It’s getting colder outside, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to break out those winter cocktail recipes! Whether you’re planning to throw a holiday party or two during the colder months of the year or you’re just looking for something to warm you up from the inside out, we’ve got plenty of suggestions to help you get started. Below, we’ve gathered several of our favorite winter-inspired cocktails so you don’t have to look too far to find something that will please your palate and tickle your taste buds.
These cocktails are perfect for any time of the winter months, and they’re not specifically meant for one holiday over any other. Of course, they can work wonders for holiday parties, too, no matter which holidays you may be celebrating this winter. Take your time looking through our suggestions below, and you’re sure to find a cocktail or two that caters to your alcohol preferences.
Peppermint Mimosa
Ingredients:
● 3 crushed candy canes (or several crushed peppermint candies)
● ¼ cup melted chocolate chips
● 1 bottle of champagne, prosecco, or sparkling white wine
● 6 oz peppermint schnapps
● 6 whole candy canes
Directions
● Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl or in a double boiler. Take care not to overdo it, or the chocolate may burn. If microwaving, work in 10-second increments.
● Arrange the crushed candy canes on a shallow plate or dish.
● Dip six champagne flutes first in the melted chocolate and then in the crushed candy canes to coat the rims. Set aside.
● Add one ounce of peppermint schnapps to each champagne flute.
● Top each drink with champagne, prosecco or sparkling white wine until the glass is nearly full.
● Garnish with a candy cane hanging off the side of the champagne flutes.
● Serve immediately.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
● 1 oz bourbon, any variety
● ½ cup water
● 2 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
● 1 tbsp honey
● Lemon slice
● Cinnamon stick
Directions
● Bring water to a gentle simmer over low heat in a small saucepan.
● In the meantime, add bourbon to a mug along with lemon juice and honey.
● Stir the ingredients in the mug gently to combine.
● When the water is heated through and simmering, pour it over the ingredients in the mug and stir well to combine again.
● Garnish with lemon slice and cinnamon stick.
● Serve warm.
● Optionally, you can use apple cider instead of the water for a more flavorful (but less traditional) version of this drink.
White Christmas Margarita
Ingredients:
● 12 oz silver tequila
● 14 oz canned unsweetened coconut milk
● 8 oz triple sec
● 2 cups ice
● ½ cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
● 1 lime sliced into rounds
● Coarse sugar
● Lime wedge
● Cranberries (fresh or frozen)
Directions
● In a blender, combine tequila, coconut milk, triple sec, ice, and lime juice.
● Blend on high until smooth, or until desired consistency is reached.
● Rub the rims of six glasses with the lime wedge.
● Dip the glasses into the coarse sugar to coat the rims.
● Pour the drinks evenly into each of the six glasses and garnish with the lime wheels and cranberries.
● Serve while it’s still cold, before it has a chance to start melting.
Mistletoe Margarita
Ingredients:
● ¼ cup granulated sugar
● ½ cup whole fresh or frozen/thawed cranberries
● 1 lime wedge
● 2 tbsp kosher salt
● 2 cups cranberry juice
● 8 oz triple sec
● 12 oz silver tequila
● ½ cup and 1 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
● 12 cups ice
● Fresh mint leaves
Directions
● Add cranberries to a small bowl along with 1 tbsp of lime juice.
● Toss the cranberries to coat, then drain excess juice.
● Return the cranberries to the bowl and toss with 2 tbsp sugar to coat well.
● Spread evenly in a single layer over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to allow the cranberries to dry.
● Place the remaining sugar and the salt on a shallow plate or dish and mix with a fork.
● Rub the lime wedge over each of 8 glasses, then dip the glasses in the salt and sugar mixture to coat the rims.
● In a blender, combine cranberry juice, triple sec, tequila, remaining lime juice, and ice, and blend on high until smooth. You may need to do this in several batches if your blender isn’t large enough to hold everything at once. If so, make sure you work in proportional batches.
● Pour the drink into the prepared glasses and garnish with the mint leaves. Add two or three sugar cranberries into each drink for an extra garnish as well as more flavor.
Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients:
● 3 tbsp packed brown sugar
● 4 tbsp softened (room temperature) butter
● ½ tsp ground cinnamon
● ½ cup softened (room temperature) vanilla ice cream
● 1 cup rum
● 2 cups apple cider
Directions
● Add butter and brown sugar to a mixing bowl and beat until fluffy and airy.
● Add ice cream and cinnamon, and beat again to combine everything.
● Pour this mixture into a mason jar or other similar container.
● Chill in the freezer for 2 hours or longer to harden.
● When you’re ready to serve, heat cider over low in a small saucepan until boiling. Stir occasionally.
● When boiling, remove cider from heat and pour into a heat-resistant pitcher.
● In each of four mugs or serving glasses, add 2 tbsp of frozen buttered rum batter.
● Fill 1/3 of the way with rum in each mug.
● Pour over hot apple cider to melt batter and finish the drink.
● Stir gently, then serve warm.
Whether you like to get cozy in the cold with a hot drink, a cool peppermint flavor, something chocolatey, or any other variation of winter cocktails, you’re sure to find something you love from the list above. These cocktails can easily be altered to include other flavors you may be interested in experimenting with, too, so don’t be afraid to play around with them a little bit! Just remember, if you’re going to make changes to the recipes, you should always practice them before serving them to guests—just to make sure you have the proportions correct. Keep this in mind and you’ll be sure to make some great cocktails your friends and family won’t soon forget!