27 Classic Christmas Cocktail Recipes for Festive Cheers

There's something magical about the holiday season that gets my spirits soaring. The twinkling lights, the joyful carols, and the delicious aromas from the kitchen create a world of festive charm. One way I love to amplify this cheer is by whipping up delightful cocktails for my family and friends.

So this year, I've compiled "27 Classic Christmas Cocktail Recipes for Festive Cheers" to help make your holiday gatherings even more memorable. Whether you're a fan of traditional flavors or looking for a twist on old favorites, these recipes have got you covered, bringing warmth, laughter, and plenty of holiday spirit right to your glass.

1. Classic Eggnog

Eggnog is a staple at any holiday gathering. This rich and creamy drink is perfect for sipping by the fire.

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1/2 cup rum
• Freshly grated nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Beat eggs and sugar together until thick and creamy.
2. Slowly add milk and cream, stirring continuously.
3. Stir in bourbon and rum.
4. Chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
5. Sprinkle nutmeg on top before serving.

2. Mulled Wine

Nothing beats the warming spice of mulled wine during the cold months.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 1 orange, sliced
• 6 whole cloves
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 4-star anise
• 1/4 cup honey

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pot.
2. Heat on low, stirring occasionally, until warm (don’t let it boil).
3. Strain solids before serving.

3. Cranberry Margarita

A festive twist on a summer favorite.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup triple sec
• Juice of one lime
• Fresh cranberries and lime slices for garnish

Instructions:

1. Mix cranberry juice, tequila, and triple sec in a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a glass.
3. Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime slices.

4. Spiked Hot Chocolate

Rich chocolate with a boozy kick is a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 shot of bourbon or rum
• Whipped cream and chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted.
3. Stir in bourbon or rum.
4. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

5. Peppermint Martini

A refreshing minty cocktail that screams Christmas.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz peppermint schnapps
• 1 oz white crème de cacao
• Crushed candy canes for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake vodka, peppermint schnapps, and crème de cacao with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with crushed candy canes.

6. Apple Cider Old-Fashioned

A fall favorite with a holiday twist.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 oz apple cider
• 1 sugar cube
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions:

1. Muddle the sugar cube and bitters in a glass.
2. Add bourbon and apple cider.
3. Fill the glass with ice and stir.
4. Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.

7. Gingerbread White Russian

A cookie-inspired take on the classic cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz coffee liqueur
• 1 oz gingerbread syrup
• 1 oz heavy cream

Instructions:

1. Combine vodka, coffee liqueur, and gingerbread syrup in a glass filled with ice.
2. Pour heavy cream over the back of a spoon to float on top.
3. Stir gently before drinking.

8. Santa’s Sleigh Ride

A cheerful, colorful drink for any holiday party.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz amaretto
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• Splash of club soda
• Fresh cranberries for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add vodka, amaretto, and cranberry juice.
3. Stir well, then top with club soda.
4. Garnish with fresh cranberries.

9. Hot Buttered Rum

An old-fashioned treat perfect for winter evenings.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp allspice
• 2 oz dark rum
• Hot water

Instructions:

1. Mix butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
2. Spoon 1 tbsp of the butter mixture into a mug.
3. Add rum and top with hot water.
4. Stir until melted.

10. Cinnamon Roll Cocktail

Ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz cinnamon vodka
• 1 oz RumChata
• Cinnamon stick and sugar rim for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rim a glass with sugar.
2. Add ice to the glass.
3. Combine cinnamon vodka and RumChata in a shaker and shake well.
4. Strain into the prepared glass.
5. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

11. Poinsettia

A beautiful champagne cocktail with a hint of cranberry.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• Champagne to top
• Fresh cranberries for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine cranberry juice and Cointreau in a flute.
2. Top with champagne.
3. Garnish with fresh cranberries.

12. Winter Sangria

A festive sangria perfect for holiday parties.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 apple, chopped
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 cups ginger ale

Instructions:

1. Combine all fruit in a large pitcher.
2. Add wine, brandy, orange juice, and honey.
3. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
4. Before serving, add ginger ale.

13. White Christmas Mojito

A tropical twist for Christmas.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup club soda
• 2 tbsp white rum
• Juice of one lime
• Mint leaves and pomegranate seeds for garnish

Instructions:

1. Muddle mint leaves in a glass.
2. Add ice, coconut milk, club soda, rum, and lime juice.
3. Stir well.
4. Garnish with mint leaves and pomegranate seeds.

