Breakfast Martini Recipe: The Gin Cocktail Made with Marmalade
Approx. 5 min read
Breakfast Martini recipe
Created by bartender Salvatore Calabrese, the Breakfast Martini puts an everyday breakfast-table staple to delicious use. It feels just right for a relaxed weekend brunch or a little aperitif before dinner — no breakfast plans required.
Recipe details
- Prep time: About 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Serves: 1 cocktail
- Taste: Bright citrus, bittersweet orange peel and aromatic gin
- Glass: Chilled coupe or Martini glass
- Tools: Cocktail shaker, jigger, bar spoon and strainer; fine sieve optional
Ingredients
- 50 ml (1.7 oz) London dry gin
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) Cointreau or another good-quality triple sec
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 generous barspoon (about 1 tsp) fine-cut orange marmalade
- Ice, for shaking
- 1 strip of fresh orange peel, for garnish
How to make it
- Chill a coupe or Martini glass while you prepare the cocktail.
- Add the gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice and marmalade to a cocktail shaker. Stir briefly with the bar spoon to loosen the marmalade before adding ice.
- Fill the shaker with ice, close it securely and shake until the outside feels very cold, roughly 10–15 seconds.
- Strain into the chilled glass. If your marmalade contains thick pieces of peel, pour through a fine sieve as well for a smoother finish.
- Gently squeeze the orange peel over the drink to release its oils, then add it as a garnish. Serve straight away, without ice in the glass.
Love My Drink tip: Shake with plenty of ice and strain promptly. Leaving the cocktail sitting over melting ice can dull its bright citrus flavour.
Why orange marmalade works in a cocktail
Marmalade does two jobs at once: it brings sweetness and the pleasantly bitter flavour of orange peel. Fresh lemon keeps that sweetness in check, Cointreau adds a cleaner orange note, and gin supplies the botanical backbone. The result feels more grown-up than a sweet orange drink, even though the ingredients are wonderfully ordinary.
Which orange marmalade should you use?
Fine-cut marmalade is the easiest choice: it blends more readily and leaves fewer large pieces of peel to strain. A bitter orange or Seville-style marmalade gives the drink a more pronounced bittersweet edge. A milder, sweeter orange marmalade works too, but the result will taste softer.
If the jar in your fridge is thick-cut, use it. The fine sieve mentioned in the method will catch the larger pieces of peel; there is no need to buy another jar.
How to adjust the flavour
- Too sweet? Use a less sugary marmalade next time, or add a small extra squeeze of fresh lemon. Keep the first drink at the recipe ratio so you know what you are changing.
- Too tart? Try a slightly sweeter marmalade, or reduce the lemon a little in your next glass. Make one adjustment at a time.
- Too bitter? Switch from a strong Seville orange marmalade to a gentler sweet-orange version.
For the orange liqueur, Cointreau is a dependable starting point. Other triple secs can vary in sweetness and strength, so swapping bottles may change the drink. Our Cointreau vs triple sec guide helps you choose without stocking three different bottles.
Breakfast Martini vs classic Martini
The names sound related, but the recipes are quite different. A classic Martini is usually gin or vodka with dry vermouth, stirred and served cold. A Breakfast Martini uses gin, orange marmalade, orange liqueur and lemon, so it is shaken. Both look lovely in a stemmed glass; the flavours are worlds apart.
You can use a coupe for either drink. If you are deciding what to keep in your cupboard, our coupe vs Martini glass comparison makes the choice much easier.
Breakfast Martini FAQ
Can I make a Breakfast Martini without Cointreau?
Yes. Use another good-quality triple sec at the same starting measure of 15 ml (0.5 oz). The sweetness and orange character can vary between brands, so taste the finished drink before adjusting the next one.
Do I need a cocktail shaker?
A shaker is the easiest way to chill and dilute this lemon-based drink properly. If you do not have one, a clean, sturdy jar with a secure leakproof lid can work. Leave room for ice, hold the lid firmly and strain carefully.
Can I make Breakfast Martinis ahead of time?
You can measure the gin, orange liqueur and marmalade in advance and keep them covered and chilled. Add freshly squeezed lemon and shake with ice just before serving. That gives you the best texture and temperature.
Why is it called a Breakfast Martini?
The name is a playful nod to the orange marmalade you might find on the breakfast table. This is an alcoholic cocktail, not a breakfast drink you need to serve in the morning.
A little marmalade, a lovely cocktail
If you have gin, a lemon and a jar of marmalade, you are surprisingly close to something special. Give it a proper shake, use a cold glass and let the orange peel finish the job. It looks like effort. It really isn't.
