces gin

Add ingredients to a tall glass of ice and stir. Garnish with lemon slices and basil sprigs.

Martini

This simple yet sophisticated classic is considered the father of all cocktails.

• 2½ ounces gin
• ⅔ ounce dry vermouth

Fill a mixing glass or shaker with ice, add ingredients, and stir. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with olives and/or a twist of lemon.

Vesper Martini

This vesper veers from a traditional martini by calling for gin and vodka, and it swaps vermouth for Lillet, resulting in a citrusy, smooth, super strong cocktail.

• 3 ounces gin
• 1 ounce vodka
• ½ ounce Lillet Blanc

Fill a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice cubes, add ingredients, and stir until well-chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

Spiked Cider Tea

Hot cider, hot tea, vanilla, and gin combine for a cozy cocktail tailor-made for sipping around a fire pit.

• 4 ounces hot apple cider
• 1 black tea bag
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 ounce gin

In a mug of hot apple cider, add a tea bag and steep for 3 minutes. Remove the tea bag, stir in vanilla and gin, and serve warm with lemon slices.

Sparkling Wine Cocktails

No matter your preference—Champagne or Prosecco; red, white, or rosé—wine infused with carbon dioxide makes for a cocktail that's fizzy and fun.

Chambord Royale

Raspberry liqueur lends Champagne a fruity turn that's fit for a queen.

• 1 ounce Chambord (raspberry liqueur)
• 4 ounces chilled Champagne or other sparkling white wine

Pour ingredients into a cocktail glass or champagne flute, and garnish with raspberry.

Cider Bellini

Just add sparkling wine to apple cider for awesome autumn refreshment.

• 5 ounces sparking wine (like Champagne or Prosecco)
• ½ ounce apple cider

Combine ingredients in a champagne flute and garnish with rosemary.

Lillet-Strawberry Spritz

This simple three-ingredient spritz is an ideal cooler for warm summer days.

• 2 ounces Lillet Blanc
• 3 ounces dry sparkling rosé
• 1 ounce club soda

Fill a glass halfway with ice and add ingredients. Stir to combine and garnish with sliced strawberry.

Negroni Sbagliato Cocktail

Lucky for you, this cocktail is much easier to make than it is to spell (or pronounce).

• 1½ ounces Campari
• 1½ ounces vermouth
• 1½ ounces Prosecco or other sparkling wine

In a rocks glass with a large ice cube, add ingredients and gently stir. Garnish with an orange slice.

Red Wine Spritz

Make this fruity, fizzy cocktail the star of your summer soirees.

• 2 ounces sweet vermouth
• 2 ounces dry sparkling red wine (like Lambrusco)
• 2 ounces club soda

Fill a glass halfway with ice, add ingredients, and stir to combine. For a garnish, add a few peach slices (or plums, apricots, grapes, or berries) directly to the drink. 

Aperol Spritz

This recipe keeps from being overly sweet with more Prosecco (than Aperol), and a dry Prosecco (instead of sweet) at that.

• 2 ounces Aperol
• 3 ounces dry Prosecco
• ½ ounce club soda

In a wine glass filled with ice, add ingredients and gently stir. Garnish with a slice of orange.

Dirty Aperol Spritz

What makes an Aperol spritz "dirty" is a punch of brine from an olive jar, giving this version a surprising zip.

• 2 ounces Aperol
• 2 ounces dry sparkling wine
• 2 ounces club soda
• ¼ ounce brine from a jar of pimento-stuffed green olives

Fill a glass halfway with ice and add ingredients. Stir to combine and garnish with olives. 

Limoncello Spritz

This refreshing four-ingredient twist on the classic spritz is bright and pleasantly tart.

• 1 ounce limoncello
• 2½ ounces dry sparkling wine
• 1½ ounces club soda
• ½ ounce fresh lemon juice

Fill a glass halfway with ice and add ingredients. Stir to combine, and garnish with a rosemary sprig and lemon peel.

Mango Bellini Spritz

The taste of this fizzy, topical cocktail is as bright as the summer sun.

• 2 ounces mango juice (like Looza)
• ½ ounce orange liqueur (like Triple Sec)
• 2 ounces dry sparkling wine
• 1 ounce club soda

Fill a glass halfway with ice and add ingredients. Stir and garnish with mango wedges.

Simple Syrup Cocktails

It's not a spirit, but this sweet component is integral to many a classic cocktail. Make some simple syrup ahead to have on hand whenever the spirit moves you.

Classic Amaretto Sour

The perfect blend of sweet and sour, this three-ingredient recipe for a popular classic is a good one to keep handy.

• 1½ ounces Amaretto liqueur
• 1 ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a glass filled with ice, and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Sparkling Amaretto Sour

Add sparkling wine to an amaretto sour and you have a fizzy version with less sugar and more of a kick.

• 1 ounce Amaretto liqueur
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
• 4 ounces Prosecco

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a glass filled with ice, and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Espresso Martini

Here's a cocktail poised to wake up your happy hour.

• 1½ ounces vodka
• 1 ounce espresso, chilled
• ½ ounce coffee liqueur
• ½ ounce simple syrup

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake for 10 seconds (or longer for more frothiness). Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a sprinkle of cocoa or cinnamon.

Irish Iced Coffee

Serve this frosty, creamy cocktail at a boozy Christmas brunch, St. Patrick's Day celebration, or any time you want to wake up your taste buds.

• 4 ounces strong coffee, chilled
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
• 1 ounce heavy cream
  

Combine ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until very cold, about 30 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled pint glass and top with whipped cream.

Cider and Pomegranate Margarita

This five-ingredient variation on a classic uses autumn staples instead of tropical flavors, making it perfect for a warm fall fiesta.

• ½ ounce simple syrup
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice
• 2 ounces tequila
• 2 ounces pomegranate juice
• 4 ounces apple cider

Combine ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass with a salted rim.

Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita

This recipe tops a citrusy margarita with kombucha for a tangy, fizzy refresher.

• 2 ounces tequila
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• 1 ounce kombucha (original flavor)
  

Combine ingredients except kombucha with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake until well chilled, about 30 minutes. Strain into a cocktail glass with a salted rim and top with kombucha.

Illustrations by Sarah Ferone