5 Best Cocktail Recipes for the Christmas Season
I’m sharing my 5 best cocktail recipes and the different occasions that I would offer these festive cocktails.
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5 Holiday Cocktails for 5 Holiday Events
When you’re having a holiday party, you’ll want to know how to make the perfect holiday cocktail. When we entertain during the holiday season, we typically only offer a few beer options and a white and red wine along with a few non-alcoholic beverages. But I love to offer my guests a signature cocktail as a welcome to our home drink.
It’s been my experience that most people will only want one and then switch to their preferred drink. That being said, you don’t need to spend a fortune on ingredients for a ton of drinks. I also only have one “special” drink per event.
I’m going to share some of my favorites and the occasions that I would serve them. If you want suggestions for clean, affordable wines I have a post in which I share my choices.
I also love a great charcuterie board for any type of entertaining. I share how to make a perfect board HERE.
Holiday Cocktail Party
I think a martini is so fitting for a holiday cocktail party. It’s a classic cocktail that is easy to modify to make it a favorite holiday drink. Martinis are guaranteed to get everyone into the holiday spirit. I know that I sure love them 🙂 It’s probably my favorite cocktail.
This is also a perfect cocktail to ring in the new year.
Cran-Raspberry Sparkling Martini
Ingredients
- 1 oz champagne or prosecco
- 1-1/2 oz Raspberry Vodka
- 1/2 oz Cointreau
- 1 oz Cran-Raspberry Cocktail Juice
- 1 tblsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Pour champagne or prosecco into a martini glass
- Shake remaining ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker and strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with sugared raspberries and fresh spring of rosemary
Notes
Making Sugared Cranberries & Raspberries
It’s really simple. Dip your fresh cranberries and raspberries into simple syrup, to coat. Then put your fruit into a bowl of sugar and gently toss the fruit to coat. Using a slotted spoon, remove the fruit from the bowl of sugar and let rest on a piece of parchment paper.
You can also put these on parchment paper on a baking sheet and pop them in the freezer for 1/2 hour to make fruit ice-cubes (sugared)
Casual Football Sunday Holiday Get-Together
I never thought I enjoyed bourbon and I’m not a huge beer fan. This boozy beverage was surprisingly yummy and something I would have again.
Beer Infused Old-Fashion
Ingredients
- 1 oz oatmeal stout I used Samual Smith
- 1-1/2 oz your choice of bourbon I use Woodford Reserve
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 3 dashes bitter
- orange peel & maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Mix all in a tall glass with plenty of ice cubes. Garnish with cherries and orange peel.
Holiday Cookie Exchange
This cocktail is perfect for an afternoon cookie exchange or holiday luncheon. It’s light on alcohol and calories. It would look beautiful in a punch bowl at your Christmas party
Cran-Raspberry Wine Spritzer
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Prosecco
- 1 ounces sparkling water
- 1 ounces cran-raspberry drink
Instructions
- Pour over ice and garnish with raspberries
Ice Skating Party
If you’re having a winter holiday outdoor party, you want to have something that warms you from the inside out. This hot toddy-type cocktail will warm you up after an afternoon of skating.
A hot chocolate bar would be perfect for the younger crowd.
This is also perfect for a cocktail to enjoy on a cozy night in front of the fireplace.
Bailey’s Peppermint Coffee
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 oz Baileys Irish Crem
- 5 oz coffee
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- Crushed Peppermint candy or peppermint bark
Instructions
- Brew coffee and add to cup with baileys
- Whip cream until stiff – spoon the whipped cream on top of the coffee mixture
- garnish with crushed peppermint or peppermint bark
Notes
If you’re looking for some non-alcoholic coffee drink ideas, you can find them HERE
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a big deal in our family and we really enjoy a long evening of eating, drinking, opening presents, and just having family fun.
This holiday twist on the classic Moscow mule is the best drink for a casual holiday party.
This cocktail is perfect for our very special night!
Raspberry Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 oz vodka
- 4 oz ginger beer
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- juice from 1/2 of lime
Instructions
- mix all ingredients in a copper mug and add ice
- garnish with rosemary and sugared cranberries
What Do You Serve Your Cocktails In?
