Bring the Minnesota State Fair Home with These Easy Fair-Inspired Sips
There’s nothing quite like the Great Minnesota Get-Together. From iconic favorites
like mini donuts and caramel apples to the wildly creative new foods and drinks
introduced each year, the Minnesota State Fair is all about discovering something fun,
unexpected, and delicious.
This year, I’m bringing that spirit home with five easy, Fair-inspired beverages that are
perfect for backyard gatherings, neighborhood get-togethers, or simply extending the
Fair fun after you leave the grounds. Using ready-to-drink beverages, familiar
ingredients, and a few playful garnishes, these recipes come together quickly while still
capturing some of the flavors and trends that make the Minnesota State Fair so
memorable.
From nostalgic dessert-inspired cocktails to a savory pickle martini and a modern
Minnesota-made THC beverage, there’s something here for every kind of Fair fan.
SunnyD Orange Cream Float
Inspired by the Fair’s playful beverage trends and nostalgic orange-creamsicle
flavors, this bright cocktail is refreshing, colorful, and made for a hot August
afternoon.
Ingredients
* 1 can SunnyD Vodka Seltzer
* 1 oz vanilla cold foam or vanilla coffee creamer
* Splash of lemon-lime soda, optional
* Orange slice
* Fresh orange zest
* Ice
Instructions
* Fill a tall glass with ice.
* Pour in the SunnyD Vodka Seltzer.
* Add a splash of lemon-lime soda, if desired.
* Slowly top with vanilla cold foam or coffee creamer.
* Garnish with an orange slice and fresh orange zest.
Serve immediately.
Barker’s Mini Donut Espresso Martini
What’s a trip to the Minnesota State Fair without mini donuts? This easy dessert
cocktail gives Barker’s Espresso Martini a Fair-inspired makeover with cinnamon
sugar and, of course, a mini donut garnish.
Ingredients
* 1 can Barker’s Espresso Martini
* Cinnamon sugar
* Honey or simple syrup, for the rim
* Mini donut
* Ice
Instructions
* Dip the rim of a martini glass in honey or simple syrup.
* Coat the rim with cinnamon sugar.
* Shake Barker’s Espresso Martini with ice.
* Strain into the prepared glass.
* Garnish with a mini donut on a cocktail pick.
Serve immediately.
Optional variation: For a creamier dessert-style drink, use Barker’s Cappuccino in
place of the Espresso Martini and finish with a light dusting of cinnamon.
Caramel Apple Midway Mule
Caramel apples are a natural fit for Fair season, and this drink turns that classic
sweet-and-tart combination into a crisp, refreshing mule with a little ginger spice.
Ingredients
* 1½ oz Woody Creek whiskey
* 2 oz apple cider
* 4 oz ginger beer
* ½ oz fresh lemon juice
* ½ oz caramel syrup
* Apple slices
* Cinnamon stick
* Ice
Instructions
* Fill a copper mug or rocks glass with ice.
* Add the Woody Creek Whiskey, apple cider, lemon juice, and caramel syrup.
* Top with ginger beer.
* Stir gently.
* Garnish with fresh apple slices and a cinnamon stick.
For an extra Fair-inspired touch, drizzle a little caramel around the inside of the
glass before pouring.
Blue Ribbon Pickle Martini
The Minnesota State Fair has a long history of taking familiar flavors in
unexpected directions, and pickle-inspired creations always get people talking.
This savory martini brings that same spirit to the glass with a crisp, briny, dill-
forward flavor.
Ingredients
* 2 oz Prairie Organic vodka
* ½ oz dry vermouth
* ½ oz pickle brine
* Fresh dill
* Cornichon or pickle spear
* Celery salt, optional for the rim
* Ice
Instructions
* If desired, lightly rim a chilled martini glass with celery salt.
* Add the Prairie vodka, dry vermouth, pickle brine, and ice to a cocktail shaker.
* Shake until well chilled.
* Strain into the prepared glass.
* Garnish with fresh dill and a cornichon or pickle spear.
* Serve cold.
For an extra Fair-style presentation, add a small dill pickle chip or mini pickle skewer as
the garnish.
Looner Blue Ribbon Berry Sparkler
Minnesota’s beverage scene continues to evolve, and THC beverages have become another option for adults looking for a social drink without alcohol. Featuring Minnesota based Looner, this berry forward sparkler brings a modern local twist to the Fair-inspired lineup.
Ingredients
*1 can Looner Wild Grape THC Beverage, 21+
*Splash of sparkling lemonade
*Fresh blueberries
*Fresh raspberries
*Lemon wheel
*Fresh mint
*Ice
Instructions
*Fill a stemless wine glass with ice.
*Pour in the Looner Wild Grape beverage.
*Add a splash of sparkling lemonade.
*Stir gently.
*Garnish with fresh blueberries, raspberries, a lemon wheel, and mint.
*Serve chilled.
21+ THC Beverage Notice: Because this drink contains THC, keep it clearly labeled for adults 21+ and serve it separately from alcoholic beverages.
Cheers to Fair Season
One of the best parts of the Minnesota State Fair is that it manages to be both nostalgic
and completely unpredictable. You can return every year for the mini donuts, caramel
apples, and favorite traditions you already love, while still finding something new,
unexpected, and maybe even a little outrageous.
That’s the inspiration behind this lineup.
The SunnyD Orange Cream Float brings a playful, nostalgic twist. The Barker’s Mini
Donut Espresso Martini turns an iconic Fair treat into dessert in a glass. The Caramel
Apple Midway Mule captures one of the season’s classic flavor combinations. The
Blue Ribbon Pickle Martini adds the kind of unexpected savory flavor that makes Fair
food so much fun. And the Looner Blue Ribbon Berry Sparkler highlights the
creativity happening right here in Minnesota’s evolving beverage scene.
Whether you’re hosting a State Fair-themed backyard party, gathering with friends
before heading to the Fair, or just looking for a fun way to celebrate another Minnesota
summer, these drinks make it easy to bring a little bit of the Great Minnesota Get-
Together home.
Cheers to Fair season!