We've taken the guess work out of what to serve at your next holiday party. Each of the following Christmas cocktails are easy to make -- three ingredients and a garnish only -- for even the most vanilla of bartenders.
Check out the mix masters slinging these cocktails in our video piece below, or read on for the recipes sure to get you in the holiday spirit(s)
Christmas Punch
4 oz Cointreau
4 oz Brandy
2 bottles Champagne, cold
Combine cointreau and brandy in your favorite punch bowl
Add garnish:
1 cup of frozen cranberries
2 oranges, cut into wheels (or half wheels)
**Fresh mint is optional**
Add champagne then give the punch a few gentle stirs
Serve as is or over dry ice
Peppermint Patty Martini
1 1/2 oz Three Olives Chocolate Vodka
1/2 oz Frangelico Hazelnut Liquor
Just a pinch of White Creme de Menthe
Shake well and serve in a martini glass
Garnish:
Drizzle chocolate syrup inside martini glass
Cut a slit in a mini peppermint patty and place on rim of martini glass
Ginger Snap
2 oz Advocaat Liquor
Just a pinch each of Goldschlager and Butterscotch Schnapps
Topped with Ginger Ale
Shake well: Advocaat Liquor and Goldschlager
Serve on the rocks or strain into a martini glass
Top with ginger ale
Garnish:
Rim glass with crushed gingersnap cookies mixed with gold (cake decorating) shavings
Sprinkle gold shavings across top of finished cocktail
Candy Cane
2 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liquor
Just a pinch of White Creme de Menthe
Topped with Club soda
Shake well: Godiva White and Creme de Menthe
Serve on the rocks or strain into a martini glass
Top with club soda
Garnish:
Rim glass with crushed candy canes mixed with silver (cake decorating) shavings
Mistletoe and Holly
1 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liquor
1/4 oz Green Creme de Menthe
Shake Well
Serve on the rocks or strain into a martini glass
Garnish with a skewer of fresh cranberries
Carrot Cake Martini
1 1/2 oz Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 oz Kahlua Coffee Liquor
Just a pinch of Goldschlager
Shake well and strain into a martini glass
Garnish:
Rim glass with toasted shaved coconut mixed with gold (cake decorating) shavings
Hot Apple Pie
1 1/2 oz Apple Vodka
1/2 oz Frangelico Hazlenut Liquor
4 oz Hot Apple Cider
Garnish:
Drizzle the inside of a clear irish coffee style glass with carmel sauce
Cinnamon stick
Combine apple vodka, frangelico, and hot apple cider
Pour into carmel coated glass
Place cinnamon into glass as a stir stick
**An apple pie cocktail can be served cold by replacing the hot apple
cider with apple juice. It may be served over ice or shaken and
strained into a martini glass. Drizzle carmel inside the glass, top
with a thin slice of apple and drizzle a small amount of carmel across
the top of the cocktail
** or it can be served virgin
