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These Easy Holiday Cocktails are the best, easiest winter holiday cocktail recipes to make for Thanksgiving, Christmas and throughout the holiday season. There are all types of cocktails in this list — rum, vodka, whiskey, champagne, Baileys and more!
For some other easy to make cocktails, try these Easy Christmas Cocktails that are even more Christmas themed, these Easy New Year’s Cocktails, these Gingerbread Cocktails or these Christmas Peppermint Cocktails.
Tips For The Beginner Bartender
- Shake the cocktail shaker well. If the recipe calls for using a cocktail shaker, make sure to shake the cocktail well for at least 20 to 30 seconds before straining. This helps chill the drink and infuse the flavors properly. If the cocktail is supposed to have a foamy head (like an espresso martini), shaking also helps create the foam layer.
- Use large ice cubes. To elevate the look of your drink, you can make large ice cubes using special ice cube molds, such as these large sphere ice cube molds.
- Add some garnish. Every cocktail needs a bit of garnish. Some ideas include making an orange peel or lemon peel twist, using a peeler. You could also add some fresh fruit or maraschino cherries on a cocktail pick. Dehydrated fruit slices for winter cocktails or some edible flowers for summer cocktails are some more easy ideas for garnish.
- Use the right cocktail glass. It’s not always essential to use the right cocktail glass, but sometimes it does help. Mojitos are served in highball cocktail glasses and espresso martinis are served in coupe glasses or martini glasses, for example. Hurricane glasses are great for frozen cocktails and of course, classic margarita glasses are perfect for margaritas. However, when in doubt, low ball cocktail glasses work for most recipes.
- Use a jigger. A jigger is a helpful bartender tool to properly measure the ingredients for your cocktail. However, if you don’t have one, you can use regular measuring spoons. 1 oz is the equivalent of 2 tablespoons.
- Use store bought syrup. Cocktail recipes often use flavored syrup. Making your own at home is not hard (even for beginners), but if you find this too daunting or time consuming, you can generally find whatever flavor of syrup you need pre-made in a bottle. You can buy classic simple syrup for example, but you can also find all sorts of flavors, such as this strawberry simple syrup, this watermelon simple syrup and this caramel simple syrup.
Easy Holiday Cocktail Recipes
This brown sugar old fashioned is a cozy, fall cocktail that is easy to make. Made with a homemade brown sugar, cinnamon and maple simple syrup. Mixed with bourbon whiskey and a twist of orange peel.
This pomegranate gin cocktail is a sweet & tart drink that is easy to make during the winter season. This pomegranate gin fizz is made with pomegranate juice, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and a dash of club soda.
This rich dark hot chocolate with amaretto is the best creamy spiked alcoholic hot chocolate. Milk, dark chocolate, sugar and vanilla melted together. A shot of amaretto mixed in, topped with whipped cream, sliced almonds and chocolate sauce.
This easy amaretto martini makes a great holiday martini. It takes less than 10 minutes to make using amaretto, vodka, peach nectar and simple syrup. A sweet, fruity martini with the perfect balance of peach and almond flavors.
This Eggnog Martini is a beautifully festive cocktail that’s the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. The addition of Amaretto liqueur takes the flavor in this delicious drink to the next level. This drink comes together quickly and pairs perfectly with holiday appetizers and desserts.
This Peppermint Schnapps Cocktails (also called a Frosty The Snowman Cocktail), is a delicious holiday drink. It’s made with vanilla rum, blue curaçao and peppermint schnapps. Add a crushed candy cane rim for an extra Christmasy feel!
This festive White Christmas Margarita recipe uses fresh rosemary and a bright red cranberry to look just like Rudolph’s antlers and nose! An easy to make, fun holiday cocktail recipe.
This Easy Christmas Holiday Punch recipe can be made with or without alcohol for a eady holiday party cocktail that works for everyone. Make it in large batch and serve it in a pitcher or punch bowl.
Do you want to enjoy the Christmas cookie table, but in drink form instead? Then you’ll love this sugar cookie martini! Vanilla vodka and Rumchata serves as the base for this sweet and creamy mixed drink, and it’s finished with festive touches perfect for the holiday! This is an easy dessert martini recipe that is great all holiday season long.
The Pecan Pie Martini recipe is a rich, creamy dessert in a glass—perfect for winding down after a holiday meal. Whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas, this decadent after dinner drink comes together in mere minutes with four simple ingredients. If you love a good dessert martini, you’re in the right place!
This Easy RumChata Hot Chocolate is not only incredibly simple to prepare, but it is the perfect way to warm up all throughout the winter holidays. Smooth, creamy, and only 3 ingredients needed!
Mulled Wine is a traditional holiday drink made with red wine, brandy, and mulling spices like cloves, star anise, and cinnamon. It’s delicious, cozy, and guaranteed to warm you from the inside out. This recipe contains clear instructions so that any beginner can make this drink!
This Gingerbread Old Fashioned cocktail is the perfect bourbon cocktail to make this Christmas. It’s a simple cocktail that is made with bourbon and gingerbread syrup for a festive twist on the classic drink.
This cranberry gimlet is a simple holiday cocktail that is perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It is easy to make with a homemade cranberry simple syrup made from real cranberries.
This cranberry rum cocktail is the perfect holiday rum drink. Filled with tropical flavor, this Christmas drink has a unique Caribbean twist.
This creamy RumChata White Russian is an easy, 4 ingredient cocktail. Cinnamon and vanilla based RumChata, milk, vodka and kahlua. This makes the perfect after dinner or holiday cocktail.
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