Pop the bubbly! The holiday season is in full swing which has equal parts excited for a toast with family and friends, and making an extra trip to the liquor store, because sometimes you just really need a glass of wine on Thanksgiving morning [we’ve all been there! 🤣]. To kick off the holiday season right, we’re sharing 10+ easy, crowd-pleasing cocktails. Here’s to a season of making spirits bright… and strong. 😉 Cheers!
PS. We added several mocktail alternatives for everyone to enjoy! Bottoms up!
Orange Cranberry Mocktail Mimosa
Orange Cranberry Mocktail Mimosa
Ingredients
- 1 oz Orange Juice
- 2 oz Cranberry Juice
- 2 oz Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider
- Garnish with Ground Cinnamon, Fresh Cranberries, Cinnamon Stick, Rosemary Sprig
- Orange Slice & Sugar For Rim
Instructions
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Sugar the rim of a glass by wetting the rim with a slice of orange and dipping the cup into white sugar.
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Add the orange juice, cranberry juice, and sparkling apple cider! Top with garnishments of cinnamon, cranberries, and rosemary! Enjoy!
Holiday Mimosa
Cranberry Orange Holiday Mimosa
Get in the holiday spirit with this cranberry + orange mimosa! CHEERS!
Ingredients
- 3-4 oz Champagne or Sparkling Wine
- 2 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1 oz Orange Juice
- Rosemerry & Cranberries optional garnish
Christmas Morning Applemosa
Christmas Morning Applemosa
Substitue club soda for a mockmosa in this merry morning drink!
Ingredients
- 4 oz Champagne
- 4 oz Apple Cider
- Dash Cinnamon
- Cinnamon Stick for garnish
- Cranberries for garnish
- Rosemary Sprig for garnish
Winter Aperol Spritz
Winter Aperol Spritz
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aperol
- 1 oz Spiced Cranberry
- 1 oz Sparkling Water
- Top with Prosecco
- Garnish with rosemary, oranges, cinnamon stick
Apple Cider Mule
Apple Cider Mule
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Vodka
- 1.5 oz. Ginger Beer
- 3 oz. Apple Cider
- 1 Cinnamon Stick for Garnish
Instructions
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Mix all the ingredients together and serve over ice. Cheers!
Note: to make it a mocktail, swap the vodka for tonic water.
Caramel Apple Mule
Caramel Apple Mule
Ingredients
- 3 oz. Caramel Vodka
- 3 oz. Apple Cider
- 4 oz. Ginger Beer
- 1 Lime [or Lime Juice]
- Apple Slices [for garnishing]
- Rosemary [for garnishing]
- Cinnamon Sticks [for garnishing]
Instructions
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Combine vodka and cider in glass with ice [about 2 shots each]
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Squeeze in fresh lime juice and top with ginger beer [about half a can]
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Mix and garnish with cinnamon sticks, fresh rosemary, and apple slices [optional!]. Cheers!
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Tip: start with one shot of vodka and add more if preferred!
Holiday Rose Punch
Holiday Rose Punch
Ingredients
- 1 Bottle [750 ml] Vodka
- 1 Bottle Sparkling Rose or Pink Champagne
- 2 Cans Sparkling Cranberry Juice
- Fresh Cranberries + Rosemary to Garnish
Instructions
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Mix ingredients together in large pitcher and serve over ice. Garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary. Cheers!
Cranberry Holiday Mule
Cranberry Holiday Mule
Ingredients
- 1.5 c Cranberry Juice
- 3 c Ginger Beer
- 1 c Vodka
- 3 Oranges, juiced
- 3 Limes, juiced
- Fresh Cranberries to Garnish
Instructions
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In a pitcher mix together cranberry juice, ginger beer, vodka and the juice from oranges and limes. Garnish with thinly slices oranges, limes, and fresh cranberries. Enjoy!
Warm Vanilla Apple Cider
Warm Vanilla Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 C. Apple Cider
- 1/2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
- 2 oz. Bourbon
- 1/4 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- dash cinnamon
- whipped cream optional
Instructions
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Combine apple cider and brown sugar in a saucepan over low to medium heat until cider is hot and brown sugar is melted.
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Combine cider mixture, bourbon, vanilla, and cinnamon in a mug.
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Top with whipped cream and additional cinnamon if desired!
Caramel Apple Cider Float
Caramel Apple Cider Float
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 C. Apple Cider
- 2 oz. Bourbon
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Caramel Syrup
- Cinnamon
Instructions
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Drizzle the inside of the glass with caramel syrup.
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Add cider and bourbon to the glass.
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Add 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream to the glass, and top with cinnamon, and more caramel syrup!
PEPPERMINT FLOAT
Peppermint Float
I think this one is my favorite! Just add a scoop of peppermint ice cream to a mixture of Bailey’s and Ginger Ale. Stir with a candy cane. This could also be made in a big punch bowl if you’d prefer.
PEPPERMINT WHITE RUSSIAN
Peppermint White Russian
This would be a great drink to serve at a holiday party. You can adjust the volume to your tastes…just add more milk or peppermint mocha depending on how strong you like it. The recipe is for 2 drinks but you could make a big pitcher and add ice to individual glasses when you’re ready to serve. You could also pour this in hot chocolate or coffee or just drink over ice.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Jackson Morgan Peppermint Mocha
- 1 oz Vodka
- 2 oz Milk or Cream
Instructions
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In a large glass or pitcher, combine all the ingredients and stir to combine. Divide between small glasses and add ice to fill up the glass. Serve.
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Optional: crush peppermints or candy canes, wet the rim of the glass, and press into the candy. This makes for an especially festive presentation!
PEPPERMINT EGGNOG MILKSHAKE SHOTS
Peppermint Eggnog Milkshake Shots
Two of my favorite things put together! Peppermint and eggnog! You can put these in little shot glasses like I did or turn it into a punch bowl recipe if you’d like.
Ingredients
- 2 parts Peppermint Ice Cream
- 1 part Eggnog
- Sugar water and crushed peppermint to rim the glass
- Peppermint white chocolate bark to garnish
Instructions
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Blend together 2 parts peppermint ice cream to one part eggnog.
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Rim the glasses with crushed peppermint by dabbing them with sugar water and dipping them in peppermint.
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Fill your glasses with the milkshake mixture and place them in the freezer until you’re ready to serve.
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Break the peppermint bark into halves and place them on top just before serving.
CANDY CANE MARTINI JELLO SHOTS
Candy Cane Martini Jello Shots
This is a festive treat to indulge in after a day of Christmas shopping!
Ingredients
- 10 small peppermint candies or candy canes crushed, for garnish (if desired)
- 3 tbsp peppermint schnapps (or to taste – up to 4 tbsp may be added)
- 2 tbsp white chocolate liqueur (or white creme de cacao)
- 3/4 cup vanilla vodka
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2/3 cup water
Instructions
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Pour water into a small saucepan. Sprinkle with the gelatin and allow to soak for a minute or two. Heat over very low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved (about 5 minutes). Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Remove from heat.
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Add the vodka, liqueur and schnapps, stirring well to incorporate. Pour into pan and refrigerate until fully set, several hours or overnight.
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To serve, cut into 1 inch squares.
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Immediately before serving, garnish with crushed peppermint candies, if desired.
Holiday Happy Hour Finds:
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