Popsugar Living Christmas Best Christmas Cocktail Recipes Cheers to the Festive Season With These Merry and Bright Christmas Cocktails 9 December 2020 by Hedy Phillips Image Source: Half Baked Harvest When the Christmas carols are playing, lights are twinkling on the tree, and you're about to indulge in a mouthwatering meal, there's nothing that could make your evening better . . . well, that is, besides a stiff cocktail. The holiday season is the best time of year to put your bar cart to use and whip up some of the cutest and most creative libations of all. From winterised margaritas to warm mulled wine to cheeky Jingle Juice that even Santa himself would approve of, these recipes will give you even more to celebrate this season. There are even some fun takes on festive classics (spiked hot chocolate, anyone?), as well as some fun new drinks to try (a Buddy the Elf cocktail!). We'll cheers to that! — Additional reporting by Lauren Harano Related: 45 Fun and Festive Christmas Starters That Serve 2 People 1 White Chocolate Peppermint Martini Image Source: Inspired by Charm Sweet, creamy, and infused with a peppermint twist, this festive drink just might make you sing Christmas carols before you even take your first sip. With white chocolate liqueur, vanilla vodka, and peppermint schnapps, this recipe will make you feel merry, bright, and oh so buzzed. Get the recipe: white chocolate peppermint martini 1 / 38 2 Santa's Nightcap Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Ho, ho, hold up! This cheeky cocktail is made with chai tea, cinnamon, and ginger — and let's not forget a hefty pour of bourbon. It pairs well with your favourite Christmas cookies and a cosy night in, so plan accordingly. Get the recipe: Santa's nightcap 2 / 38 3 Poinsettia Spritz Punch Image Source: Half Baked Harvest If you've been craving champagne this festive season, then this punch was made for you. This fizzy cranberry cocktail has a dash of St. Germain, a splash of vodka, and all the champagne you want. Fresh cranberry juice gives it its festive hue, which you'll be cheersing to all night. Get the recipe: poinsettia spritz punch 3 / 38 4 Jingle Juice Holiday Punch Image Source: Inspired by Charm Jingle all the way to through the Christmas season with this pretty pink punch. With a mix of whipped vodka, pink champagne, and sherry soda, you can make this in just minutes. Top it off with cranberries or cherries to make it even more festive. Get the recipe: jingle juice holiday punch 4 / 38 5 White Christmas Mojito Image Source: Half Baked Harvest With a coconut-y twist, this classy Christmas cocktail will whisk you away to a tropical paradise. Made with white rum, coconut milk, and fresh mint leaves, this mojito will have you coming back for (so much) more. Get the recipe: white Christmas mojito 5 / 38 6 Gingerbread White Russian Image Source: Half Baked Harvest If White Russians are your go-to drink, then make way for this holiday libation. It has the classic White Russian ingredients of vodka, Kahlua, and heavy cream along with a homemade gingerbread syrup. Pair it with gingerbread cookies for best results. Get the recipe: gingerbread white Russian 6 / 38 7 Holly Jolly Christmas Citrus Cocktail Image Source: Half Baked Harvest With a mouthwatering mix of vodka, St. Germain, and freshly squeezed clementines, this cheery cocktail is easy to make and even easier to drink! With bubbly ginger beer and festive pomegranates, it's about as good as it gets. Get the recipe: holly jolly Christmas citrus cocktail 7 / 38 8 Pomegranate and Peppermint Moscow Mule Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Give the traditional Moscow mule a Christmastime kick when you whip up this delightful drink. Peppermint and pomegranate juice work together to make this a real treat for your taste buds. Garnish each cup with candied mint for best results. Get the recipe: pomegranate and peppermint Moscow mule 8 / 38 9 Spicy Sweet Grinch Cocktail Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Think of this Grinch drink as a vodka spicy marg with a hint of bubbly ginger beer. It's light, refreshing, and has a hint of jalapeños. Don't drink too many of these or you might end up on the naughty list . . . Get the recipe: spicy sweet Grinch cocktail 9 / 38 10 North Pole Cocktail Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Let's get to the point: this cocktail is Christmas in a cup. Rich chocolate, spunky peppermint, and sweet gingerbread make this recipe one to remember. Coat the rim of each glass in chocolate or sugar to make it even sweeter. Get the recipe: North Pole cocktail 10 / 38 11 Sparkling Christmas Party Punch Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Cheers to the season with this fun and festive party punch! White wine, fresh pomegranate juice, stiff vodka, tangy