35 Christmas Cocktails for the Holiday Season

Introduction

The holiday season is the perfect excuse to get creative with your drinks menu and gather friends and family for memorable celebrations. These 35 Christmas cocktails offer a spectacular array of cozy, festive, and crowd-pleasing beverages that bring sparkle and flavor right to your holiday bar cart. Whether you’re planning an elegant holiday party, a casual get-together, or just a cozy night by the fire, you’ll find the ideal sippers to toast the season in style.

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Cocktails

Each cocktail on this list showcases holiday flavors—think cranberry, cinnamon, peppermint, and warming spices—designed to bring instant cheer. With festive garnishes and a spectrum of colors, these drinks brighten any celebration and make every toast more special. From classic favorites to modern twists and non-alcoholic options, there’s something to delight every guest.

Christmas Cocktail Highlights You Don’t Want to Miss

This collection goes beyond basic drinks by incorporating house-made syrups, fun garnishes (like sugared cranberries and peppermint rims), and creative combinations like apple cider bourbon, gingerbread martinis, and sparkling poinsettias. The result? Showstopping cocktails that look as good as they taste, guaranteeing your holiday gathering will be talked about long after the festivities end.

Planning Your Holiday Bar: Shopping Made Easy

With a diverse cocktail lineup, smart shopping is essential. Stock up on crowd-pleasing spirits—think vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, tequila—plus essential mixers like cranberry juice, ginger beer, club soda, and liqueurs. Don’t forget holiday staples: fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, citrus, pomegranate seeds, and plenty of ice. Organizing your ingredients is the first step to stress-free entertaining and ensures you’re always ready for an impromptu toast.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this collection to instantly add the full holiday cocktail ingredient list to your digital shopping cart, neatly organized by store section. CookifyAI helps you shop like a pro and guarantees you won’t forget a single bottle or garnish.

35 Festive Christmas Cocktail Recipes

1. Cranberry Mule: Vodka, cranberry juice, ginger beer, lime, and fresh cranberries.
2. Peppermint White Russian: Vodka, coffee liqueur, peppermint schnapps, milk.
3. Gingerbread Espresso Martini: Vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur, gingerbread syrup.
4. Poinsettia Sparkler: Champagne, triple sec, cranberry juice.
5. Hot Buttered Rum: Spiced rum, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, hot water.
6. Holiday Sangria: Red wine, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, apples, oranges, cranberries.
7. Candy Cane Martini: Vodka, peppermint schnapps, white crème de cacao, cream garnish with candy cane.
8. Spiced Eggnog: Bourbon, Baileys, eggnog, nutmeg.
9. Winter Old Fashioned: Bourbon, orange, simple syrup, bitters, holiday spices.
10. Christmas Cranberry Margarita: Tequila, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lime.
11. Apple Cider Bourbon Smash: Bourbon, apple cider, lemon, ginger beer.
12. Mulled Wine: Red wine, cloves, cinnamon, orange, honey, brandy.
13. Mistletoe Mojito: White rum, mint, lime, cranberry, club soda.
14. Jack Frost: Vodka, blue curaçao, pineapple juice, coconut cream.
15. Fireside Manhattan: Rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, cherry.
16. Roasted Chestnut Cocktail: Bourbon, vanilla syrup, nutmeg, cream.
17. Pomegranate Gin Fizz: Gin, pomegranate juice, lemon, club soda.
18. Holiday Mimosa: Prosecco, cranberry or pomegranate juice.
19. Santa’s Punch: Vodka, cranberry and orange juices, ginger ale.
20. Amaretto Spiked Hot Chocolate: Amaretto, hot chocolate, whipped cream, nutmeg.
21. Snowball: Advocaat, sparkling lemonade, lime.
22. Maple Whiskey Sour: Whiskey, lemon juice, maple syrup, egg white.
23. Cranberry Prosecco Cocktail: Prosecco, cranberry liqueur, cranberry garland.
24. Christmas Gin & Tonic: Gin, tonic, rosemary sprig, cranberries.
25. Chai White Russian: Vodka, coffee liqueur, chai tea, cream.
26. Rudolph’s Tipsy Spritzer: Red wine, soda water, pomegranate, orange.
27. Sugar Cookie Martini: Vanilla vodka, Irish cream, amaretto, milk.
28. Mulled Apple Cider: Apple cider, cinnamon, cloves, bourbon (optional).
29. Peppermint Hot Chocolate: Peppermint schnapps, hot chocolate, whipped cream, crushed candy cane.
30. Champagne Holiday Punch: Champagne, orange juice, pomegranate seeds.
31. Fig & Thyme Holiday Sparkler: Gin, fig jam, thyme, club soda, lemon.
32. Vanilla Cranberry Martini: Vanilla vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec.
33. Chocolate Hazelnut Espresso Martini: Vodka, coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur, Frangelico, espresso.
34. The Grinch Cocktail: Midori, lemon juice, Sprite, cherry.
35. Cider-Rosemary Gin Cocktail: Gin, apple cider, rosemary syrup, lemon.

Serving Suggestions for Crowd-Pleasing Holiday Cocktails

Garnish each drink with a festive touch: rosemary sprigs, sugared cranberries, cinnamon sticks, or candy cane rims add immediate cheer. Set up a self-serve bar for parties with labeled ingredients and pretty glassware, or serve in big batch pitchers for easy refills throughout the night.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

Most Christmas cocktails contain between 120 and 250 calories per serving, depending on mixers and spirits. Offer lower-calorie, spirit-free alternatives for designated drivers and guests with different preferences.

35 Holiday Cocktails (Recap)

These 35 Christmas cocktails make it easy to bring warmth, fun, and festivity to your seasonal gatherings, with flavors and presentations sure to wow your guests.

Instructions

1. Select a cocktail recipe from the list above (most include spirit, liqueur, mixer, garnish).
2. Add all liquid ingredients to a shaker with ice unless stated otherwise (for stirred or hot drinks).
3. Shake (or stir) vigorously for 10-20 seconds; strain into prepared glassware.
4. Garnish as suggested: cranberries, citrus, mint, cinnamon, or candy canes.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy responsibly.

Weekly Meal Planning

Including a collection of cocktails in your weekly or holiday planning saves time and stress. Save and schedule these cocktails so CookifyAI can create a unified shopping list—perfect for planning parties, dinners, or happy hours.

Planning Benefits:

• Consolidates all spirits, mixers, and garnishes so you purchase exactly what’s needed
• Organizes your store run by section and eliminates multiple trips
• Prevents forgotten bottles or duplicate purchases
• Helps you prep big batch drinks or multiple cocktails for events

Pro tip: Planning more than just drinks? Plan your whole holiday menu and your shopping list will reflect the quantities needed for all your meals, desserts, and beverages.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time per cocktail: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5–10 minutes per drink, most big batch cocktails in under 20 minutes

With these 35 Christmas cocktails, your festive bar is ready for a season full of cheer, creativity, and perfectly planned celebrations. Cheers!