Lemon Cream Pie Martini

It is the perfect time of year to use lemons in dessert.  Their sunny yellow color and bright tart flavor bring a bit of sunshine to otherwise cold winter days.  This is why I thought they would be perfect in a dessert like drink I was creating.  I was thinking some lemon cream pie sounded awfully good...but didn't want to go through the trouble of making one, so I put all the flavors of the pie into a cocktail!  Why not have my drink and dessert at the same time! 

I used coconut milk to make it creamy, and fresh lemon to give it that tart flavor along with vanilla bean syrup to sweeten.  The result was a delicious drink that brought a bit of sunshine to my taste buds!  If you wanted a non-alchoholic version, you could substitute some lite coconut milk for the vodka, and add a little more lemon.  Try this drink out to chase away the winter blahs! 

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 Tbsp full fat coconut milk

In a martini shaker add the ice, vodka, vanilla bean syrup, coconut milk, and lemon juice place top on shaker. Shake until well blended. Pour through a strainer into a chilled martini glass, garnish with the lemon zest and serve!

Combine 1/2 cup agave nectar with 1/2 cup boiling water, and one vanilla bean split.  Stir to dissolve agave, and let sit to let flavor of vanilla bean infuse into the syrup.  After a few hours remove the bean.  Store in the fridge in a jar or bottle.