I’ve attached a video for every recipe below from my favorite home cooks.
Christmas is the perfect time to enjoy festive drinks with friends and family. From warm and cozy mulled wine to sparkly champagne cocktails, there’s something for everyone to sip on during the holidays. These Christmas cocktails are easy to make at home and will add a special touch to your gatherings.
You can find recipes for classic drinks like eggnog and hot buttered rum, as well as fun twists on holiday favorites. Many use seasonal ingredients like cranberries, cinnamon, and peppermint to capture the flavors of the season. Whether you prefer something boozy or alcohol-free, you’ll discover plenty of options to get in the Christmas spirit.
Classic Eggnog
Ingredients:
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup rum or bourbon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions:
Whisk egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy.
Heat milk and cream in a saucepan until steaming.
Slowly pour hot milk into egg mixture, whisking constantly.
Return mixture to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring until thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in rum, vanilla, and nutmeg.
Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg if desired.
Mulled Wine
You’ll need:
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1/4 cup brandy (optional)
Instructions:
Pour wine, cider, honey, orange zest, and juice into a pot.
Add cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.
Heat on medium-high until it simmers. Lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Stir in brandy if using.
Strain and serve warm in mugs.
Enjoy your cozy mulled wine!
Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz whiskey
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 lemon slice
Instructions:
Pour whiskey, honey, and lemon juice into a mug.
Add hot water and stir until honey dissolves.
Garnish with cinnamon stick and lemon slice.
Enjoy your warm, cozy Hot Toddy!
Peppermint Martini
You’ll need:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz white chocolate liqueur
- 1 oz heavy cream
- Whipped cream
- Crushed peppermint candies
Instructions:
Fill a shaker with ice.
Pour in vodka, white chocolate liqueur, and heavy cream.
Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Top with a dollop of whipped cream.
Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top.
Serve and enjoy your festive peppermint martini!
Christmas Punch
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 bottle (750 ml) sparkling wine or champagne
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- Orange slices and cranberries for garnish
Instructions:
Mix cranberry, pineapple, and orange juices in a large punch bowl.
Add simple syrup and stir well.
Just before serving, pour in the sparkling wine or champagne.
Add ice to the bowl.
Float orange slices and cranberries on top for a festive look.
Ladle into glasses and enjoy your Christmas punch!
Coquito
You’ll need:
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 can cream of coconut
• 1 cup white rum
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Pour into bottles and chill for at least 2 hours.
Serve cold in small glasses.
Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.
Enjoy your creamy, coconutty Puerto Rican Christmas treat!
Spiked Hot Chocolate
You’ll need:
- 1 cup milk
- 1 packet hot cocoa mix
- 1 oz bourbon
- 1 oz nut liqueur
- 1 oz butterscotch schnapps
- Whipped cream for topping
Heat the milk in a mug. Stir in the cocoa mix until smooth. Add the bourbon, nut liqueur, and butterscotch schnapps. Stir well.
Top with whipped cream and enjoy your boozy hot chocolate!
Gingerbread Martini
You’ll need:
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz Baileys Irish Cream
- 1 oz gingerbread syrup
- 1 oz half and half
- Ice
- Whipped cream and cinnamon for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Pour vodka, Baileys, gingerbread syrup, and half and half into the shaker.
Shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon if you like.
Sip and enjoy your festive gingerbread martini!
Cranberry Mimosa
You’ll need:
- Champagne or sparkling wine
- Cranberry juice
- Fresh cranberries
- Rosemary sprig (optional)
Instructions:
Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into a champagne flute.
Top with 1/2 cup champagne or sparkling wine.
Add a few fresh cranberries to the glass.
If you like, garnish with a small rosemary sprig.
Enjoy your festive cranberry mimosa!
Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hot brewed coffee
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1.5 oz Irish whiskey
- Lightly whipped cream
Instructions:
Warm a glass mug with hot water, then empty it.
Add brown sugar to the mug and pour in hot coffee. Stir until sugar dissolves.
Pour in the Irish whiskey and stir gently.
Top with a layer of lightly whipped cream. Don’t stir it in!
Sip the warm coffee through the cool cream and enjoy!
Sloe Gin Fizz
Ingredients:
• 1.5 oz sloe gin
• 0.75 oz lemon juice
• 0.25 oz sugar syrup
• Ice
• Sparkling water
• Lemon slice or cherry (optional garnish)
Instructions:
- Fill a shaker with ice
- Add sloe gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup
- Shake for 30 seconds
- Strain into an ice-filled glass
- Top with sparkling water
- Stir gently
- Garnish with lemon or cherry if desired
Christmas Mojito
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 oz coconut cream
- 1 oz lime juice
- 2 tsp sugar
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- Ice cubes
- Soda water
- Cranberries and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions:
In a glass, muddle mint leaves with sugar and lime juice.
Add rum and coconut cream. Stir well.
Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Top with soda water and stir gently.
