Recipes

Quick and Easy Holiday Cocktail Recipes

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

The holiday season is upon us, and that means guests will soon come calling. Aside from a variety of delicious and appetizing food, cocktails and refreshing beverages are one of the most important parts of any entertaining endeavor.

Whether you are just hosting a few friends and family or planning a dinner party for a large group, you want to make sure your bar is stocked and you have some signature drinks ready to serve. To help you celebrate the season, we compiled some quick and easy cocktail recipes that are sure to be crowd pleasers.

White Christmas Martini

Recipe by inspiredbycharm.com blog

White Christmas Martini | Credit: inspiredbycharm.com

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 ounces vanilla vodka
2 ounces white chocolate liqueur
1 ounce white crème de cacao
1 ounce half and half
Honey and coarse sanding sugar for rim garnish

Directions:

Pour the honey into a shallow dish and put the sanding sugar in another shallow dish. Coat the rim of the glass in the honey; then dip the rim in the sugar to coat evenly. Set the glass aside.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the vodka, white chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, and half-and-half. Shake vigorously and strain into the prepared martini glass.

Cranberry Mimosa

Recipe by Linda Funston

Cranberry Mimosa | Credit: delish.com

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 lime halved
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup sweetened cranberry juice
1 bottle champagne
12 fresh cranberries
4 small sprigs of fresh rosemary

Directions:

Rim champagne flutes with lime and dip in sugar. Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into each glass and top with champagne.
Use a toothpick to poke a hole through the cranberries. Thread rosemary skewer through cranberries and garnish the mimosas.

Drunk Jack Frosties

Recipe by Lauren Miyashiro

Drunk Jack Frosties | Credit: delish.com

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup vodka
1 cup champagne
1/2 cup Blue Curacao
1/2 cup lemonade
1 lemon wedge
White sanding sugar

Directions:

In a blender, combine vodka, champagne, blue curacao, lemonade and ice. Blend until combined.
Run a lemon wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip in the sanding sugar.
Pour the frosties into the rimmed glasses and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate | Credit: Television Food Network

Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

6 cups milk
1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
3 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
7 ounces good quality milk chocolate, chopped
Whipped cream, for serving
Mini marshmallows, for serving

Directions:

Combine the milk, cocoa powder, sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon nutmeg and allspice in a medium saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar, cocoa powder and spices are dissolved and the milk is steaming, about 5 minutes.
Do not let the mixture come to a boil. Whisk in the chopped chocolate a little at a time until smooth.
Divide among 6 to 8 mugs and garnish with whipped cream and mini marshmallows.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Mulled Wine

Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten

Mulled Wine | Credit: Ina Garten

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

4 cups apple cider
1 (750 ml) bottle of red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
1/4 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
1 orange, zested and juiced
4 whole cloves
3 star anise
4 oranges, peeled, for garnish

Directions:

Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves, and star anise in a large saucepan.
Bring to boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
Pour into mugs, add an orange peel to each and serve.

Makes 8 servings.

Irish Eggnog

Recipe courtesy of Sandra Lee

Irish Eggnog | Credit: Food Network Magazine | Photo by Johnny Lee

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 egg
1 ounce Irish cream liqueur
1/4 ounce Irish whiskey
2 cups whole milk
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Nutmeg, for garnish

Directions:

Whisk egg, Irish cream liqueur, and whiskey in a bowl until smooth.
Bring 2 cups whole milk to a boil in a saucepan (do not use a slow cooker as it will overcook the eggs)
Pour the milk over the egg mixture, stirring it to mix well.
Pour into mugs.
Sprinkle with nutmeg and garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Makes 2 servings.

Classic Daiquiri

Recipe by Patrick Washburn

Classic Daiquiri | Credit: Allrecipes.com

Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup ice cubes
1-1/2 fluid ounces light rum
1 fluid ounce lime juice
1 fluid ounce triple sec
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 lime wedge (optional)
2 tablespoons white sugar, or as needed (optional)

Directions:

Blend ice, rum, lime juice, triple sec, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a blender on the highest setting until smooth, 15 to 20 seconds. Pour into glass.
Spread 2 tablespoons sugar in a thin layer onto a small plate. Rub lime wedge around the rim of a glass. Dip glass rim in sugar to coat. Pour blended beverage into the prepared glass to serve.

Ready to put your bartending skills to use? Before you do, make sure your home bar is stocked with the essentials and check out Riverbend Home’s selection of bar carts, glassware, serveware, cocktail napkins, cocktails picks, along with other wine and beverage related products, so you’re prepared to get the holiday festivities under way.

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