s/o Holiday Food: Holiday Cocktails

[redheadk]

I like to make a big batch cocktail when we host. I've made Cranberry Margaritas in the past but I'm not feeling the tequila this year. 

If you are serving drinks for the holidays, what are you making?

[lust2hart]

I've made these cranberry cinnamon whiskey sours a few times and love them! bakerbynature.com/cranberry-cinnamon-whiskey-sour/

I haven't made this cranberry & rosemary white sangria yet but am interested. jerryjamesstone.com/recipe/cranberry-rosemary-white-christmas-sangria/

[nicolewi]

I don’t do big batch. I did do a vodka cranberry punch once that I thought was really good, but I have no clue what recipe I used. We have a lot of vodka drinkers. And brandy old-fashioneds, because that’s a big Wisconsin thing.

Usually we have specialty beers, ingredients for old fashions, vodka, and some kind of cranberry juice mixer, and also tonic, limes, and lemons. Also cola in case somebody just wants a brandy and Coke or something like that.

Plus, we pretty much have a full bar of alcohol, so if somebody wants something else, I can pull it out.

I also usually put out Bailey’s or rumChata with the coffee.

[NewGirlNic]

We always do espresso martinis on Christmas Eve. 

For Friendsgiving, I batch made this cocktail and it was a huge hit. It's festive and would be good for Christmas too.

Cranberry Bourbon Smash:
2c cranberry juice (100% juice)
2c bourbon
juice from 1 orange
1/4-1/2c of cinnamon simple syrup

Pour over ice and fill glass about 1/2-2/3 full. Top with either plain club soda or a flavored sparkling water (we did blood orange cranberry Polar sparkling water) Garnish with apple slices and/or orange slices and/or sugared cranberries (I love this recipe, they are addicting- everydayannie.com/2012/12/18/how-to-make-sugared-cranberries/) 

For the cinnamon simple:
1 c brown sugar
1 c water
2 cinnamon sticks
the peel from 1 large orange (use a vegetable peeler to create strips of zest)

Combine in a medium sauce pan over med-low heat and bring to a simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the sugar completely dissolves. Let cool then remove the cinnamon sticks and orange peel. Store in a glass jar.

[jinkies]

We usually just mimosas or poinsettias (cranberry + champagne).

[missva]

I just made this punch over the weekend and it was a hit!
www.marthastewart.com/316360/christmas-punch

[eddy]

We are doing cranberry moscow mules on Xmas eve. 

www.spoonfulofflavor.com/cranberry-moscow-mule/

[definitelyO]

In addition to all the great ideas - my friend got me these for Christmas and they are so fun in cocktails - we did them with cranberry juice and some with OJ and then used them as our juice in mimosas - but they'd be great in a punch bowl or with other festive drinks.

a.co/d/6Xc283g

[beerlover]

I've been obsessed with the Deep Eddy cranberry vodka, it just takes holiday cocktails to a new level. Unfortunately, I bought it in DE and they don't sell it near me in PA and the bottle is half gone! But, I like to just do a shot of that, club soda, a splash of cranberry juice and a twist of lime for a lighter drink.

Cranberry moscow mules which I kind of just make up or google something as I'm making it.

I like How Sweet Eats Mistletoe Manhattans www.howsweeteats.com/2019/12/mistletoe-manhattan/

You said no tequila so this is more for others but I also like Annie's Eats cranberry margaritas. everydayannie.com/2013/11/22/cranberry-margaritas/

[redheadk]

Dec 19, 2023 12:48:19 GMT -5 beerlover said:

I've been obsessed with the Deep Eddy cranberry vodka, it just takes holiday cocktails to a new level. Unfortunately, I bought it in DE and they don't sell it near me in PA and the bottle is half gone! But, I like to just do a shot of that, club soda, a splash of cranberry juice and a twist of lime for a lighter drink.

Cranberry moscow mules which I kind of just make up or google something as I'm making it.

I like How Sweet Eats Mistletoe Manhattans www.howsweeteats.com/2019/12/mistletoe-manhattan/

You said no tequila so this is more for others but I also like Annie's Eats cranberry margaritas. everydayannie.com/2013/11/22/cranberry-margaritas/

One of the few benefits of living in Texas, I can grab Deep Eddy at the liquor store within walking distance of my house. I'll pick some up!

[maudefindlay]

www.thefoodblog.net/rumchata-hot-chocolate/

Rum Chata hot chocolate

[beerlover]

Dec 19, 2023 12:51:21 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Dec 19, 2023 12:48:19 GMT -5 beerlover said:

I've been obsessed with the Deep Eddy cranberry vodka, it just takes holiday cocktails to a new level. Unfortunately, I bought it in DE and they don't sell it near me in PA and the bottle is half gone! But, I like to just do a shot of that, club soda, a splash of cranberry juice and a twist of lime for a lighter drink.

Cranberry moscow mules which I kind of just make up or google something as I'm making it.

I like How Sweet Eats Mistletoe Manhattans www.howsweeteats.com/2019/12/mistletoe-manhattan/

You said no tequila so this is more for others but I also like Annie's Eats cranberry margaritas. everydayannie.com/2013/11/22/cranberry-margaritas/

One of the few benefits of living in Texas, I can grab Deep Eddy at the liquor store within walking distance of my house. I'll pick some up!

Lucky! Haha. It looks like I could order it off PA Wine and Spirits website to be shipped to a store, but it could take 30 days? lol. I can't get it shipped directly to me. I will be over cranberries 30 days from now. I need to find a substitute!

[dochas]

Dec 19, 2023 12:06:43 GMT -5 redheadk said:

I like to make a big batch cocktail when we host. I've made Cranberry Margaritas in the past but I'm not feeling the tequila this year. 

If you are serving drinks for the holidays, what are you making?

I haven't made those in ages - I love them! I am going to make tipsy Rudolph punch. The recipe seems to be everywhere and it's easy to do for the kids and just add vodka for adults.

[eb777888]

Just cranberry mimosas and probably some red wine Christmas Eve. I'm intrigued by some of these vodka cranberry drinks because I love both of those things and have both in the house.

[loira]

We're trying this cinnamon smoked lambrusco cocktail this year: justinesnacks.com/cinnamon-smoked-lambrusco-cocktail/

[RoxMonster]

We make this Cranberry Apple Cider Sangria every year. Just made it for Thanksgiving also. www.flavourandsavour.com/cranberry-apple-cider-sangria/

[mcppalmbeach]

My friend just made white chocolate peppermint martinis for a party in a big batch and they were so freaking good. I made tipsy Rudolph’s last year and it was also great.

[4speedy]

I just bought this after reading all of the great drink recipes.  Now I need to pick 2 that will look pretty next to each other.  It’s bigger than it looks, each part holds a gallon of cocktails.

[erbear]

I made a great batch of Salted Caramel apple ciders last weekend.

[honeydew1894]

Dec 19, 2023 12:32:02 GMT -5 jinkies said:

We usually just mimosas or poinsettias (cranberry + champagne).

I did this, but with white cranberry and prosecco. It was a hit.

[Pibs]

My family always has something my Grandma calls Lush Slush. It's a mixture of bananas, orange juice, pineapple juice, lemonade, simple syrup and then - traditionally - vodka. It all gets frozen, and people scoop some out into a glass and pour Sprite/7Up/Ginger Ale over.

I'm otherwise a sucker for mulled wine and spiked hot chocolate at the holidays, with a mimosa Christmas morning.