The Pizza-Flavored Cocktail Created From Millennial Nostalgia

If you're a millennial, chances are you have some fond memories of after-school snacks. For many of us, it was all about Bagel Bites — the simple yet quintessential pizza-bagel hybrid that satisfied our young cravings. So what better way to bring back those nostalgic flavors than in cocktail form? 

That's what John deBary's Pizza Anytime cocktail is all about. The Bloody Mary riff and Bagel Bites-inspired pizza cocktail is a beverage that may sound bizarre but is actually a surprisingly delicious way to relive '90s childhood memories. And with ingredients like marinara sauce, pepperoni slices, and everything bagel seasoning, your pantry might already contain everything you need to enjoy this alcoholic version of mini pizza bagels.

However, this pizza–flavored cocktail isn't some gimmick designed to appeal to millennials. This is a cocktail that stands on its own two feet. Grab some pizza toppings and get ready to learn how to make this savory cocktail. Who knows, it might become the go-to drink for your Throwback Thursday happy hours or pizza nights paired with reruns of "Full House" or "Friends."

Pizza Anytime is just one of 65 total cocktails in John deBary's latest book, and the inspiration for the collection of boozy recipes is pretty relatable. Speaking of the iconic decade, deBary told Imbibe, "I picked out all these things that I loved in the '90s in an effort to retroactively make them cool, a way for me to rehabilitate my '90s teenage self." 

It's not the first time we've seen nostalgia-fueled drink trends coming back around to target millennial consumers, either. SunnyD recently launched a vodka seltzer, after all. However, deBary's cocktail book, full of crazy concoctions, goes beyond simply reminding readers (and drinkers) of '90s pop songs and classic movies. Instead, he dug deep into pop culture to create these unique recipes, telling Imbibe that his goal was to "actually elicit a behavior in the reader so that they'll make a delicious drink that will remind them of 'Barbie Girl' or Tamagotchi."

Alongside the Bagel Bites-inspired Pizza Anytime, you'll find tipples such as Dream Phone, Home Alone, and Frosted Tips. The author reiterated that the book was about more than just whipping up creative cocktails saying, "I wanted to think of something that was really unique — not another cocktail book that was just recipes, but using drinks as a vehicle for a topic."

The allure of Bagel Bites was the fact that they were a super-simple way to serve a hearty snack. And John deBary's recipe sticks to that simplicity. To make the cocktail, start by infusing your vodka with everything bagel seasoning. Once infused, strain the mix and combine it with marinara sauce and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker. Add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce to give it a spicy kick, and then shake it up. Pour it into a parmesan salt-rimmed glass and top it off with a few delicious garnishes like pepperoni slices and a lemon wedge. 

While the original recipe is deliciously reminiscent of childhood pizza nights, feel free to get creative with the concoction. One option is to make a vegan version by swapping out the pepperoni for peppers. For those who prefer virgin drinks, you can enjoy this by leaving out the booze altogether and replacing it with a non-alcoholic spirit. Or, kick it up a notch with extra splashes of hot sauce for a spicier kick. Then, all that's left to do is gather your friends, put on your favorite '90s movie, and enjoy this slice of pizza in a glass.