Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 28 Best Christmas Cocktails to Sip All Holiday Season If you're a cocktail novice, try #11 first. (It's delicious—and so easy to make.) By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Lauren Barnhill Lauren Barnhill Lauren Barnhill has been editing and writing lifestyle and home content for nearly three years. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s in Communication and has contributed to publications such as Southern Living and Texasliving in addition to Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 27, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images 'Tis the season to enjoy festive traditions, and what better way to celebrate than by making a creative holiday cocktail? Whether you're attending an Ugly Christmas Sweater party or hosting Chanukah dinner at home with your family, these delicious drinks will get you and your loved ones in the holiday spirit(s). What's better is that playing bartender has never been easier: You can whip up a batch of many of these delicious drinks in two shakes. Craving the warming wallop of a hot toddy? Or maybe the tart, sophisticated tickle of a champagne cocktail? We've got you. Read on for the best Christmas cocktails that will keep the party going all winter long. 01 of 28 Holiday Punch Jennifer Causey Your guests will appreciate the different mix of flavors and elements in this delicious holiday punch: There's sweet pineapple juice, sour lime juice, and three (!) kinds of alcohol. Dark rum plays off the simple syrup, Campari adds a bitter touch for balance, and Prosecco supplies a fun fizz. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 28 'Una Buena Noche' Cocktail Jen Causey For this quick beverage, you'll need a couple of syrups: honey and ginger, both of which can be made quickly in a saucepan with few ingredients. Make them up to seven days in advance so you can spend less time making the drink and more time celebrating the season with loved ones. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 28 Spicy Mulled Wine Greg DuPree There is nothing quite as comforting as drinking mulled wine on a chilly winter night. A mixture of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise is sure to awaken your senses while also warming up your belly. This just might be your new favorite Christmas cocktail to sip by the fire with friends. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 28 Boozy Apple Cider Slushie J MUCKLE; STYLING: REBEKAH PEPPLER Want to know how to win the holidays? Make boozy apple cider slushies. These delightful frozen cocktails taste like nothing you've ever had before. If you want to get super fancy, garnish each drink with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. Your friends will be begging you to make these all year round. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 28 White Russian Getty Images This deliciously indulgent cocktail is made for happy holidays. Why? Because White Russians are a simple combination of just three ingredients: vodka, Kahlúa, and heavy cream. To make it even more festive, swap the heavy cream for eggnog and sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon on top. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 28 White Negroni Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler I'm dreaming of a white… negroni. No, seriously, this holiday cocktail is so good you'll want to make it all year round—and you definitely can. It's refreshing and elegant, but don't be fooled. It will knock your Christmas socks off! Remember to drink responsibly. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 28 Spiced Apple Kombucha Stephen DeVries Wow your guests with this cocktail containing kombucha, spiced rum, and classic winter spices. Make it a few days ahead of your event to let the flavors really come together. Then, serve it up in a highball glass with ice and an apple to garnish. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 28 Holiday Negroni Brie Passano If you fancy yourself a Negroni fan, this deliciously spiced rendition is about to be your favorite holiday cocktail. Start by infusing your Campari with toasted cinnamon, cloves, star anise, peppercorns, and orange zest. After resting overnight, mix with gin and sweet vermouth. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 28 Molasses-Spiced Spiked Cider Caitlin Bensel Hosting a holiday happy hour or dinner? Welcome your guests with this decadent spike cider. The molasses adds a deep, rich flavor and color, and the spices add a lovely dimension. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 28 Minty Moscow Mule Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Who knew a Moscow Mule could be so refreshing? A combination of vodka, ginger beer, and a homemade ginger-mint simple syrup is sure to be a hit among friends and family. And to make hosting a little easier, you can pre-batch these mules into mugs so guests can help themselves. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 28 Coffee Old Fashioned Getty Images This classic coffee cocktail gets a boost from strong coffee. It's as smooth and sophisticated as the original cocktail, but the Coffee Old Fashioned will give you a kick when you're starting to lag at that holiday party. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 28 Gingerbread Beer-Tini Tavour This seasonal cocktail is all about the sweet presentation, with its glass rim dipped in crushed ginger cookies and brown sugar. Add coffee liqueur to this tasty cocktail for an added kick. