Access Hollywood Live: Aida Mollenkamp’s Valentine’s Day Cocktails

Aida Mollenkamp, star of “FoodCrafters” on The Food Network, stops by Access Hollywood Live to share some of her favorite recipes to stir up a little romance on Valentine’s Day!

Here are three of Aida’s favorite Valentine’s Day cocktails:

The Fruit of Eden
Yield: 1 drink

1 piece crystallized ginger
3 dashes orange bitters
1 ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
4 ounces chilled brut sparkling wine
Pomegranate seeds, for garnish

Place ginger in champagne flute and add bitters. Add ginger liqueur and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve.

The Bee’s Knees
Yield: 1 drink

For the honey syrup:
1 cup lavender honey
1 cup water

For the cocktail:
1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce honey syrup
Lemon twist, for garnish
Candied lavender, for garnish (optional)

For the syrup:
Bring honey and water to a simmer over medium heat and stir until honey dissolves. Let cool to room temperature before using. (Syrup can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and store refrigerated in an airtight container.)

For the cocktail:
Combine gin, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker and stir to dissolve honey syrup. Fill shaker halfway with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 10 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with lemon twist and candied lavender, as desired.

Canela y Chocolate
Yield: 2 drinks

6 ounces Mexican (such as Ibarra) or milk chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 (2-inch long) strip orange zest
1 1/2 to 2 ounces reposado (100% agave) tequila
2 cinnamon stick, for garnish

Combine everything except the liqueur and ginger in a small saucepan and place over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until chocolate is melted, mixture is smooth, and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in liqueur, pour into snifters or glass coffee mugs and garnish with cinnamon stick.