Excited to be back on Good Morning Washington featuring some fun, easy holiday cocktails. These are perfect if you are entertaining this season.
Festive Holiday Cocktails: Fun, Easy, and Guaranteed to Impress Your Guests
The holidays are the perfect time to add a splash of fun and creativity to your gatherings, and what better way to do that than with some festive, themed cocktails? Whether you’re hosting a cozy dinner or a lively party, these holiday drinks will make your celebrations extra memorable. As shared on Good Morning Washington, I’ve compiled some fun and easy ideas that you can whip up in no time. And don’t worry – the recipes are all below!
From classic flavors with a twist to decadent drinks that double as desserts, let’s explore these show-stopping cocktails.
All recipes are below.
Holiday Mimosa with Cranberry Ice Cubes
Let’s kick things off with a classic brunch favorite – the mimosa – but with a holiday twist!
Instead of sticking to the traditional orange juice, why not add a festive pop of color and flavor with cranberry juice? Better yet, let’s take it up a notch with cranberry ice cubes. These not only look adorable but also prevent your drink from getting watered down.
How to Make Cranberry Ice Cubes:
- Grab a mini ice cube tray.
- Add a few fresh cranberries to each compartment.
- Fill with cranberry juice and freeze.
When you’re ready to serve, pour your champagne or sparkling wine, add a splash of orange juice or cranberry juice (or both!), and drop in those cranberry cubes. The result? A festive drink that’s bursting with holiday spirit.
Martini Bar: Let Your Guests Mix and Match
Hosting a holiday party? A martini bar is the way to go! Your guests will love playing bartender and crafting their own concoctions. Plus, it’s easy to set up.
What You’ll Need:
- Mini bottles of vodka and other liquors
- Martini glasses
- A variety of garnishes and mixers
Here are a few martini options to include:
1. White Cosmo
This drink is light, refreshing, and looks stunning with a sugar-rimmed glass.
Key Ingredients:
- Vodka
- Lemon juice
- Simple syrup
Pro Tip: To rim your glass, dip it in vodka or lemon juice, then roll in sugar. It’s a small detail that makes a big impact!
2. Espresso Martini
Perfect for a little pick-me-up during your party.
Key Ingredients:
- Vodka
- Espresso or coffee liqueur
3. Chocolate Martini
Decadent and rich, this one is like an adult milkshake.
Ingredients:
- Vodka
- Irish cream
- Chocolate liqueur
- Chocolate syrup (for rimming the glass)
Rim your glass with chocolate syrup, give it a good shake, and pour. It’s the kind of drink that will make your guests feel like they’re at a fancy cocktail bar.
The Grinch Cocktail
This drink is as playful as it sounds. Bright green and festive, it’s a fun addition to any holiday spread.
Ingredients:
- Melon liqueur (like Midori)
- Maraschino cherries
How to Serve: Pour the melon liqueur into a glass and drop in a few maraschino cherries. The green and red combo is instantly recognizable and oh-so-cute.
Warning: If you have college-era memories of melon liqueur, you might want to skip this one. But your guests will love it!
Mistletoe Mule
A holiday twist on the classic Moscow Mule, the Mistletoe Mule combines ginger beer and cranberries for a festive flair.
Ingredients:
- Vodka
- Ginger beer
- Cranberry juice
- Fresh cranberries (for garnish)
How to Serve: Pour vodka and cranberry juice over ice, top with ginger beer, and garnish with a few cranberries. It’s refreshing, fizzy, and perfectly seasonal.
Cinnamon Liqueur Spiked Eggnog with a Cinnamon Sugar Rim
Eggnog is a holiday staple, but adding a little extra kick makes it even better. This spiked version is creamy, rich, and tastes like pure holiday cheer.
Ingredients:
- Store-bought eggnog
- Cinnamon liqueur
How to Serve:
- Rim your glass with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
- Pour in your spiked eggnog and add a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
This drink is cozy, comforting, and perfect for sipping by the fire.
Drinkable Holiday Cookie Cocktail
If you love dessert and cocktails, this one is for you! The Drinkable Holiday Cookie is a sweet, indulgent treat that’s perfect for after-dinner sipping.
