ho-ho-holiday cocktails!

The holiday season is here! It's the season for laughing off your diet plans, going to the obligatory Christmas parties, and letting cocktails assist in tolerating family get-togethers. It's a joyous time of year!

We've assembled a bevy of beverages that will warm you up and bring you cheer.

Side note: my drinkware makes for the perfect walking-the-dog vessel for these cocktails ;)

1. eggnog cocktail

If you love eggnog, we've got the cocktail for you! This is a classic holiday drink with a boozy twist.

• 1 oz Amaretto
• 1 oz vodka
• 2 oz eggnog
• pinch of cinnamon
• caramel sauce

Rim your cocktail glass with caramel sauce. Combine eggnog, Amaretto, and vodka in a shaker with some ice and give it a shake. Strain the mixture into your cocktail glass and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon!

2. cranberry margaritas 

This cranberry margarita will ensure that you have a Berry Christmas! Sorry, I've been drinking them. I'll stop. Here are the ingredients:

• 1 ½ c cranberry juice
• ¾ cup fresh lime juice
• ¾ cup tequila
• ½ cup orange-flavored liqueur 
• ice

Rim your glasses with lime juice and either salt or sugar. Vigorously shake the cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, and orange-flavored liqueur with ice. Divide between three glasses and serve!

3. jack frost cocktail

This cocktail, much like revenge, is best served c-c-cold. Let this tropically inspired holiday drink transport you to a warmer place, where your relatives aren't! You need:

• honey
• coconut flakes
• ice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• ½ cup blue curacao
• ½ cup light rum 
• ½ cup cream of coconut

Dip your glasses into the honey and coat with the coconut flakes. Throw the pineapple juice, blue curacao, rum, and cream of coconut to a blender and hit one of the buttons! Pour into your rimmed glasses and serve!

4. jingle juice

Get your favorite jingles ready to play, because the party’s just getting started with this one! 

• 4 cups cran-apple juice
• 2 750mL bottles of red Moscato 
• 1 750mL bottle of Prosecco 
• ½ cup vodka
• 2 cups frozen cranberries
• ⅓ cup mint leaves
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 limes

Start by rimming your glasses with lime juice and dip in sugar. Combine all ingredients to a punch bowl and stir.

5. sugar cookie martinis

I think Santa will appreciate having one of these left out for him with his cookies! 

• vanilla frosting
• sprinkles
• 1 ½ oz vanilla vodka
• 1 ½ oz irish cream
• 2 oz milk
• 1 oz amaretto
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• ice

Rim your martini glass with icing and dip in sprinkles to coat. Combine the vanilla vodka, irish cream, milk, amaretto, powdered sugar and ice into a cocktail shaker and shake until mixed and chilled. Pour into prepared glass and serve.

6. cranberry orange whiskey sour

A classic drink, with a holiday twist! The cranberry juice and orange juice give this classic drink the perfect holiday flare. Here’s the ingredients:  

• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 4 oz whiskey
• ¼ cup simple syrup
• ¼ cup orange juice
• juice of 1 lime
• 4 oz ginger beer

Add the cranberry juice, whiskey, simple syrup, orange juice, and lime juice to a shaker with some iced and shake. Strain mixture between two glasses over ice and top with the ginger beer. Enjoy!

7. cranberry mimosas

Another holiday take on a classic drink! I'm going to be sipping these at brunch all season long.

• 1 lime
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 240 mL cranberry juice
• 1 bottle champagne
• fresh cranberries

Rim your champagne flutes with lime juice and dip in sugar. Pour about 60mL cranberry juice into each glass and top with champagne. Top with fresh cranberries!

8. pecan pie martinis

If you like sweets, you’ll love this one! Who needs pie, when you can just have it in drink form, AND it has booze. Sign me up!

• 1 oz pecan vodka
• 1 oz irish cream liqueur 
• ½ oz vanilla vodka
• 2 oz heavy cream

Measure all ingredients and add to a cocktail shaker with some ice. Give the mixture a good shake and pour into a large martini glass.

9. rumchata hot chocolate

Cozy up and watch some holiday movies with this one! There’s nothing like curling up with a hot chocolate (especially an adult one) and getting cozy!

• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• 3 oz rumchata
• marshmallows

Add the cocoa, sugar, salt, milk, cream, and vanilla into a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk until evenly combined. Let cook until the edges of the liquid begin to simmer and remove from heat. Add 1 ½ oz RumChata to two mugs and top with the hot chocolate. Top the drinks with marshmallows and whipped cream as desired. Now it’s time to get cozy!

10. peppermintinis

If you like martinis, you’ll have to give this one a try! This is a winter-themed drink if ever I’ve seen one!

• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
• ¼ cup crushed candy canes
• 6 oz white chocolate liqueur 
• 4 oz vodka
• 2 oz peppermint schnapps
• 2 tbsp heavy cream
• candy canes

Dip the rim of your glasses into the melted chocolate and then coat with the crushed candy canes. Pour remaining chocolate into the bottom of the glasses and swirl to coat. Place the glasses in the freezer while completing the next steps. Combine your white chocolate liqueur, vodka, peppermint schnapps, and heavy cream in a shaker with ice. Shake away and pour into your chilled glasses. Serve with a candy cane on top. How festive!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, you know what makes a great vessel for all of these delicious drinks? My drinkware (: Carry your drink and the fun with you! Whenever I'm around, you know it's going to be a great time.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Pleep