The Ultimate List of Holiday Cocktails
Winter Break is a great time to reconnect with high school friends as well as family. But what party is complete without the perfect, festive cocktail to go along with the holiday season? Look no further – scroll down to see the ultimate list of holiday cocktails!
1. Cranberry Ginger Cocktail
*Recipe and image from My Food Story
Serving Size: Individual
The first of the holiday cocktails! Directions: Rub a slice of lemon onto the rim of a mason jar, and then dip the rim in sugar. Add 5-6 ice cubes, ¾ cup of cranberry juice and 75mL of unflavored vodka to the jar and stir. Top with ½ cup of ginger beer and a few slices of lemon or lime!
2. Coconut Vallina Bellini
*Recipe and image from Thread Sence
Serving Size: 8
Directions: Combine ½ cup of white sanding sugar, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and 1 vanilla bean (scraped into small pieces) in a bowl. Coat the rims of 8 champagne glasses with anything sticky and sweet, such as marshmallow fluff or frosting, and dip the rims in the sugar mixture. Pour 2 ounces of a coconut juice blend or coconut pureed nectar in each glass, and fill the rest of the way with Prosecco. Stir with a long spoon and serve immediately.
3. Christmas Cookie Cocktail
*Recipe and image from Justin Danks Blog
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Coat the rim of a glass of your choice with something sweet, such as marshmallow fluff or frosting, and dip the rim in sprinkles. Combine 1 part cake-flavored vodka with 1 part cinnamon Schnapps, and 2 parts Rum Chata and enjoy!
4. Cranberry Jell-O Shots
*Recipe and image from A Beautiful Mess
Serving Size: 20
Directions: OK, maybe Jell-O shots don’t technically count as holiday cocktails, but these are too perfect to pass up! Heat up 2 ¼ cups cranberry juice until it is boiling, and pour it into a large bowl. Mix in 1 packet of cranberry Jell-O mix until it is completely dissolved, then add in ¾ cup of orange-flavored vodka. Pour into shot cups and place in refrigerator overnight.
5. Mistletoe Margarita
*Recipe and image from At Large With Wanted Tumblr
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Rim a margarita glass with salt. Combine 37.5mL tequila, 20mL Chambord liqueur, 50mL pomegranate juice, 25mL lime juice, and 20mL agave syrup in a tumbler. Shake and strain into the margarita glass. Garnish with some mint leaves and a cherry.
6. White Russian (with a twist!)
*Recipe and image from Celebrate Mag
Serving Size: 6
Directions: Combine 1 quart eggnog with ½ cup bourbon, ½ cup dark rum, and ½ cup hazelnut liqueur in a pitcher. Garnish with star anise and cinnamon. One of the most delicious holiday cocktails on this list!
7. Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail
*Recipe and image from Martha Stewart
Serving Size: 8
Directions: Place 2 tablespoons of dry cranberries in a bowl of warm water and let soak until cool. Divide ½ cup pear nectar between eight champagne glasses. Add cranberries, and fill with Moscato d’Asti wine. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
8. Chocolate Peppermint Bark Martini
*Recipe and image from Waiting On Martha
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Dip rim of a martini glass in chocolate syrup and coat with crushed peppermint candy. Combine 1 oz. Godiva chocolate liqueur with 0.5 oz. peppermint Schnapps, 0.5 oz. vodka and ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. When fully mixed, pour into the martini glass and enjoy!
9. White Hot Chocolate S’more Winter Warm-up Cocktail
*Recipe and image from Emily Claire Lifestyle
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Dip the rim of a coffee cup in lemon or lime juice and coat with graham cracker pieces. Boil water to make white hot chocolate, and pour into coffee cup. Add 1oz. of Irish Crème liqueur. Roast two marshmallows over a candle or fire, and use to garnish the drink!
10. Pawley’s Rum Punch
*Recipe and image from Saveur
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Combine 1 oz. cranberry juice with 1 oz. fresh orange juice, 1 oz. pineapple juice, 1 oz. dark rum, and 1 oz. gold rum in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a punch glass; garnish with grated nutmeg.
