Cheers to a Festive Holiday Season!

When we think of the holidays, what usually comes to mind? Very often, it’s the super yummy food and chance to indulge. But what would a holiday meal be without a DE-licious holiday cocktail? I’ve covered all the bases here. Whether you like spiced cider, winter wine, something sweet or simply the bubbly, I’ve got you covered with four AH-mazing holiday cocktails.

Spiced Cider

In my opinion, no holiday is complete without some Martinelli’s apple cider. It brings back so many childhood memories from Christmas and Thanksgiving. Now that I’m older, I still love, love, love me some apple cider, but why not give it a little adult twist?

Ingredients

• 1 ounce spiced rum (Sailor Jerry or Captain Morgan)
• 3/4 ounce dark rum (Myers, or sub 1 1/3 oz spiced dark rum like Captain Morgan’s
• Tattoo for both the spiced rum and dark)
• 4 ounces sparkling apple cider
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• lemon juice (for rim) or lime juice (for rim)

Directions:

Combined sugar and cinnamon well. Wet glass with lemon or lime juice and dip rim into cinnamon sugar mixture. Fill highball or chimney glass with ice. Add spiced rum, dark rum. Add sparkling cider to the top. May also be made in large wine glasses (chill rums and cider first and don’t add any ice).

Winter Sangria

Many people consider sangria a summery, vacation drink. And while it totally falls into that category, it’s also a really great drink for winter. Pairing a red wine with wintery flavors like cinnamon and honey makes for a great winter sangria. It’s the perfect option for those who like to stick to wine, but still want to appreciate those warm, fuzzy flavors of Christmas.

Ingredients

• 2 cups no-pulp orange juice
• 3 to 6 ounces orange liqueur
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 clementines or blood oranges, cut into sections
• 1 Granny Smith or other tart apple, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1 red Anjou pear, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 2 liters sweet sparkling red wine, chilled (Sunny likes Rosa Regale)
• 1 liter lemon-lime soda, chilled

Directions

In a large pitcher or punch bowl, whisk the orange juice, orange liqueur and honey. Add the cinnamon stick, clementines, apple and pear and stir to combine. Set aside at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Right before serving, add the wine and soda to the fruit mixture and stir gently to combine. Serve immediately in ice-filled glasses.

Dark Chocolate Almond Milk Peppermint Cocktail

I love, love, love the idea of a dessert drink. So many times during the holidays I’m so full from dinner, and I can’t imagine having another bite (at least not for a little while.) But that doesn’t mean the sweet tooth isn’t there. A chocolate almond milk cocktail is the perfect solution for satisfying that sweet tooth without overindulging on cookies and cake. This cocktail’s mix of chocolate, peppermint, and punch of tequila is the perfect way to end the night.

Ingredients

• 2 oz tequila
• 4oz dark chocolate almond milk
• crushed candy cane for rim

Directions

Dip rim in simple syrup, then crushed peppermint. Simply mix all ingredients in a mixer with ice, and pour.

Prosecco and Pomegranate seeds

I am a total lover of all things pomegranate. And I love, love, love the idea of mixing Prosecco with pomegranate seeds. It’s such a classic cocktail, and the richness of the pomegranate seeds makes it perfect for the holiday. Not only do the seeds give each sip a yummy crunch, but the deep red color would make any holiday table look AH-mazing.

Ingredients

• 1 champagne glass of Prosecco
• 2 pomegranate seeds to your liking