14. Christmas Mule

A holiday spin on the Moscow Mule.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz cranberry juice
• Ginger beer to top
• Fresh cranberries and lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a copper mug with ice.
2. Add vodka and cranberry juice.
3. Top with ginger beer.
4. Garnish with cranberries and a lime wedge.

15. Caramel Apple Martini

A sweet and tangy treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz sour apple schnapps
• 1 oz butterscotch schnapps
• Apple slice for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake vodka, sour apple schnapps, and butterscotch schnapps with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with an apple slice.

16. Mistletoe Kiss

A fun and festive cocktail perfect for a Christmas party.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Champagne to top
• Pomegranate seeds and mint leaves for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake vodka, pomegranate juice, and simple syrup with ice.
2. Strain into a flute.
3. Top with champagne.
4. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and mint leaves.

17. Ginger Snap

A spicy, warming drink ideal for the holiday season.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz spiced rum
• 1 oz ginger liqueur
• 1/2 oz honey
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• Gingerbread cookie for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake rum, ginger liqueur, honey, and lemon juice with ice.
2. Strain into a glass with ice.
3. Garnish with a gingerbread cookie.

18. Chocolate Mint Martini

A rich, indulgent cocktail with a minty finish.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz crème de menthe
• 1 oz crème de cacao
• Chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake vodka, crème de menthe, and crème de cacao with ice.
2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

19. Christmas Margarita

An elegant margarita with a holiday twist.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz tequila
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• Sugar rim and lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rim a glass with sugar.
2. Shake tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, and triple sec with ice.
3. Strain into the prepared glass.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

20. Figgy Pudding Cocktail

Sneak in some holiday tradition with this cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz spiced rum
• 1 oz fig jam
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• Ground nutmeg for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake rum, fig jam, and lemon juice with ice.
2. Strain into a glass with ice.
3. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

21. Raspberry Christmas Punch

A bright and fruity punch fit for any festive gathering.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup vodka
• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup raspberry liqueur
• 1 bottle sparkling water
• Fresh raspberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine vodka, cranberry juice, and raspberry liqueur in a pitcher.
2. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. Before serving, add sparkling water.
4. Garnish with raspberries and rosemary sprigs.

22. Nutcracker

A drink that captures the essence of Christmas.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz hazelnut liqueur
• 1 oz bourbon
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Dash of bitters
• Walnut for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake hazelnut liqueur, bourbon, simple syrup, and bitters with ice.
2. Strain into a glass with ice.
3. Garnish with a walnut.

23. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

A kid-friendly option that's also excellent for adults with a splash of liqueur.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• Candy canes for garnish

Instructions:

1. Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add cocoa powder and sugar, stirring until dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract.
4. Serve in mugs with candy cane stirrers.

24. Snowball

A frothy drink that's a winter delight.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz advocaat
• 1 oz lemonade
• Splash of lime juice
• Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake advocaat, lemonade, and lime juice with ice.
2. Strain into a glass filled with ice.
3. Garnish with a lime wheel.

25. Frostbite

An icy blue cocktail perfect for a snowy night.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz tequila
• 1 oz blue curaçao
• 1 oz cream
• Crushed ice

Instructions:

1. Shake tequila, blue curaçao, and cream with ice.
2. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.

26. Christmas Pudding Martini

Capture the essence of Christmas pudding in a glass.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz brandy
• 1 oz tawny port
• 1/2 oz vanilla liqueur
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Grated cinnamon for garnish

Instructions:

1. Shake brandy, port, vanilla liqueur, and simple syrup with ice.
2. Strain into a glass.
3. Garnish with grated cinnamon.

27. Reindeer Punch

A refreshing and festive punch for all ages.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 cups sparkling water
• Fresh rosemary and cranberry skewers for garnish

Instructions:

1. Combine cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice in a large pitcher.
2. Stir well and chill.
3. Before serving, stir in sparkling water.
4. Garnish with rosemary and cranberry skewers.

Conclusion

Try out these 27 classic Christmas cocktail recipes, and let the festive cheers begin! Each drink adds its own special touch to the season, making every moment brighter and more memorable. Happy holidays!