According to NYC bartender and consultant Joanna Carpenter, mini pumpkins are more than just throwaway fall décor. If you have the time (and an efficient scooping tool), pumpkins should be at the top of your list when conducting kitchen experiments during the cooler months. To make the Hey, Gourdgeous cocktail, Carpenter enlists another cold-weather favorite, the crockpot, to slow-cook a cornucopia of fall ingredients, including apples, maple syrup and baking spices. She calls upon apple brandy and Amaro Montenegro to provide the boozy kick, and then those flavors all mingle together over heat before being served inside baked mini pumpkins that are brushed with spiced butter. The resulting cocktail is fun, festive and delicious—so, it's everything you want when using gourds as glassware. And while it does take some extra time to prep your ingredients and cook the drink, the reward is worth the effort because you'll have an entire crockpot of cocktail at your disposal. Break out this recipe for football games, holiday parties or any other time you need to serve a crowd. Since you're doing the bulk of the work ahead of time, you'll be free to enjoy yourself as guests ladle the drink into their personal pumpkins. 4 Warming Crock-Pot Cocktail Recipes to Try at Home