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Preparing for your Christmas parties is often about getting the food ready and decorating the house. This means that the festive drinks can be left as a bit of an afterthought – a glass of wine for each guest will do, won’t it? This year, instead of just buying a case of wine, why not offer some simple Christmas cocktails for your party guests? Here are some ideas for inspiration.
Contents
Classics
Christmas Punch
Punch is definitely a traditional type of Christmas cocktails and is always popular because you can adapt it to what you like and what your guests will enjoy.
This punch recipe uses clementine juice and cranberry juice along with clementines to decorate. The alcohol comes from Benedictine liqueur and either scotch whiskey or cognac. Don’t forget to leave some time for it to sit in the fridge, usually 2-3 hours before serving but not too much more as the sour element will, well, sour things.
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a type of Christmas cocktails and is relatively easy to make.
- Add 200 grams of caster sugar to a pan with 6 cloves, 3 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 bay leaves and the zest of two oranges and one lemon.
- Slice half of the orange and add the slices as well as the juice alongside the juice of the lemon.
- Next up add enough red wine to cover everything and bring to the boil before simmering for five minutes or until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add the rest of the bottle and another bottle as well as 100ml of crème de cassis, heating gently for around 10 minutes.
Serve hot with a little grated nutmeg on top.
Mulled Cider
Mulled wine is a tradition but not everyone likes wine. So, here’s an alternative that uses your favourite cider instead.
Simply add the cider to a pan then mix in ¼ nutmeg, 3-4 star anise 1 cinnamon stick and 1 halved vanilla pod to the pan. Also add the juice of an orange, 2 clementines and 1 pomegranate then bring to the boil.
Simmer for around 5-8 minutes to get the most flavour. When finished, add some caster sugar if you like.
Homemade Eggnog
The great thing about Eggnog is that you can make non-alcoholic versions then just add a favourite alcohol to it. This recipe would work well with rum, cognac or bourbon in – just add to taste!
- Ingredients:
- 12 eggs
- 1 ¼ c. sugar
- 4 c. whole milk
- 2 t. vanilla extract
- 1 t. ground nutmeg
- 2 c. evaporated milk
- 2 c. half and half
Combine eggs and sugar in a medium glass bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined. Transfer to a saucepan and stir in whole milk, vanilla extract, and ground nutmeg.
In a separate glass bowl, stir evaporated milk and half and half until combined.
Heat egg mixture over medium-low heat while stirring constantly to prevent the milk from scorching. When mixture reaches 160 degrees on a candy thermometer, remove from heat and slowly whisk in evaporated milk mixture.
Cool slightly before tasting. Add more sugar or nutmeg, if desired, before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate overnight or until thoroughly chilled. Serve in mugs and garnish with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, or a dash of nutmeg.
Modern Twists
White Christmas Mojito Punch
This drink looks stunning (check out the link for the pictures – my cocktails never look this gorgeous!).
You need the juice of 1 lime, 8 mint leaves and one tablespoon of sugar which you muddle in a glass. In a blender, add 2 tbsp. white rum, 1 tbsp. of coconut rum, ¼ can coconut milk and pulse until smooth.
Mix everything together with ice then top with sparkling water, mint and pomegranate to serve.
Cranberry Mule
If you love Moscow Mules, this is the Christmas cocktails version. Grab some copper mugs for the complete look.
- To start with, thread three fresh cranberries onto a sprig of rosemary for each drink you are making.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice then add 3 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce cranberry juice and 1 tbsp lime juice.
- Shake and pour into copper mugs then top with ginger beer and stir.
Garnish with the rosemary sprigs and a lime wedge if you like.
Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail
Drinks with a little fizz are perfect for Christmas and this pomegranate cocktail is a simple recipe using sparkling water. Of course you could upgrade it to a Prosecco Christmas cocktail by making a swap if you like! This recipe serves two.
Take 4 ounces citrus-flavoured vodka, 6 ounces pomegranate juice and 3 tbsp lime juice and add to a cocktail shaker with ice. Combine then strain into champagne glasses then top with the sparkling water.
Christmas Coffee Cocktail
Coffee makes great cocktails as this recipe shows. All you need is 4 ounces of strong coffee of your choice and add into a glass with 1.5 ounces of amaretto liqueur and coffee liqueur along with one ounce of butterscotch schnapps, 1 ounce crème de cocoa and then top with whipped cream.
A little grated chocolate makes a great finishing touch.
Peppermint Martini
There’s nothing that says Christmas like peppermint and this applies to this martini recipe too.
- 2 oz. vanilla vodka, chilled
- 1 oz. white crème de cacao, chilled
- 1 oz. Peppermint schnapps, chilled
- 3 oz. peppermint candy, crushed
- ¼ fresh lime
Optional garnish: small candy canes
Place peppermint candy in a plastic bag and cover with a towel. Pound bag with a meat mallet or rolling pin until the candy is crushed into very small pieces. Transfer crushed candy pieces to a flat plate.
Run a small wedge of lime around the rim of a martini glass until it is very well moistened. Turn the martini glass upside down and place moistened rim onto plate of crushed peppermints. Turn the glass gently to ensure the entire rim is evenly coated.
Fill cocktail shaker with ice and add vodka, crème de cacao, and peppermint schnapps. Shake vigorously until thoroughly combined. Strain chilled liquid into a prepared martini glass and add a small candy cane, if desired. Serve immediately.
Mocktails
Mocktail or mock cocktails are ideal for anyone who is laying off the alcohol or if the designated driver for the night. They still get the Christmas cocktail feel while staying legal.
Crimson Christmas Punch
Punch is also easy to make in a non-alcoholic version like this one. You need 5 cups of tropical juice, 1 cup cranberry juice and 1 cup pineapple juice along with ½ cup lemon juice and 4-5 cups of ginger ale.
Chill everything and add to a punch bowl, pouring the ginger ale slowly to keep its fizz. Add a couple of scoops of raspberry sherbet and leave for a few minutes then serve for a really fizzy punch.
Blood Orange Italian Sodas
For this mocktail, you need a cup of sugar and water along with the juice of three blood oranges. Heat the sugar and water until dissolved then remove from the heat and add the juice. You can add a drop of food colouring too if you want a bolder look. In a glass, half fill with sparkling soda water and add ¼ cup of coconut cream with two tablespoons of the syrup.
Do you have a favourite Christmas cocktail? I’d love to hear about it!
