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These easy holiday cocktails are some of the best and simplest winter drink recipes to serve for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and throughout the holiday season. This collection includes a variety of spirits and styles — bourbon, rum, vodka, gin, liqueurs and warm spiked drinks — so you can pick festive cocktails to match any gathering or mood.
If you’re looking for more seasonal ideas, try other themed collections for Christmas, New Year’s or gingerbread- and peppermint-forward cocktails. These drinks are designed to be approachable for beginners while still tasting special enough for holiday entertaining.
Tips For The Beginner Bartender
- Shake the cocktail shaker thoroughly. When a recipe calls for a cocktail shaker, shake for 20–30 seconds. A good shake chills and dilutes a drink properly and helps ingredients combine. For cocktails that require a frothy top, such as espresso martinis, vigorous shaking also creates the foam.
- Use large ice cubes when possible. Large cubes or spheres melt slower and keep drinks from diluting too quickly, plus they give cocktails a more polished, bar-quality look.
- Garnish thoughtfully. A simple twist of orange or lemon peel, a skewered cherry, or a dehydrated citrus slice instantly elevates a drink. Fresh herbs, edible flowers or a rim of crushed candy cane for winter cocktails add visual appeal and a pop of flavor.
- Choose an appropriate glass. Some cocktails look and taste better in a particular glass: highball glasses for spritzes and tall mixed drinks, coupe or martini glasses for shaken or stirred cocktails served “up,” and rocks glasses for stirred whiskey or spirit-forward drinks. When in doubt, a lowball (rocks) glass will work for most recipes.
- Measure carefully with a jigger. A jigger ensures balanced cocktails. If you don’t have one, two tablespoons equals 1 ounce as a quick conversion for pours.
- Use quality, store-bought syrups if you prefer convenience. Flavored syrups are common in cocktail recipes. While making simple syrups at home is straightforward, pre-made syrups in a variety of flavors can save time and still produce consistently tasty drinks.
Easy Holiday Cocktail Recipes
Brown Sugar Old Fashioned
This Brown Sugar Old Fashioned is a cozy, autumnal twist on the classic cocktail. A homemade brown sugar, cinnamon and maple syrup adds warmth and depth to bourbon, finished with a bright orange peel for balance. It’s easy to make and perfect for chilly holiday evenings.
Pomegranate Gin Cocktail
This pomegranate gin fizz offers a bright sweet-and-tart flavor ideal for winter gatherings. Made with pomegranate juice, gin, fresh lemon, a touch of simple syrup and club soda, it’s refreshing, festive and easy to batch for a crowd.
Dark Hot Chocolate With Amaretto
This rich dark hot chocolate with Amaretto is a creamy spiked hot cocoa perfect for cold nights. Melt dark chocolate into milk with sugar and vanilla, then add a splash of Amaretto. Top with whipped cream, sliced almonds and a drizzle of chocolate for an indulgent holiday treat.
Amaretto Martini
The Amaretto Martini is an easy, crowd-pleasing holiday martini. Combining amaretto, vodka and a touch of peach nectar with simple syrup creates a sweet, almond-forward cocktail that feels both festive and elegant.
Eggnog Martini
This Eggnog Martini balances sweetness and spice, and a splash of Amaretto deepens the flavor. It’s a festive cocktail that comes together quickly and pairs beautifully with holiday appetizers and desserts.
Peppermint Schnapps Cocktail
This peppermint schnapps cocktail, also known as the Frosty the Snowman drink, mixes vanilla rum, blue curaçao and peppermint schnapps for a fun, minty holiday cocktail. A crushed candy cane rim adds a festive finish.
Rudolph’s White Christmas Margarita
This White Christmas Margarita uses fresh rosemary and cranberries to mimic Rudolph’s antlers and nose. It’s an easy, playful take on a margarita that’s perfect for holiday parties and themed gatherings.
Easy Holiday Punch
This easy holiday punch can be served with or without alcohol, making it versatile for mixed crowds. It’s well suited to batching in a pitcher or punch bowl, and can be garnished with citrus, pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs.
Sugar Cookie Martini
The Sugar Cookie Martini tastes like your favorite holiday cookie in drink form. Vanilla vodka and RumChata create a sweet, creamy base finished with festive rim decorations and a hint of nutmeg or vanilla for a dessert-style cocktail.
Pecan Pie Martini
The Pecan Pie Martini is a rich, creamy dessert drink that evokes the flavors of pecan pie. With only a few ingredients, it’s an easy after-dinner cocktail that feels indulgent and seasonal.
Easy RumChata Hot Chocolate
This RumChata Hot Chocolate is simple and satisfying: just three ingredients create a smooth, creamy spiked hot cocoa. It’s a cozy option for winter nights and a crowd-pleasing offering for holiday guests.
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a classic holiday warm-up made with red wine, brandy and mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise. It’s comforting, aromatic and ideal for serving by the fire or at a winter party.
Gingerbread Old Fashioned
The Gingerbread Old Fashioned pairs bourbon with gingerbread syrup for a festive, spiced take on the classic. It’s simple to make and offers nostalgic holiday flavors in a refined cocktail format.
Cranberry Gimlet
This cranberry gimlet is a simple, elegant holiday cocktail that works well for Thanksgiving or Christmas. A homemade cranberry simple syrup brings bright fruit flavor to gin and fresh lime for a refreshing seasonal sip.
Cranberry Rum Cocktail
This cranberry rum cocktail brings a tropical twist to holiday flavors. Bright cranberry and rum combine for a spirited drink that’s both festive and easy to prepare in single servings or big batches.
RumChata White Russian
This creamy RumChata White Russian is a four-ingredient cocktail that blends cinnamon- and vanilla-forward RumChata with vodka, coffee liqueur and milk. It makes a satisfying after-dinner or holiday cocktail with comforting flavors.