11. Almond Colada Adult Milkshake
*Recipe and image from Daily Appetite
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Wet the rim of a mug or glass and dip in toasted coconut. Combine 3 oz. amaretto with 1.5 oz. vodka, ½ cup cream of coconut, 1 oz. chocolate syrup, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and 6 ice cubes in a blender, and blend until properly mixed. Pour into glass and top with whipped cream, toasted coconut, and chocolate syrup.
12. Butterscotch Martinis
*Recipe and image from Living Locurto
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Combine 1.5 oz. vanilla vodka with 1.5 oz. butterscotch Schnapps, 4 oz. cream soda and 2 oz. Sprite in a shaker with ice cubes. Shake gently and pour into a glass.
13. Bailey’s Flat White Martini
*Recipe and image from Baileys
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Combine 50mL Bailey’s Original Irish Cream with 25mL espresso and 10mL milk in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until blended and strain into a cocktail glass, garnishing with three coffee beans.
14. Christmas Elf Cocktail
*Recipe and image from HoliCoffee
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Wet the rim of a glass and coat with green sugar. Combine 1 part lime sherbet with 1 part Sprite and ½ part Dripping Spring Vodka in a tumbler. Mix and pour into glass.
15. Jack Frost Martini
*Recipe and image from Indulgy
Serving Size: 4
Directions: Wet the rims of four martini glasses and coat with shredded coconut. Mix together 1 cup pineapple juice, ½ cup light rum or vodka, ½ cup blue curacao, and ½ cup cream of coconut in a shaker with 10-12 ice cubes. Mix and strain into martini glasses. Garnish with shredded coconut.
16. Hot Buttered Rum
*Recipe and image from Cocktails Passion Tumblr
Serving Size: 12
Directions: Cream together 1 stick of unsalted butter, 2 cups light brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp grated nutmeg, 1 pinch ground cloves and 1 pinch salt in a bowl. Place in fridge until firm. Place 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each mug, and add 3 ounces of rum. Top off with boiling water, stir, and serve.
17. Gingerbread Martini
*Recipe and image from Cocktails Passion Tumblr
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Wet the rim of a martini glass and cover with crushed graham crackers. Combine 1 oz. vodka, 1 oz. Bailey’s ½ oz. Kahlua, ½ oz. Monin gingerbread syrup and ice in a tumbler. Shake and strain into the martini glass. Garnish with whipped cream and a gingerbread cookie.
18. Cherry Almond Cocktail
*Recipe and image from Berries
Serving Size: Individual
Directions: Combine 1 oz. cherry brandy with 1 oz. amaretto in a tumbler with ice. Top with 2 oz. Half and Half. Stir and garnish with a chocolate-covered cherry. One of the yummiest holiday cocktails on this list!
19. Homemade Christmas Eggnog
*Recipe and image from Cook a Recipe Blogspot
Serving Size: 6
Directions: Mix together 5 whole cloves, 4 cups milk, ½ tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp ground cinnamon in a saucepan. Heat on low until boiling. Combine 12 egg yolks and 1 ½ cups sugar in a bowl. Whisk together and slowly add in milk mixture while whisking. Pour into a saucepan and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes, while stirring slowly. Do not let it boil. Remove from heat and strain to remove cloves. Let cool for an hour. Stir in 2 ½ cups light rum, 4 cups light cream, 2 tsp vanilla extract and ½ tsp ground nutmeg. Let set in refrigerator overnight.
20. Cranberry Mulled Wine
*Recipe and image from Swanky Recipes
Serving Size: 9-10
Directions: Place 750mL red wine in a pot over medium heat. Slowly add 6 cups of authentic apple cider. When simmering, add 1 cinnamon stick and a pinch of ground cloves. Slice 2 large oranges and 1 large lemon. Squeeze the juices into the pot, then add the skins. Stir in 7 packets of Sweet’N Low and 1 cup fresh cranberries. Simmer for 85 minutes on low-medium heat. Strain and garnish with cranberries, cinnamon sticks and sliced fruit before serving. There’s nothing better than holiday cocktails mixed with wine!
Which one of these holiday cocktails is your favorite for parties? Share it with other readers in the comments section below!
Feature image source: lavenderandlovage.com