citrus, and bubbly ginger beer work together to make this punch a Christmas miracle. This recipe makes eight servings so be sure to have a cute pitcher to keep it in. We suggest making two batches, just in case! Get the recipe: sparkling Christmas party punch 11 / 38 12 Pomegranate Champagne Mule Image Source: Half Baked Harvest If you're looking for a refreshing cocktail to keep you up after a long day of Christmas shopping, this drink has got just what you need. With fresh pomegranate juice, zesty limes, and a splash of grapefruit, even Santa will be hoping that you leave out a glass for him. Get the recipe: pomegranate champagne mule 12 / 38 13 Poinsettia Pomegranate Martini Image Source: Inspired by Charm It's martini time! These bright red libations consist of only four ingredients, meaning it's super easy to make. Just whip together gin, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and simple syrup, and your work here is done. Add pomegranate seeds to make it stand out. Get the recipe: poinsettia pomegranate martini 13 / 38 14 Peppermint Espresso Martini Image Source: Inspired by Charm It's common sense that you can't go wrong when you drink an espresso martini, and this festive-themed drink proves it. The bold espresso perfectly mixes with the sharpness of the peppermint, making it a dream come true. Get the recipe: peppermint espresso martini 14 / 38 15 Very Merry Ornamentini Image Source: Inspired by Charm If you want to serve something up that will wow everyone, this. is. it. This luxe ornamentini is a holiday martini that's served in a glass ornament. With a vibrant red hue, it perfectly encompasses the fun and excitement of the season. Get the recipe: very merry ornamentini 15 / 38 16 Cinnamon Bourbon Old Fashioned With Brûléed Oranges Image Source: Half Baked Harvest This warming old fashioned is concocted with a homemade cinnamon and rosemary simple syrup, and is seriously good. Mixed with rich bourbon, tangy orange slices, and sparkling water, you'll be thinking about this every night of the season. Get the recipe: cinnamon bourbon old fashioned with brûléed oranges 16 / 38 17 Christmas Snowstorm Margarita Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Put a wintery twist on the classic margarita with this holiday-inspired drink. Just mix silver tequila with a splash of coconut rum, orange liquor, and sweet coconut milk to make your new favourite drink of the season. Cheers to that! Get the recipe: Christmas snowstorm margarita 17 / 38 18 Buddy the Elf Cocktail Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Get in the full Christmas spirit with this sweet drink. Named after everyone's favourite elf, this cocktail is essentially the perfect combination of Christmas and sugar. Kahlua, maple syrup, and whipped cream will instantly make your festive celebrations merrier. Get the recipe: Buddy the elf cocktail 18 / 38 19 Christmas Sangria Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Put a spin on the traditional sangria for the festive season when you whip up this delightful drink. White wine, apple cider, rich brandy, and fresh fruit make this the cocktail that keeps on giving (you a buzz). Get the recipe: Christmas sangria 19 / 38 20 Spiced Cranberry Rosé Spritzer Image Source: Half Baked Harvest Kick up your favourite wine with some extra flavours when you indulge in this spunky spritz. Homemade spiced cranberry jam, rosemary, rosé, and ginger beer go hand-in-hand to make this drink as refreshing as it sounds. Get the recipe: spiced cranberry Rosé spritzer 20 / 38 21 White Christmas Margarita Punch Image Source: How Sweet Eats No matter where you are, you can enjoy a white Christmas when you make this holiday libation. It has a blend of silver tequila with coconut water, cream, and rum, and it tastes just like a tropical holiday. Add cranberries and rosemary to garnish each glass with. Get the recipe: white Christmas margarita punch 21 / 38 22 Spiced Wine Image Source: Well Plated Why have plain wine when you can jazz it up for Christmas? With rich spices and good wine, this drink will warm you up on even the coldest winter night. We suggest adding two cinnamon sticks to really bring out the seasonal flavour. Get the recipe: spiced wine 22 / 38 23 Grapefruit Bourbon Yule Mule Image Source: Host the Toast With a fun name like this, you know this drink is going to be good. The recipe only calls for three ingredients (freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, brown sugar Bourbon, and ginger beer), meaning you can make it in no time. And to that we'll raise our glass! Get the recipe: grapefruit bourbon yule mule 23 / 38 24 Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned Image Source: Half Baked Harvest The secret to this drink is the homemade spiced chai simple syrup, and wow, is it good. Mixed