Last updated on December 8th, 2021 at 09:14 pm

With the holiday season starting, so do (safe) holiday parties! Whether you’re hosting a party, or you’ve volunteered to bring something, holiday cocktails are a great festive option! 

A handful of the recipes below use the same core ingredients, so guests have the option to pick what type of spirit to add, or none! 

I got a lot of these recipes from A Couple Cooks, so check them out!

Before you start making your cocktails, make sure you have glasses for serving! Here’s a couple options if you don’t have any at home!

**Please Note: This post contains affiliate links and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on our links.

These plastic party cups are great if you’re having a party and don’t want to worry about washing cups after the party, or if anything gets broken!

Simple Syrup

I’d never made simple syrup before, but once I realized how simple (pun intended) it really was, I use it all the time! 

All you need are equal parts sugar and water, a sauce pan and the stove!

Put both the water and sugar in the sauce pan, put the stove on medium, and watch for the sugar to dissolve. 

Then you’re all set! Just make sure you wait for the simple syrup to cool before you use it. Keep it in the fridge, and use it within the next week or so. 

Cranberry Holiday Party Cocktails

Cranberries are perfect for the holidays, and perfect for holiday cocktails! 

The ingredients you’ll need for all these holiday party cocktails include: 

• Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
• Cointreau
• Simple Syrup
• Lime Juice
• Lemon Juice
• Ginger Beer
• Vodka
• Tequila
• Prosecco

Cranberry Martini

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
• ½ oz. Cointreau
• ½ oz. Lemon Juice
• 1 oz. Simple Syrup 

Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake. 

Strain into a martini glass and serve!

Cranberry Margarita

• 1 ½ oz. Tequila 
• 1 ½ oz. Cranberry Juice
• 1 oz. Cointreau
• ½ oz. Lime Juice
• ½ oz. Simple Syrup

If you want to salt the rim of your margarita glass, run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, and dip in salt. A sugar/salt mix for a rim is delicious too! 

Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake. 

Add ice to the margarita glass, and strain the cocktail into the glass. 

Cranberry Moscow Mule

• 2 oz. Vodka
• 2 oz. Cranberry Juice
• ½ oz. Lime Juice
• 3 oz. Ginger Beer

Add the Vodka, Cranberry Juice and Lime Juice to your mule mug, and then add the Ginger Beer. Top with ice. 

Cranberry Champagne Cocktail 

• 1 oz. Cointreau
• 2 oz. Cranberry Juice
• Approx. 3 oz. prosecco (or however much to fill up the glass!)

Put the Cointreau and Cranberry Juice in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake. Pour into a champagne glass, and top with prosecco! 

Spiked Hot Chocolate – Multiple Ways!

Start with a basic hot chocolate recipe:

• 4 cups milk (2% or whole)
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place milk, cocoa powder and sugar in a small saucepan.
Heat over medium/medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until warm (but not boiling).
Add chocolate chips and whisk until the chocolate melts. Whisk in vanilla extract, and serve!

Now, pick what liquor you want to add! 

• Creme de menthe or peppermint schnapps
• Baileys 
• Kahlua 
• RumChata
• Vanilla or whipped cream vodka

Glühwein

Have you ever heard of Glühwein (kind of pronounced like glue-vine)? It’s a mulled or spiced wine traditionally served at German Christmas markets. 

This recipe I got from Kitchen Treaty – check it out!

Ingredients

• 1 each medium organic orange
• 20 each whole cloves (give or take a few cloves – no need to be exact)
• 750 ml light red wine (1 bottle, on the drier/lighter side is better. We love Pinot Noir, Lemburger or Merlot can also work)
• 3 each (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 5 each strips lemon peel (about 2 inches long each, just use a carrot peeler and try to avoid including too much pith)
• 1/4 cup sugar (start with 1/4 cup and add to taste up to 2/3 cup)
• 1/3 cup brandy

1. Using a toothpick, poke 20 holes all over your orange, then poke the cloves into the holes. 
2. Add orange to a medium saucepan. Pour the wine into the pan. Add the cinnamon sticks, lemon peel, and 1/3 cup sugar. Stir gently to help dissolve the sugar.
3. Turn the heat on medium-low and heat until just below a simmer. Do not boil! Reduce heat to low – just enough to keep warm but again, not simmering or boiling. Cover and let warm over the heat for about 20 minutes, until hot wine is flavored by the spices.
4. Stir in the brandy. Taste and add more sugar if desired. Depending on your wine and tastes, you may only need the initial 1/4 cup of sugar, or you may need the entire 2/3 cup.

My Darling Clementine from Clean Cocktails: Righteous Recipes for the Modernist Mixologist

Ingredients

• 2 oz. freshly squeezed clementine juice
• 2 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice
• 1 1/2 oz.
• Ice
• Seltzer water

1. Combine clementine juice, cranberry juice and vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake for 10 seconds.
2. Pour into a rocks glass with ice.
3. Top with seltzer water and enjoy!

Did you watch our Instagram Live with Beth Nydick? Here is the recipe that we made during that event. And you can watch the entire IG Live HERE!