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 28 Campari and Cranberry Jello Shots Brie Passano A grown-up version of jello shots? Yes, please! These Campari and cranberry shots bring the festive spirit to a whole new level. Don't forget the orange zest! GET THE RECIPE 14 of 28 Cranberry Lemon Spritz Greg DuPree Looking for something to sip on that's not too sweet and not too tart? This refreshing cocktail is a perfectly balanced way to celebrate the holidays. Want it to be even lighter? Cut the vodka in half, or go without it for a Christmas mocktail. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 28 Rudolph's Sleigh Sidecar Cocktail Getty Images This holiday cocktail looks just about as festive as it tastes. The traditional sidecar drink gets a holiday twist with cinnamon and ginger notes. Serve in a sugar-rimmed glass with a lemon twist garnish if you prefer. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 28 Easy Blender Eggnog Tom Schierlitz Traditional eggnog is delicious, but why not spice it up with some brandy and nutmeg? Enjoy this easy-to-make eggnog with a slice of pumpkin pie or your favorite Christmas cookie. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 28 Apple Cinnamon-Spiced Cocktail a_namenko Love an Aperol Spritz, but looking for something a little more seasonal? Try this winter twist on your favorite. Lemon juice, apple cider, and vodka create a refreshing and festive drink your friends will be begging you to make again and again. Garnish with whole spices, apple slices, star anises, and cinnamon sticks. And don't forget the turbinado sugar rim that makes every sip deliciously sweet. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 28 Frozen Spiced Apple Snowball Taylor Ivison Collect some fresh snow outside for this unique cocktail! This recipe is from Taylor Ivison, founder of Cocktail Kitchen, who described this powdery drink as "a mulled apple cider snow cone for adults." GET THE RECIPE 19 of 28 Chia Hot Toddy Getty Images Traditional whiskey is replaced with rich dark rum, and seasonal spices, black tea, and warm milk are added in this Christmastime version of the classic hot toddy recipe. Top with a cinnamon stick and star anise pod to make it look as good as it tastes. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 28 Spiced Hot Toddy Greg DuPree Sometimes what we want is just the classic version of a cocktail, so here you have it: a traditional hot toddy. areThe smooth bourbon, lemon juice, and honey drink is upgraded with warm winter spices. It's both gorgeous and simple to make. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 28 Cherry Manhattan J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler While this classic cocktail doesn't have any seasonal spices, its elegant red appearance will look gorgeous at your annual Christmas party. Serve in an old-fashioned glass with Maraschino cherries on top. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 28 Spiked Cider Tea Emma Darvick Looking for a drink you can cozy up with while watching your favorite Christmas movie? Look no further than this spiked cider tea. The addition of vanilla, black tea, and gin to the traditional hot cider makes for a homey drink that will keep you warm all winter long. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 28 Irish Iced Coffee Getty Images There's not much better than the combination of coffee and spirits. In this creamy delight, strong coffee blends smoothly with syrup and whiskey to make a delightful boozy iced coffee that's perfect for a Christmas brunch. To keep your ice cubes from melting and watering down your drink, freeze coffee or cold brew in an ice cube tray. Top off the drink with a generous dollop of whipped cream. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 28 Gin Cider Punch Christopher Testani This gin cider punch is perfect for your next Christmas gathering. It's refreshing and crisp—and can even be made non-alcoholic by skipping the gin and elderflower liqueur. Add Honeycrisp apple slices to the pitcher before serving. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 28 Pomegranate Royale Champagne Cocktail Fuzullhanum/Getty Images Floral elderflower liqueur or Chambord mix with pomegranate juice, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup for a jolly drink to celebrate the Christmas season. Pour the concoction into champagne flutes and top with champagne right before serving for an impressive holiday display. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 28 Bourbon-Campari Punch The classic ice ring in this Campari-and-bourbon-spiked punch looks like a Christmas wreath, fit with floating pomegranate arils. This citrusy yet tart drink will surely be a hit at your holiday party. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 28 Cider Bellini Getty Images Looking for a holiday drink to serve with Christmas brunch? This cider Bellini is the best bubbly drink that incorporates apple cider. It's as easy as pouring in the apple cider and topping it off with sparkling wine. Add an apple slice to the glass rim before serving. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 28 Kombucha-Blood Orange Mule Stephen DeVries Add kombucha and blood oranges to the classic Moscow Mule and what do you get? A gorgeous orange-tinted fizzy drink with a bold spicy and sour flavor. Blood oranges are in season in the winter, but if you aren't able to find one, feel free to swap it out with orange or grapefruit juice. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit