5 Holiday Cocktail Recipes

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! My favorite part of the holidays is always the seasonal food and drink, and especially the cocktails. And while holiday parties and celebrations may be put on hold this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a festive cocktail from home! Here’s five recipes for some holiday cocktails you can make this winter!

First up is The Poinsettia. This is a pretty classic holiday cocktail, but here’s my twist on it. (Inspired by the YouTube channel “How To Drink“)

1oz cranberry juice
1/4oz simple syrup (only if using unsweetened cranberry juice!)
1/2oz dry curaçao
2 dashes absinthe
Champagne or Prosecco

Stir, shake and strain the cranberry juice, curaçao and absinthe. Then top with champagne or your favorite sparkling wine! Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprigs to finish it off!

I absolutely love the color of this drink and anything involving cranberries is the perfect holiday drink! It’s a perfect holiday spritz!

Putting an adult spin on a classic holiday drink : a Spiked Hot Chocolate. This recipe comes from Cocktail Chemistry

1 tablespoon (8g) of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup whole milk
2oz semisweet hot chocolate
pinch of salt
1.5oz Green Chartreuse*(sub a dark rum for this if you prefer!)

1. Heat cocoa powder and milk in a saucepan
2. Chop up chocolate and whisk into the cocoa over medium heat until melted
3. Pour into Irish coffee mug
4. Add Green Chartreuse into cocoa and stir
5. Top with whipped cream
*Want to make your own whipped cream? Recipe below
6. Top with shaved chocolate and red sugar!

Homemade Whipped Cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 dashes of black walnut bitters

In an iSi whipper, combine whipping cream, simple syrup, vanilla extract and bitters. Add a NO2 charger and shake

This one is definitely a little more difficult (especially if you make the whipped cream yourself) but sub out store bought whipped cream for an easier option!

You can also sub the Green Chartreuse for a dark rum, if you have that on hand instead!

Next up we have the Apple Pie Mule! A twist on the classic Moscow Mule but with some cinnamon and apple elements.

2oz vodka
3/4oz lemon juice
3/4oz simple syrup (infused with cinnamon)
2oz sparkling apple cider
3oz ginger beer

Add the lemon juice, vodka and simple syrup and then equal parts sparkling apple cider and ginger beer. Garnish with apple slices! You can also leave out the vodka and bump up the lemon juice and simple syrup to a full ounce each to make it a mocktail!

This is the Hibiscus Bramble! A festive twist on the classic drink!

1.5oz gin (hibiscus infused)
1/2oz St. Germain Elderflower Liquer
1/2oz lemon juice
1/2oz maple syrup

Add lemon juice, gin, maple syrup, St. Germain and ice to a shaker and shake. Strain over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint!

*To make hibiscus infused gin –
750ml of gin
25 grams of dried hibiscus flowers

Mix gin and flowers. Let sit in sealed container for 4 hours, strain out flowers.

Calling this the Jack Frost! This is a classic daiquiri but amped up a bit!

2oz white rum
1oz blue curaçao
1oz lime juice
3/4oz simple syrup

Blend all with crushed ice. Rim glass with equal parts red and white sugar and lime zest. Top with blueberries!

And that’s everything!! Let me know if you try any of these recipes and have a happy and safe holiday season!