Celebrating the holidays with family and friends calls for a toast. So in between giving gifts and indulging in desserts, sip on these Christmas cocktails to increase your holiday spirit.
These spirits are easy to mix up while preparing delicious holiday dishes, making this Christmas even more merry. Cheers to that!
Candy Cane Cocktail
When we think of Christmas flavors, peppermint candy canes are of the first ones that pop into our heads. So toast to a Merry Christmas with this Candy Cane Cocktail.
It takes only 5 minutes to prepare 1 serving of this recipe. Combine 1 shot of your favorite vanilla-flavored rum, 1 shot of white chocolate Godiva liqueur and 1 shot of peppermint schnapps into a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain and pour into a martini glass and garnish with candy canes.
Frostbite
The weather outside might be frightful, but cure your frost bite by warming up with this festive, (almost) frozen cocktail. Chances are the children in the house won't let go of "Let It Go," so you might as well continue on the Frozen theme.
All you need is 1 1/2 oz. of tequila, 1 oz of cream, 1/2 oz of ½ oz blue curaçao, 1 oz of chocolate liqueur and ½ oz of crème de menthe. Shake in a chilled cocktail shaker and pour into a martini glass with ice.
Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer
Even the reindeer deserve a gift on Christmas (make sure to leave out the carrots!). Adults can play on a Santa's favorite helper theme with this cocktail. Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer is on the lighter side and you can leave out the vodka for a kid-friendly version.
To make 9 1/2 cup serving, stir together 5 cups of orange juice, 1 1/2 cups of vodka, 2 cups of chilled lemon-lime soft drink, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup of maraschino cherry juice in a pitcher and serve over ice.
White Chocolate Pumpkin Nog
Of course Christmastime means bringing out the eggnog, but this drink is perfect for both nog fans and those who aren't big drinkers of the holiday staple. This White Chocolate Pumpkin Nog is light on the calories too, since it uses light vanilla soy milk.
Blend together 5 cups of light vanilla soy milk, 1 small package of sugar-free instant white chocolate pudding mix, 2/3 cups of pumpkin puree, 6 sweetener packets, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and rum extract (or Southern Comfort) and chill for two hours before serving to let the mixture thicken.
Christmas Grinch Punch
Have your heart grow two sizes while enjoying this Christmas Grinch Punch. Although this drink should be served frozen, it only takes 15 minutes to prepare. Show off your best Jim Carey impression while clinking glasses to this one.
Stir 1/3 cups of sugar and 6 tbsp water on medium heat and remove from heat. In a bowl, combine 1/3 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 tsp of almond extract and refrigerate. When ready to serve, pour into a punch bowl, and stir in 12 drops of neon green food coloring and top with vanilla ice cream.
White Christmas
Every party needs a signature cocktail, and what better one than this divine White Christmas Martini. This creamy drink is like an adult version of a milkshake, perfect to go with dessert.
Mix 2 oz of vanilla vodka, 2 oz of white chocolate liquor, 1 oz of white cream de cacao and 1 oz of half and half in a chilled shaker and strain into a martini glass. Before pouring, twist honey and sugar along the rim for a garnish.
Christmas Tree Cocktail
As you gather around the Christmas tree, sip on this perfect party cocktail that will make everything more merry and bright. The Christmas Tree Cocktail is perfect for gin drinkers, and has that berry flavoring that tastes like the holidays.
Mix 3 oz of pomegranate juice, 2 oz of gin and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Churn mint leaves at the bottom of a glass and drizzle on 1 oz of simple sugar. Pour in liquid and garish with pomegranate seeds, mint leaves and lime.
Marasca Fizz
It's the holidays, so pop some bubbly with your loved ones and ring in the New Year with cheer. This Marasca Fizz champagne cocktail is deliciously sweet thanks to pitted cherries.
Moisten the rim of a flute glass with maraschino cherry syrup and sugar. Sprinkle 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters over 2 brown sugar cubes in the glass and pour in 1/2 ox of cherry liquor like Cherry Heering and 1/4 more of the maraschino cherry syrup. Pour in champagne and drink!
Hot Buttered Rye
This frothy, buttered beer look-alike drink is just waiting to be sipped. And now that Movemeber is over, men can enjoy this beverage without getting that froth on their beards.
While this recipe is for 1 serving, the cream will be enough for 6 drinks. Beat 1 cup heavy cream and 2 tbsp maple syrup with a mixer until it looks like soft butter and chill 24 hours. Pour in 1/4 cup of rye whiskey, 6 tbsp of hot water and 2 tbsp of ginger liquor into a cup. Top with 1/4 cup of maple-cream and garnish with nutmeg.
Cider Jack Cocktail
Nothing better to wash down the homemade apple pie than with this Cider Jack Cocktail. It includes the flavors of the winter season, apple and cinnamon, that will make you feel toasty inside.
To make, shake 2 oz of applejack Liqueur, 1 oz of lemon juice and a dash of grenadine into a cocktail shaker. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with hard apple cider and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Cheers!
Photo Credit: Tom Ipri/Flickr
