A liqueur can be defined as a beverage created by combining a spirit and a flavoring ingredient. Following are just a few that are commonly used in food preparation.
Amaretto
Italy was the birthplace of this almond liqueur.
A famous macaroon-type cookie is made using amaretto. It is also used to flavor
a popular cheesecake.
Anisette
This French liqueur is flavored with anise seeds.
It's sweeter and lower in alcohol than other anise-flavored liqueurs. (Substitute
one teaspoon anise extract for each tablespoon of anisette.)
Bénédictine
An herbal liqueur beverage developed by Alexandre
Le Grand in the 19th century and produced in France.
Creme de Cassis
Made with black currants, this sweet liqueur
blends well in chocolate recipes. It also is used often with fruit.
Curaçao
It is flavored only with the peel of bitter oranges,
specifically those native to the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Manufacturers may
tint their Curaçao blue, green, orange, or amber, but color does not affect the
flavor.
Frangelico
Another Italian beverage, Frangelico gets its
flavor from hazelnuts. It can be found in cheesecake and mousse recipes.
Galliano
This Italian liqueur is flavored with anise and
comes in a bottle that's one inch taller than your liquor cabinet. It's used to
make Harvey Wallbangers and other cocktails.
Grand Marnier
This classic is a mixture of brandy and orange.
It is used in souffles, crepes, mousses, and desserts. Duck also pairs well with
the rich orange flavor.
Herbsaint
Made in New Orleans, this anise-flavored liqueur
was developed as a substitute for absinthe, which contains a narcotic and is outlawed
in the United States. It's used in mixed drinks and Oysters Rockefeller.
Kahlua
This coffee-flavored drink from Mexico is also used
extensively in baking. Many Tiramisu recipes employ it.
Xanath (sha-nath)
Made from premium vanilla beans, organically
grown (certification pending) in the rainforest of Veracruz. Because the vanilla
is native to this exotic region, it is rainforest friendly and completely agriculturally
sustainable. Xanath is crafted from a secret recipe by the Gaya family, processors
and purveyors of vanilla and vanilla products since the 1870s.