with warming bourbon and fresh fruit, you won't be able to get enough. Try serving this drink hot if you really want to warm yourself up. Get the recipe: vanilla chai old fashioned 24 / 38 25 Cranberry Jell-O Shots Image Source: A Beautiful Mess Throw a real party complete with festive Jell-O shots when you whip these bad boys up. All you need is cranberry cocktail juice, Jell-O mix, and orange vodka. Let the fun begin! Get the recipe: cranberry Jell-O shots 25 / 38 26 Pomegranate Prosecco Smash Image Source: How Sweet Eats Bright, bubbly, and boozy, you'll want to drink this up in one gulp. With bold pomegranate juice, sweet maple syrup, and refreshing prosecco, this drink will be smash (hence the name!). Get the recipe: pomegranate prosecco smash 26 / 38 27 Eggnog White Russian Image Source: Port and Fin Combine two favourites into one with this festive cocktail. All you need is a dash of vodka, a splash of coffee liqueur, and a glass of eggnog to make this holiday drink a hit. Pro tip: dunk your favourite Christmas cookies in it for best results. Get the recipe: eggnog white Russian 27 / 38 28 Cranberry Rosemary Shrub Cocktail Image Source: Good Life Eats We bet your taste buds will love this cheeky cocktail. With hints of black pepper, rosemary, and cinnamon, it'll wake you up no matter how late you were wrapping presents. Add those flavours with warming bourbon and fresh seltzer, and you'll be over the moon. Get the recipe: cranberry rosemary shrub cocktail 28 / 38 29 Mistletoe Punch Image Source: A Beautiful Mess Flirty and fun, this mistletoe punch is packed with vibrant flavour (and vodka!). You'll get hints of sweet pineapple juice and rich cranberry juice that'll make you swoon. Pair that with some mistletoe, and you just might fall in love. Get the recipe: mistletoe punch 29 / 38 30 Sparkling Festive Flirtini Image Source: The Cookie Rookie There's no other way to say it: this flirtini belongs on the naughty list. Cranberry and pineapple juice are mixed with orange vodka and topped off with red Moscato champagne, meaning not only is it tempting, but it's also pretty strong. Get the recipe: sparkling holiday flirtini 30 / 38 31 Coffee Martini Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff If you've been running around Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, and singing loud for all to hear, then this is the pick-me-up you need. It's easy to make and oh so decadent, meaning you can drink it any hour of the day. Get the recipe: coffee martini 31 / 38 32 Maple Old Fashioned Image Source: How Sweet Eats Warm up after a long day in the cold when you make this maple old fashioned. It's rich in flavour and bold in booze, so we suggest enjoying this right before bed while you're sitting by a fire. Trust us, it doesn't get much better than this. Get the recipe: maple old fashioned 32 / 38 33 White Christmas Martini Image Source: Inspired by Charm You'll be dreaming of a white Christmas with each sip of this divine drink. Not only is it so gorgeous to serve, but it's equally as delicious! If you want to make it even more festive, add a mini candy cane to each glass and give them a stir. Get the recipe: white Christmas martini 33 / 38 34 Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Brinton Parker Don't let the name of this one fool you — it's for adults only. Hot chocolate, gingerbread liqueur, and whipped cream work together to make this libation a Christmas must-have. Feel free to dunk everything from cookies to candy canes in it. Get the recipe: gingerbread hot chocolate 34 / 38 35 Yuletide Moon Holiday Cocktail Image Source: Cotter Crunch Settle in for a Christmas movie marathon with one of these bright red drinks. Red wine, bourbon, cherries, and spices make this taste as cheery as it sounds. Get the recipe: yuletide moon holiday cocktail 35 / 38 36 Cranberry Martini Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sarah Lipoff Sorry, olives, but cranberries are just so much better. This festive martini is made with cranberry-infused vermouth that'll give you the buzz you've been looking for since last Christmas. You can thank us later. Get the recipe: cranberry martini 36 / 38 37 Apple Cider Hot Toddy Image Source: Cookie and Kate Take the typical hot toddy to a place it has never been before with this fun recipe. The added apple cider gives it a winterised kick while the cinnamon sticks tie all the flavours together. Yes, please. Get the recipe: apple cider hot toddy 37 / 38 38 Spiked Eggnog Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Nicole Perry The only thing better than eggnog is spiked eggnog! This holiday recipe is frothy and fabulous, and will have you wishing that you could drink eggnog year-round. Get the recipe: spiked eggnog 38 / 38 ChristmasFestive FoodHappy HourChristmas FoodCocktailsRecipesHoliday