20 Must-Have Holiday Cocktails

Cheers to the holiday season! 🍹 Celebrate in style with these 20 must-try cocktail recipes, perfect for Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve gatherings. From festive classics like spiked eggnog and mulled wine to sparkling champagne cocktails, we’ve got something to toast every holiday moment. Save this pin for all your holiday entertaining ideas! 🎄✨

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1. Classic Eggnog Recipe

• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar (for yolks)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for whites)
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (plus more for garnish)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Optional: 3/4 cup rum, bourbon, or a mix

Instructions:

1. Whisk Yolks: In a medium bowl, beat the egg yolks with 1/3 cup sugar until creamy and pale yellow.
2. Add Milk & Cream: Slowly whisk in the milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. If using alcohol, add it here.
3. Whip Egg Whites: In a separate bowl, beat egg whites with 1/4 cup sugar until soft peaks form.
4. Combine: Gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture. Stir until combined for a light and frothy texture.
5. Serve: Pour into glasses, sprinkle with grated nutmeg, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

2. Cranberry Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz tequila
• 1 oz triple sec
• 1 oz lime juice
• 2 oz cranberry juice
• Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish
• Optional: Sugar for rimming

Instructions:

1. Prepare Glass: Rim the glass with lime juice and dip into sugar for a frosted look.
2. Mix: In a shaker, combine tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice with ice. Shake well.
3. Serve: Pour into the prepared glass, garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs.

3. Hot Buttered Rum

Ingredients:

• 2 oz dark rum
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• Optional: Whipped cream for topping

Instructions:

1. Mix Base: Combine butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a mug. Stir to create a paste.
2. Add Rum: Pour in dark rum and mix until smooth.
3. Add Water: Slowly add hot water while stirring.
4. Serve: Top with whipped cream or a sprinkle of nutmeg.

4. Pomegranate Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 4 oz ginger beer
• Pomegranate arils and lime slices for garnish

Instructions:

1. Mix: In a copper mug, combine vodka, pomegranate juice, and lime juice over ice.
2. Top: Add ginger beer and stir gently.
3. Garnish: Add pomegranate arils and lime slices.

5. Mulled Wine

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup honey or sugar
• 2 oranges, sliced
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 2 star anise

Instructions:

1. Heat: In a large pot, combine wine, brandy, honey, oranges, and spices.
2. Simmer: Heat gently for 15–20 minutes without boiling.
3. Serve: Ladle into mugs and garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.

6. Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1 sugar cube
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Champagne
• Lemon twist for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prep Glass: Place a sugar cube at the bottom of the flute.
2. Bitters: Add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters to the sugar cube.
3. Fill: Top with chilled champagne.
4. Garnish: Add a twist of lemon peel.

7. Peppermint White Russian

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz coffee liqueur (e.g., Kahlúa)
• 1 oz peppermint schnapps
• 2 oz heavy cream
• Crushed candy canes for garnish

Instructions:

1. Mix: Combine vodka, coffee liqueur, and peppermint schnapps in a glass with ice.
2. Add Cream: Slowly pour cream on top to create layers.
3. Garnish: Sprinkle crushed candy canes and add a mint sprig.

8. Spiked Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 oz Baileys Irish Cream (or rum)
• Whipped cream for topping

Instructions:

1. Heat: Warm milk, cocoa powder, and sugar in a saucepan, stirring until smooth.
2. Add Alcohol: Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and Baileys.
3. Serve: Pour into a mug, top with whipped cream, and garnish with chocolate shavings.

9. Holiday Sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur (e.g., Triple Sec)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup cranberries

Instructions:

1. Combine: Mix all ingredients in a pitcher.
2. Chill: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let flavors blend.
3. Serve: Pour over ice and garnish with fresh fruit.

10. Gingerbread Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz Irish cream liqueur
• 1 oz gingerbread syrup
• 1/4 cup crushed graham crackers (for rimming)

Instructions:

1. Rim Glass: Dip the rim of a martini glass in water, then in crushed graham crackers.
2. Shake: Combine vodka, Irish cream, and gingerbread syrup with ice in a shaker.
3. Serve: Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with a gingerbread cookie.

11. Winter Wonderland Mojito

Ingredients:

• 2 oz white rum
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 6–8 fresh mint leaves
• Soda water
• Powdered sugar for garnish

Instructions:

1. Muddle: In a glass, muddle mint leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup.
2. Add Rum: Stir in rum and fill the glass with ice.
3. Top: Add soda water and garnish with powdered sugar.

12. Apple Cider Mimosa

Ingredients:

• 2 oz apple cider
• Champagne
• Cinnamon stick and apple slice for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pour: Add apple cider to a flute.
2. Top: Fill the rest with champagne.
3. Garnish: Add a cinnamon stick and apple slice.

13. Candy Cane Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz white creme de menthe
• 1 oz peppermint schnapps
• Crushed candy canes for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rim Glass: Dip the rim in water and coat with crushed candy canes.
2. Shake: Combine vodka, creme de menthe, and schnapps with ice.
3. Serve: Strain into the glass and garnish with a candy cane.

14. Sparkling Cranberry Punch

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 bottle sparkling water or champagne
• Orange slices and rosemary sprigs

Instructions:

1. Combine: Mix juices in a punch bowl.
2. Top: Add sparkling water or champagne.
3. Serve: Garnish with orange slices and rosemary.

15. Irish Coffee

Ingredients:

• 1 cup hot brewed coffee
• 1 oz Irish whiskey
• 1 tsp sugar
• Whipped cream for topping

Instructions:

1. Mix: Stir coffee, whiskey, and sugar.
2. Top: Add whipped cream.
3. Garnish: Sprinkle with cocoa powder.

16. Espresso Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz coffee liqueur
• 1 oz espresso

Instructions:

1. Shake: Combine vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso with ice.
2. Serve: Strain into a martini glass and garnish.

17. Maple Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1/2 oz maple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel and cherry for garnish

Instructions:

1. Mix: Combine bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in a glass with ice.
2. Stir: Stir well and garnish.

18. White Christmas Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz white chocolate liqueur
• 1 oz cream

Instructions:

1. Shake: Combine all ingredients with ice.
2. Serve: Strain into a martini glass and garnish.

19. Pineapple Coconut Mocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 2 oz coconut milk
• Soda water
• Pineapple wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. Mix: Combine pineapple juice and coconut milk.
2. Top: Add soda water and garnish.
3. If you would like alcohol, use 2 oz pineapple rum!

20. Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

• 1 cup hot water
• 2 oz whiskey
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions:

1. Mix: Combine all ingredients in a mug.
2. Serve: Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

With these 20 amazing cocktails, your Christmas and New Year celebrations are guaranteed to be memorable. Don’t forget to save this post and share it with friends! 🎉🍸