Ingredients:
- Lemon vodka
- Irish cream
- Amaretto
- Vanilla icing (for rimming)
- Holiday sprinkles
How to Make It:
- Rim the glass with vanilla icing and roll in holiday sprinkles.
- In a shaker, combine:
- 2 oz lemon vodka
- 2 oz Irish cream
- A splash of amaretto
- Shake well and pour into the prepared glass.
This drink is rich and creamy, with a delightful hint of almond from the amaretto. It’s like drinking a holiday cookie!
Tips for Hosting a Holiday Cocktail Party
To make your holiday cocktail party a success, here are a few quick tips:
- Set Up Stations: Have different stations for each type of drink. For example, a mimosa bar, a martini bar, and a dessert cocktail bar.
- Use Mini Bottles: Mini bottles of liquor are not only cute but also make it easy for guests to serve themselves.
- Pre-Make Some Drinks: For more complicated drinks, consider making a large batch ahead of time. Keep them chilled in pitchers so guests can easily pour and enjoy.
- Garnishes Galore: The little touches make all the difference. Cranberries, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, and cinnamon sticks are easy and festive garnishes.
- Mocktail Options: Not everyone drinks alcohol, so have a few non-alcoholic options ready. Cranberry juice with ginger ale and cranberry ice cubes is a simple and festive choice.
Connect with Me!
If you loved these ideas, you can find more inspiration and recipes on my website, ChristinaDaves.com. And don’t forget to check out my podcast, Living Ageless and Bold, where I share tips, stories, and inspiration for living your best life at any age.
Join our community at www.LivingAgelessandBold.com
See all of our podcasts at https://christinadaves.com/living-ageless-podcast/
Listen on your favorite platform and make sure to subscribe.
Watch and subscribe on YouTube
Cheers to a festive and fun holiday season!
https://wjla.com/good-morning-washington/shake-up-your-holiday-party-with-creative-cocktail-and-mocktail-recipes
RECIPES
Holiday Mimosa
Take a slight variation from the original mimonas and add cranberry with the orange juice to the Champagne
Fun extra is to freeze mini ice cubes of cranberry juice with cranberry and use those in the holiday mimosa.
Martini Bar
Instead of serving just one type of martini, consider a martini bar. Use various mini bottles and have a picture frame with recipes for people to make their own. In this segment, I showed three: Espresso, Chocolate, and a White Cosmo.
Chocolate Martini
Prep a martini glass with chocolate syrup – dip the glass into a plate of syrup to trim the rim and you can squirt in the glass too for a fun design.
- 1 oz Irish Cream Liqueur
- 1 oz Chocolate Liqueur
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1/2 tbsp chocolate syrup or ganache
Shake with ice and serve
Espresso
- 2ounces vodka
- 1/2ounce coffee liqueur usually Kahlúa
- 1ounce espresso freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)
- 1/2ounce simple syrup
- Garnish: coffee beans
White Cosmo
- 3cranberries for garnish on a toothpick
- 1/2 tablespoon white granulated sugar, for garnish (dip the glass in cranberry juice or vodka and rim with sugar)
- 1 1/2 ounces citrus vodka
- 1 ounce white cranberry juice
- 1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
The Grinch
Really get into the season with this bright green cocktail!
- 2 ounces melon liqueur
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish
Mistletoe Mule
- 2oz Vodka
- 2oz cranberry juice
- 1oz cherry grenadine
- Rosemary sprigs for garnish
- ice
- 1bottle ginger beer
Cinnamon Whiskey Eggnog
- 1/4cup raw sugar, for optional rim
- 2tablespoons ground cinnamon, for optional rim
- 3ounces store-bought, prepared eggnog
- 2ounces cinnamon-flavored whiskey liqueur
- 3/4ounce amaretto liqueur, plus more for optional rim
- Cinnamon stick, for garnish
- Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
Sugar Cookie
This is my absolute favorite holiday cocktail. It’s the perfect dessert drink!
- white icing and sprinkles for rim
- 2 oz vanilla vodka
- 2 oz Baileys Irish cream
- 1 oz amaretto liqueur
- 2 oz vanilla cream
- Ice for serving