I love vintage! I collect all things vintage and I love to use my vintage glassware for entertaining. How beautiful is it to have a cocktail in a stunning vintage Waterford Double Old Fashioned or an etched glass Fostoria Wine Glass?
If you have beautiful things, use them!
What is the point of having great things if you can’t enjoy them with great company?
I also have glassware from Dollar Tree and I treasure them too. Everything I have, I have because I love it and it serves a purpose. There is a place in my home for both the old and new.
Setting up a Bar for Holiday Parties
While you don’t need to include all of these items, here is a list of possible things to make the best Christmas cocktails for your guests You know your friends and family so plan accordingly.
Wine & Spirits
- Red Wine
- White Wine
- Sparkling Wines
- Champagne
- Light Beer
- Regular Beer and/or IPA
- Rum
- Vodka
- Tequila
- Bourbon
- Whiskey
- Gin
Other Options
- Aperol
- Bailey’s Irish Cream
- Sweet Vermouth
- Dark Rum
- Amaretto
- Kahlua
Mixers
- Tonic Water
- Seltzer Water
- Orange Juice
- Cranberry Juice
- 7-Up
- Coke
- Ginger Beer
- Ginger Ale
- apple cider
- pineapple juice
Garnishes
- Fresh lime juice
- lemon slices
- lime wedges
- Sugared Cranberries
- Rosemary Sprigs
- orange slices
- maraschino cherries
- raspberries
- pomegranate arils
- Fresh Mint
Other
- Plenty of Ice
- Cocktail Shaker
- Ice Bucket and Tongs,
- Cocktail Glassware
- Stir Sticks
- Cork Screw/Bottle Opener
Conclusion
Whether you are creating a special drink for a small gathering or planning a full-bar cocktail party, I hope you find this helpful.
We are hosting a small dinner soon and I’m planning one signature, welcome cocktail, and then we will have wine paired with each course of our meal. I will be sharing that with you.
Peace, Love, and Happy Holidays
I partnered up with some of my blogging friends with ideas to enjoy your favorite holiday cocktails with the recipes below. You will find the links to appetizers, soup, and salad along with festive focaccia bread. Bon Appétit!
Renae – Peacock Ridge Farm
The chill is in the air and that means it’s time to start thinking about delicious harvest salads for your Holiday Feasts! This festive salad recipe is easy to follow and perfect for a nutritious lunch or dinner. Plus, it’s hearty enough to keep you satisfied all day long. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy a tasty meal!
Cindy from Reinvented Delaware
This easy shrimp bisque instant pot recipe is the perfect starter for a special occasion or for any night of the week. Ingredients can be kept on hand so this delicious soup can be made in just 30 minutes!
Diane from South House Designs
Treat your guests to a delicious, focaccia Christmas tree. It’s festive focaccia bread art that’s perfect for any casual gathering. Grazing board, anyone?
Michele from Vintage Home Designs
This Christmas Tree Charcuterie board is so easy to put together. It’s very festive and perfect for any holiday get-together.
A great way to remember these recipes is to save them to your Pinterest boards. You can find the pin button in the top right corner of the photo below. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest
These all look SO yummy!! Can’t wait to try them all!!
This of course was a very fun post to prepare for! We had some friends over so I didn’t have to drink them all! I did take a sip of everyone and they were all really yummy!
The cocktails look so festive Lynn! You are an amazing hostess!
Thank you Cindy – This was a really fun post to write. Well at least it was a really fun post to prepare for 🙂
I’m so ready! The toughest part is deciding which one to start with. Beautiful and delicious — a winning combination every time!
Make them all!
Wow! These cocktails sounds amazing! and so easy, too.
I even enjoyed a sip of the one with whiskey. I didn’t think I would.
The wine spritzer looks amazing Lynn! I’ll be trying that recipe this year! Maybe after this blog hop????????
That sounds like a plan!
These cocktail recipes offer such variety and each looks like the perfect touch for a holiday gathering! Thanks for the great ideas, Lynn! Cheers!
Hi Laura –
They all are really yummy and a great option for different kind of holiday get-togethers
Hi Lynn! These recipes look so festive and yummy! I’m going to share this post in my weekly newsletter on Saturday! Hope you are doing well!
Thank you Donna for sharing!