I ordered this drink on a whim once, mostly because of the name, and ended up adding it to my regular rotation after just one sip.
It’s exactly as sweet and playful as it sounds. 💋
A Kiss on the Lips is a fruity, layered shot or cocktail typically made with peach schnapps, amaretto, and cranberry or orange juice, giving it a soft, blush-pink color and a sweet, fruity flavor.
It’s light, easy to drink, and a fun pick for parties, girls’ nights, or any celebration that calls for something a little playful.
It takes about a minute to shake or layer together, no fancy bar tools required.
Here’s something worth knowing: playful, flirty cocktail names like this one really took off as part of the broader cocktail culture boom of the 1980s and 90s, when sweeter, fruitier drinks became especially popular at bars and parties. 🍑
It’s stuck around since then mostly because it tastes exactly as fun as it sounds.
Why This Recipe Works
Peach schnapps and amaretto together create a soft, fruity-almond flavor base that’s sweet without being overly strong-tasting.
Cranberry juice adds a touch of tartness and that signature blush color, balancing out the sweetness from the schnapps and amaretto.
A splash of orange juice rounds everything out with a little extra brightness, keeping the drink from feeling one-dimensional.
And because each ingredient is relatively mild on its own, the combination ends up tasting more like a fruity treat than a strong, boozy drink.
That balance is really the whole appeal here, easy to drink, easy to make, and easy to share with a group without anyone feeling overwhelmed by the alcohol content.
What You’ll Need
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 1 oz amaretto
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- Ice
- A cherry for garnish (optional)
That’s the full list, just five components, and most bars and liquor stores carry every one of them.
Tools You’ll Need
- Shaker or mixing glass
- Measuring jigger or shot glass
- Strainer (if your shaker doesn’t have one built in)
- Shot glasses or a small cocktail glass for serving
How to Make a Kiss on the Lips
Step 1: Combine the ingredients
Add the peach schnapps, amaretto, cranberry juice, and orange juice to a shaker filled with ice.
Measuring each ingredient carefully here helps keep the flavor balanced, especially if you’re making more than one at a time.
Step 2: Shake well
Shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds, until the shaker feels cold to the touch.
You’ll know it’s ready once the outside of the shaker feels noticeably frosty and the ice sounds like it’s moving freely inside.
Step 3: Strain and pour
Strain the mixture into shot glasses, or a small cocktail glass if you prefer to sip it slowly instead.
Straining helps keep any small ice chips from ending up in your final pour.
Step 4: Garnish and serve
Garnish with a cherry if desired.
Serve immediately while it’s still cold.
Pro Tips
A handful of small details that genuinely improve this drink.
- Shake well to fully chill the mixture. A quick shake won’t get it cold enough, so don’t rush this step.
- Adjust the ratio of cranberry to orange juice to your taste. More cranberry means tarter, more orange means sweeter and milder.
- Use fresh ice for the best results. Old or partially melted ice can water the drink down faster than you’d want.
- Make it as a shot or a sipper. This recipe works well served straight as a shot, or poured over ice in a small glass for sipping slowly.
- Chill your glasses ahead of time if serving as shots. It keeps the drink colder for longer, especially if you’re making several at once for a party.
- Garnish right before serving. A cherry added too early can start to look a little tired by the time people actually drink it.
Substitutions and Variations
- No amaretto on hand? A splash of almond extract mixed into a neutral spirit can work in a pinch, though the flavor won’t be quite the same.
- Want it less sweet? Use unsweetened cranberry juice, and adjust the ratio of juices to your taste.
- Want it frozen? Blend all the ingredients with extra ice for a slushy, frozen version of this same drink.
- Want a virgin version? Skip the schnapps and amaretto, and mix the cranberry and orange juice with a splash of soda instead.
- Want it stronger? Add a splash of vodka to the mix for an extra kick, though this will make the flavor less fruity and more alcohol-forward.
Make Ahead Tips
The juice mixture, minus the schnapps and amaretto, can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for a couple of days.
Add the alcohol fresh each time you’re ready to serve, rather than mixing everything together too far in advance.
This makes it easy to prep ahead for a party, since most of the work can be done before guests even arrive.
Nutritional Info & Diet Swaps
One serving comes out to roughly 130-150 calories, depending on the exact brands of schnapps and amaretto used.
For a lower calorie version: Use a light or no-sugar-added cranberry juice, and reduce the amaretto slightly.
For a lower sugar version: Use unsweetened juices throughout and adjust to taste with a splash of sweetener if needed.
Meal Pairing Suggestions
- Light appetizers like bruschetta: The fruity sweetness pairs nicely with something savory and light.
- A dessert spread: Works well alongside cookies or small bites at a party.
- A girls’ night charcuterie board: A fun, casual pairing for a relaxed evening with friends.
- A small dessert bite, like a macaron: Matches the playful, sweet nature of the drink itself.
Time-Saving Tips
- Pre-mix the juice base ahead of a party and store it in a pitcher in the fridge.
- Pre-measure your schnapps and amaretto into a labeled container if you’re making several of these for a group.
- Use a large pitcher for batch shaking instead of mixing individual drinks one at a time.
- Keep schnapps and amaretto stored together in the same spot so you’re never digging through the bar cart looking for them.
Leftovers and Storage
This drink is best enjoyed fresh, but the juice mixture alone keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
I don’t recommend storing the fully mixed drink with alcohol already added, since the flavor and texture both shift over time once it sits.
FAQ
Is this a shot or a cocktail? It can be either, depending on how you serve it. Many people drink it as a shot, but it works just as well sipped slowly over ice.
How strong is this drink? It’s moderately strong, similar to most fruity mixed shots, though the sweet flavor can make it easy to underestimate the alcohol content.
Can I make a big batch for a party? Yes, just multiply the ingredients and mix everything in a pitcher, shaking individual servings with ice as you pour them.
Is this the same as a Lip Gloss shot? They’re similar in spirit, both fruity, playful named shots, but a Lip Gloss typically uses different liqueurs and can vary quite a bit by recipe.
Can I make this drink ahead for a party? The juice base can be made ahead, but always add the schnapps and amaretto fresh right before serving for the best flavor.
What’s the best way to serve this for a group? Lining up several chilled shot glasses and pouring from a single shaker batch is the easiest way to serve a group quickly without losing any of the chill.
Wrapping Up
This drink earns its playful name honestly, since it’s sweet, fun, and a little addictive once you’ve had your first sip.
Peach schnapps, amaretto, cranberry juice, and orange juice, all shaken together over ice. That’s genuinely the whole process.
Make a batch for your next girls’ night, party, or celebration, and watch it disappear fast.
If you try this one, leave a comment below and let me know how you adjusted the ratios to your taste. I’d love to hear about it.
