36 Easy Christmas Cocktails For Your Next Party

Introduction

Nothing ushers in festive cheer quite like a well-curated lineup of easy Christmas cocktails. Whether you’re hosting a grand holiday soirée or an intimate gathering by the fire, having a variety of vibrant, holiday-inspired drinks on hand ensures every guest feels the spirit of the season. From sparkling spritzers to cozy hot toddies, these 36 easy Christmas cocktails deliver plenty of flavor and festive flair without requiring hours of prep time or difficult ingredients.

Why These Christmas Cocktails Are Perfect for Parties

What makes these cocktails a party favorite? Simplicity and crowd-pleasing taste. Each recipe can be mixed up in minutes, many are batched for easy serving, and the colorful garnishes and seasonal flavors make them as visually stunning as they are delicious. Your guests will love the mix of classic, creamy, fruity, and bubbly options—plus, there are plenty of mocktail suggestions so everyone can raise a glass together.

Planning The Perfect Holiday Cocktail Menu

The key to effortless holiday hosting is preparation. Select a handful of cocktails that can be made in advance, like a big-batch Cranberry Moscow Mule or Peppermint White Russian, alongside some that are assembled à la minute, such as a sparkling Pomegranate French 75. Don’t forget to offer a few non-alcoholic alternatives, ensuring everyone feels included in the celebration. Stock up on a few versatile spirits (vodka, gin, bourbon, and rum), mixers (cranberry juice, ginger beer, tonic, and soda water), and festive garnishes (rosemary, citrus, cranberries, and candy canes), and you’ll be ready for anything.

Your Holiday Cocktail Shopping List

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save these cocktail recipes to automatically create an organized shopping list by store section, making both your liquor store and grocery run quick and efficient this holiday season.

36 Easy Christmas Cocktails Recipes

1. Cranberry Moscow Mule – Vodka, cranberry juice, ginger beer, lime.
2. Peppermint White Russian – Vodka, coffee liqueur, milk, peppermint schnapps.
3. Pomegranate French 75 – Gin, Prosecco, lemon juice, pomegranate seeds.
4. Holiday Sangria – Red wine, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, sliced citrus, fresh cranberries.
5. Spiked Eggnog – Store-bought eggnog, bourbon, pinch of nutmeg.
6. Cranberry Gin Fizz – Gin, cranberry juice, club soda, lemon.
7. Christmas Margarita – Tequila, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime.
8. Candy Cane Martini – Vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, splash of cream.
9. Hot Buttered Rum – Spiced rum, butter, brown sugar, hot water, spices.
10. Apple Cider Mule – Vodka, apple cider, ginger beer, apple slice.
11. Mulled Wine – Red wine, orange slices, cinnamon, star anise, honey.
12. Irish Cream Coffee – Coffee, Irish cream liqueur, whipped cream.
13. Winter White Cosmopolitan – Vodka, white cranberry juice, triple sec, lime.
14. Maple Bourbon Smash – Bourbon, maple syrup, lemon, rosemary.
15. Holiday Poinsettia – Prosecco, cranberry juice, triple sec.
16. Rosemary Gin Spritz – Gin, tonic, rosemary, pomegranate seeds.
17. Fireside Old Fashioned – Bourbon, orange bitters, sugar, orange twist.
18. Chocolate Peppermint Martini – Vodka, Irish cream, chocolate syrup, peppermint schnapps.
19. Gingerbread White Russian – Vodka, coffee liqueur, gingerbread syrup, milk.
20. Bourbon Eggnog Punch – Bourbon, eggnog, club soda, nutmeg.
21. Pineapple-Rum Holiday Punch – Rum, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, soda.
22. Festive Aperol Spritz – Aperol, Prosecco, soda, orange, cranberries.
23. Sparkling Cranberry Rosé – Rosé wine, cranberry juice, soda, cranberries.
24. Winter Mojito – White rum, mint, lime, cranberry, soda water.
25. Jack Frost – Vodka, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, coconut cream.
26. Spiced Apple Cider Toddy – Bourbon, apple cider, cinnamon.
27. Christmas Gin & Tonic – Gin, tonic, rosemary, pomegranate seeds.
28. Santa’s Little Helper – Vodka, coffee liqueur, chocolate milk.
29. Cranberry Aperol Spritz – Aperol, cranberry juice, Prosecco, club soda.
30. Ginger-Citrus Punch – Vodka, ginger beer, lime, orange juice.
31. RumChata Hot Chocolate – Hot chocolate, RumChata, whipped cream.
32. Spiced Pear Collins – Gin, pear juice, lemon, club soda.
33. Prosecco Christmas Mimosa – Prosecco, orange juice, splash of grenadine.
34. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour – Whiskey, lemon juice, cinnamon maple syrup.
35. Christmas Cherry Bourbon Smash – Bourbon, cherry juice, soda, lemon.
36. Mocktail Option: Cranberry Spice Spritzer – Cranberry juice, ginger beer, club soda, orange.

Weekly Meal Planning

Elevate your entertaining by integrating your drink menu with CookifyAI’s meal planning features. Save and schedule these holiday cocktails alongside your food recipes to ensure you’ve got every ingredient accounted for.

Planning Benefits:

• Consolidates all ingredients across cocktails and food into one organized shopping list
• Sorts items by grocery and liquor sections for fast, stress-free shopping
• Helps avoid overbuying or missing important ingredients
• Makes prepping for holiday hosting simple and efficient

Pro tip: Sync your cocktail and appetizer recipes so overlapping ingredients (like cranberry juice or citrus) are only purchased once—cutting down on waste, cost, and confusion. Schedule your full holiday menu here.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 5 minutes per cocktail (batched cocktails up to 15 minutes)
Cook Time: None (except for mulled or hot cocktails, add ~20 minutes for stove time)
Total Time: Most cocktails can be mixed and served in under 10 minutes

Festive Recap

These 36 easy Christmas cocktails guarantee your next party is full of flavor, color, and holiday joy. With a little advance planning and the right shopping tools, you’ll be ready to shake, stir, and celebrate all season long.