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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails » Holiday Cocktails Your Guests Want You to Make

    LAST UPDATED: January 20, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: December 18, 2018 By Toni Dash 23 Comments

    Holiday Cocktails Your Guests Want You to Make

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Holiday Cocktails title image

    Holiday Cocktails can put the sparkle in an evening or event. These cocktail recipes are easy to make and will be the twinkle in your holiday celebrations.

    Holiday Cocktails title image

    Celebrating the season often involves holiday cocktails at some point.

    Whether it be hosting guests for a party, Christmas cocktails or toasting on New Year’s Eve.

    Just as there are special foods for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, holiday cocktails should deliver a special festive note to mark the season.

    These holiday cocktail recipes are winners, each unique and delicious, and will ensure your holiday entertaining is on point.

    What Makes Perfect Holiday Cocktails?

    A cocktail that heightens the festive feel of the season with flavors or presentation.

    Bright, fresh, familiar seasonal flavors of ginger, peppermint, cranberry, chocolate, or citrus.

    A fun garnish like a lemon spiral with fresh floating cranberries. Or sugared cranberries on a cocktail pick.

    Anything sparkling with seasonal flavors makes an occasion feel like a party too!

    Supplies for Making Holiday Cocktails

    Holiday cocktails are no different than regular cocktail recipes with regard to what home bar tools are needed!

    • Shaker (OR a DIY shaker using a quart-size Mason jar)
    • Muddler (used for smashing fruits, herbs, citrus and other ingredients together to release their juices and flavors)
    • Strainer (most shakers have a build in strainer)
    • Jigger used for measuring out the liquor (or if you like a more precise tool, I love this jigger with visible measurements; available in metal or plastic)

    Some cocktails call for special glassware:

    • Martinis are served in cocktail glasses (also called Martini glasses)
    • Moscow Mules are typically served in copper mugs or cups
    • Hot Toddy’s can be served in glass mugs 
    • Punches can be served in a punch bowl or pitcher usually with 8-ounce glasses (note: the glasses usually come with a punch bowl)
    • Sparkling cocktails should be served in a narrow champagne flutes to preserve the effervescence (vs a cup-style glass which will release the fizziness faster).
      • NOTE: Champagne flutes can have a stem or not.
      • TIP: the flute stem prevents the heat from your hand warming the champagne! So even though stemless flutes are cool, they won’t keep the sparkling wine as cool as stemmed flutes.

    Holiday Cocktail Recipes Your Guests Want You to Make

    The only difficult thing about this holiday cocktails collection is choosing which to make first!

    Click the cocktail recipe title for the recipe link!

    Candy Cane Cocktail with Candy Cane Infused Vodka

    Candy Cane Cocktail with Homemade Candy Cane Infused Vodka

    Chocolate and peppermint lovers will love this cocktail made with homemade candy cane infused vodka!

    TIP: The candy cane vodka typically infuses sit 4 days; but the candy canes dissolve within an hour so making a quick batch is possible if the mood strikes.

    Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch

    Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch

    Christmas-red in color, this four-ingredient easy punch recipe is always a crowd-pleaser.

    The seasonal flavors of cranberry and ginger, and refreshing fizziness make this a favorite of the holiday cocktails.

    Cranberry Moscow Mule with Homemade Cranberry Simple Syrup

    Cranberry Moscow Mules with Homemade Cranberry Simple Syrup

    Moscow Mules have become wildly popular over the last few years with no doubt why.

    They are light and refreshing, and easy to sip with any foods or on their own.

    This cranberry version fits right into holiday celebrating.

    Homemade cranberry simple syrup takes them up a notch without making preparation complicated.

    Gingerbread Brandy Milk Punch (vegan)

    Gingerbread Brandy Milk Punch (vegan)

    Brandy Milk Punch is a southern classic cocktail. Changed up for the season with a spicy gingerbread flavor using fresh ginger root and seasonal spices.

    Instead of dairy milk, sweet vanilla almond milk gives the cocktail great flavor and makes it vegan too.

     Cranberry Apple Hot Toddy cocktail with apple slices, cinnamon stick and cranberries in a glass mug

    Cranberry Apple Hot Toddy

    Perhaps the most classic winter cocktail, the classic hot toddy has been made more seasonal with cranberry and apple.

    A beautiful cocktail for Christmas celebrating when served with thin slices of each green and red apples as well as cranberries to float on top.

    Blood Orange Ginger Margarita

    Blood Orange Ginger Margarita {fresh-style}

    Margaritas can feel like a summer drink or one to pair solely with Mexican food.

    Once you’ve had a fresh-style marg you’ll never go back.

    Made with quality tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice and agave, it has a fresh and authentic flavor without heavy sugary syrups to encourage a hangover.

    This winter version includes blood orange and ginger for big flavor and beautiful color.
    Classic Champagne Cocktails

    Classic Champagne Cocktail

    Sometimes a classic fits the best.

    This Classic Champagne Cocktail fits for Christmas, New Year’s Eve and any time in between.

    Celebrate with bubbly in a new way!

    Sparkling Cranberry Orange Cava Cocktail

    Sparkling Cranberry Orange Cava Cocktail

    Another fizzy sipper, Sparkling Cranberry Orange Cava Cocktail pairs two well-matched flavors with some sparkle that always feels like a party.

    More Holiday Party Recipes You’ll Love:

    • Looking ahead to New Year’s Eve? Sparkling Drinks for New Year’s Eve (with and without alcohol) 
    • 7 New Year’s Eve Appetizer Recipes You’ll Love

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    Originally published: December 24, 2017

    « Sugar Plums: What Are They & How to Make Them
    Peppermint Candy Cane Ice Cream Pie with Chocolate Ganache Top »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Comments

    1. Connie | URBAN BAKES says

      December 27, 2018 at 10:57 am

      I completely agree. Having festive cocktails for a party can definitely amp the holiday feels. And it’s as simple as adding a fresh cranberries or peels. I’m definitely sprucing up my drink game for New Years!

      Reply
    2. Kiwi says

      December 26, 2018 at 8:55 pm

      So many fun holiday recipes. Even thought the holdays are over I can use many of these recipes past the new year!

      Reply
    3. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      December 19, 2018 at 11:28 pm

      This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!

      Reply
    4. Peter says

      December 19, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      These are great holiday drink recipes. I love that Apple hot Totty. I could sure drink a ton of those

      Reply
    5. Kristine Nicole Alessandra says

      December 19, 2018 at 2:02 pm

      These cocktails are perfect for the holidays. Even if me and my husband will be missing our family get together this year (due to health issues), I can still make these for the New Year celebrations. The Cranberry Orange Cava cocktail will the the one I will mix up.

      Reply
    6. Taylor W. says

      December 19, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      So many delicious cocktail recipes that are perfect for the holidays!

      Reply
    7. Michelle Goth says

      December 19, 2018 at 10:49 am

      I love the subtlety of these drinks. They look delicious and friendly too!

      Reply
    8. Lora | Savoring Italy says

      December 19, 2018 at 4:45 am

      This makes me want to throw a holiday party! Love all of these ideas!

      Reply
    9. Annemarie LeBlanc says

      December 18, 2018 at 11:59 pm

      These cocktail recipes are a great find! I will bookmark this page for reference. Thanks for sharing it. My adult kids would have fun mixing them for the whole family.

      Reply
    10. Brandy O'Neill says

      December 18, 2018 at 5:31 pm

      ALL of these drinks look so good! It’s so hard to decide which to make first!

      Reply
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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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