Garnish with cranberries and a mint sprig.
Enjoy your festive Christmas Mojito!
Blood Orange Spritz
Ingredients:
- 2 oz blood orange juice
- 2 oz Aperol
- 3 oz Prosecco
- 1 oz club soda
- Ice
- Blood orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a large wine glass with ice.
Pour in the blood orange juice and Aperol.
Add the Prosecco and give it a gentle stir.
Top with club soda.
Garnish with a blood orange slice.
Serve and enjoy your festive Blood Orange Spritz!
Espresso Martini
You’ll need:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz espresso, cooled
- 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Ice
- Coffee beans for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
- Add vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, and simple syrup
- Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds
- Strain into a chilled martini glass
- Garnish with 3 coffee beans on top
- Enjoy your festive Espresso Martini!
Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients:
- 2 oz dark rum
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Pinch of cloves
- 6 oz hot water
- Cinnamon stick (optional garnish)
Instructions:
Mix butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and spices in a mug.
Pour in rum and hot water.
Stir until butter mixture dissolves completely.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired.
Enjoy your warm, comforting drink!
Mistletoe Martini
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz orange juice
- Ice
- Cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Pour in vodka, elderflower liqueur, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
Shake well for about 30 seconds until chilled.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish with a few cranberries and a rosemary sprig.
Enjoy your festive Mistletoe Martini!
Sugar Cookie Martini
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz Irish cream
- 1 oz milk
- 1/2 oz amaretto
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- Ice
- Vanilla frosting and sprinkles (for rim)
Instructions:
Coat the rim of a martini glass with frosting, then dip in sprinkles.
Add vodka, Irish cream, milk, amaretto, powdered sugar, and ice to a shaker.
Shake for 15 seconds to mix and chill.
Strain into your prepared glass.
Enjoy your sweet holiday treat!
Glühwein
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5-6 cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1/3 cup sugar
- Optional: 1/4 cup brandy
Instructions:
Pour the wine into a large pot over medium-low heat.
Add orange and lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and sugar.
Stir gently to help dissolve the sugar.
Heat the mixture until it’s just below simmering. Don’t let it boil!
Simmer for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend.
If using, add brandy and stir.
Strain the mixture and serve hot in mugs.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice if you like.
Enjoy your warm, spiced Glühwein!
Poinsettia Cocktail
You’ll need:
- 3 oz champagne or sparkling wine
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz Cointreau or triple sec
- Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a champagne flute with the cranberry juice and Cointreau.
- Top with chilled champagne.
- Stir gently to mix.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig.
- Serve and enjoy your festive Poinsettia cocktail!
Christmas Spritz
Ingredients:
- 1 oz rhubarb and ginger gin
- 2 oz Prosecco
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- Splash of tonic water
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a large wine glass with ice.
Pour in the gin, Prosecco, and cranberry juice.
Stir gently to combine.
Top with a splash of tonic water.
Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig.
Serve immediately and enjoy your festive Christmas Spritz!
Old-Fashioned Eggnog
Ingredients:
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup bourbon
- 1/4 cup rum
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions:
Whisk egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until creamy.
Heat milk and cream in a saucepan until steaming. Slowly pour into egg mixture, whisking constantly.
Return mixture to saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring often, until thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in bourbon, rum, vanilla, and nutmeg.
Chill for at least 2 hours.
Pour into glasses and garnish with cinnamon sticks.
Cranberry Margarita
You’ll need:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz triple sec
- Ice
- Salt for rimming (optional)
- Lime wedge and cranberries for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Rim your glass with salt if desired.
Fill a shaker with ice.
Add tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, and triple sec to the shaker.
Shake well for about 30 seconds.
Strain into your prepared glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a lime wedge and cranberries if you like.
Enjoy your festive cranberry margarita!
Kir Royale
You’ll need:
• 1/2 oz crème de cassis
• 4 oz chilled champagne
• Optional: Fresh raspberry for garnish
How to make it:
Pour the crème de cassis into a champagne flute.
Slowly add the chilled champagne.
Gently stir to combine.
If desired, drop a fresh raspberry into the glass.
Serve right away and enjoy your festive Kir Royale!
Tropical Frosé
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle rosé wine
- 1 1/2 cups frozen pineapple
- 1 1/2 cups frozen mango
- 2 oz rum
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Lime wedges for garnish
Instructions:
Pour rosé into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
Add frozen fruit, rum, and simple syrup to a blender.
Add half of the frozen rosé cubes to the blender.
Blend until smooth and slushy.
Taste and add more simple syrup if needed.
Pour into glasses and garnish with lime wedges.
Enjoy your tropical frosé!
Scrooge Sour
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz cranberry juice
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick and dried cranberries for garnish
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and cranberry juice to the shaker.
Shake well for about 10 seconds.
Strain into a chilled glass filled with ice.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a few dried cranberries.
Enjoy your festive Scrooge Sour!