It’s Christmas happy hour time! And I have the only list you’ll need to make the best Christmas cocktails. The recipes on this list are so simple to make. No matter how large or small your gathering is, there’s a perfect festive cocktail for everyone.
It’s safe to say that a Christmas party isn’t complete without a solid holiday cocktail (or mocktail). The best Christmas cocktails are festive, have seasonally appropriate ingredients, and should be easy to make! Who wants to spend all of their time making cocktails for everyone when there’s a party to join?!
These easy Christmas cocktails are quick, simple, and fun. I’ll show you how to transition your classic margarita for the holidays, plus festive twists on sangria, mimosas, and cocktails created specifically for the Yuletide season. Some of these recipes you can even make ahead of time!
What Makes These Cocktail Recipes Ideal for Christmas?
I’m looking for a few key things when I’m picking out my Christmas cocktail recipes:
- It has to have festive and/or seasonal ingredients. I’m not really interested in a tropical smoothie drink at Christmas time. I want flavor from things like deep berries, maple, and herbs.
- Simple to make. I love spending time in the kitchen and at the bar tweaking recipes until their perfect, but not all of the time! I want my Christmas cocktails to be easy to make so that I can spend time with my family and friends, devouring our annual antipasto skewers wreath.
- Ingredients need to be easy to find. I don’t have time to be driving all over the place looking for peculiar liquors. These recipes have simple, affordable, and easily accessible ingredients.
24+ Easy Christmas Cocktail Recipes
Below you’ll find my best Christmas cocktails! As promised, there’s something for everyone.
Spiced Cranberry Whiskey Sour
Put a festive spin on a classic whiskey sour with homemade cranberry simple syrup, lemon juice, whiskey, and egg whites for that signature frosty foam on top.
Holiday Aperol Spritz
This holiday Aperol spritz recipe is the perfect light and refreshing Christmas cocktail. It has tangy cranberry juice, Aperol, and prosecco, garnished with a sprig of rosemary.
Peppermint Espresso Martini
This peppermint espresso martini recipe is ready in 5 minutes with a dark chocolate rim and garnish of coffee beans. It’s a fresh, minty take on a favorite.
Christmas Margarita
Make this 5-minute Christmas margarita with fruit juice, tequila, and Grand Marnier. This recipe makes enough for one cocktail, but you can easily scale the recipe if you need to.
Cranberry Sangria
I can’t get over the deep maroon hue of this Cranberry Sangria! Not only is it gorgeous, but it’s delicious! It has fresh citrus, brandy, cranberry, and hints of cinnamon. It’s a festive sangria that can be made ahead of time and is perfect for the holidays!
Cranberry Mulled Apple Cider
This Hot Spiked Cranberry Mulled Cider recipe is the perfect holiday drink for a crowd. Plus, it’s made in the Crockpot so it’s super simple! It has apple cider, cranberry juice, cinnamon, clove, star anise, and orange slices, and then it’s spiked with spiced rum. Yum!
Pomegranate Gin Cocktail
This pomegranate gin cocktail looks and tastes like Christmas! A refreshing and easy gin cocktail filled with orange, pomegranate, honey, and fresh thyme. It’s a great cocktail to serve at your next Christmas party.
Espresso Martini
This chilled espresso martini recipe is made with espresso, coffee liquor, vodka, and Bailey’s Irish Cream. It’s the perfect Christmas dessert cocktail!
Pineapple Ginger Beer Mocktail
This pineapple ginger beer mocktail is a great option for when you want a non-alcoholic drink. It’s refreshing and fruity from the pineapple, but also has a warm ginger flavor. Add a dash of cinnamon for an extra holiday kick.
Lemon Drop Martini
This lemon drop martini has fresh lemon juice, smooth vodka, Cointreau, and a lemony sugared rim. It’s tart, a little sweet, and a great citrus holiday cocktail option.
French Martini
An easy French martini is the recipe to keep on hand when you need a break from the berries and cinnamon. It’s a smooth and easy cocktail that is perfect for New Year’s Eve!
Crockpot Hot Apple Cider
This crockpot hot apple cider recipe is the perfect cozy drink to have in your hand this holiday season. Plus, it’s so easy to make. The slow cooker does all the work! It’s a great non-alcoholic option or you can add some bourbon to it.
Blood Orange Margarita
This blood orange margarita has that deep red hue that just screams Christmas! Using blood oranges to flavor this holiday cocktail adds a new sweet and tart flavor to a traditional margarita. It’s beautiful and delicious!
Apple Cider Moscow Mule
These apple cider Moscow mules have a little cinnamon and apple flavor making it a refreshing and festive cocktail. The fresh apple cider adds a warm tart flavor that you’re going to love!
Mulled Wine
Wow your guests with this cozy spiced mulled wine recipe for the holidays. It’s perfect for serving on those cold winter nights. Your friends and family are going to love the deep and developed flavor. It’s fruity, comforting, and just so delicious.
Pomegranate Margarita
This pomegranate margarita is an easy cocktail recipe made with fresh ingredients. Plus, it’s so pretty! It has a beautiful red hue making it a festive and fun holiday margarita.
Apple Cider Mimosas
You only need two ingredients to make these apple cider mimosas. It’s a great cocktail to have on hand for Christmas brunch or a last-minute get-together with the girls!
Holiday Spiked Eggnog
This dairy-free holiday spiked eggnog is made with amaretto and white rum. It’s creamy and delicious. I love this lighter take on a holiday classic!
Cranberry Mojito
Fresh cranberry mojitos are so easy to make in a pitcher! It’s a great party cocktail recipe for a holiday dinner or a simple cozy night in. Your friends are going to love trying this revitalized summer cocktail that’s now a new winter favorite.
Sparkling Pomegranate Mimosas
These sparkling pomegranate mimosas are perfect for Christmas morning brunch. They are tart, bubbly, and slightly sweet. Don’t forget the rosemary garnish.
Cranberry Gin Moscow Mule
This refreshing cranberry gin Moscow mule has contrasting flavors like warm ginger and tart cranberry. It’s fun, festive, and easy to make for your next holiday happy hour.
Lime Mint Kombucha Cocktail
Try something different with my mint kombucha cocktail. It’s a healthy choice that’s low in calories and made with vodka, fresh orange juice, kombucha, mint, and white wine. Swap the vodka and white wine with some seltzer and it’s a festive mocktail recipe!
Apple Bourbon Cocktail
My harvest apple bourbon cocktail has cinnamon-infused Bourbon mixed with apple juice and topo chico. It’s light, warming, and so easy to make!
White Christmas Margarita Pitcher
Who says you can’t have margaritas at Christmas time? It’s the best of both worlds! This beautiful creamy coconut margarita with lime juice, tequila, coconut water and cranberries is easy to make for a crowd.
Spiked Hot Apple Cider
Homemade hot apple cider spiked with rum is perfect for both Christmas and Thanksgiving. It’s made with all of the warming spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, clove, allspice, fresh oranges, and a splash of spiced rum to warm you right up. Perfect as a post-sledding treat!
The Ultimate Holiday Sangria Pitcher
This easy holiday sangria is filled with citrus, pomegranate, pear and cinnamon for one irresistible cocktail! It’s a simple recipe to make for your Christmas party. Everyone is going to love it!
Maple Old Fashioned
This simple recipe adds a sweet maple twist to a classic bourbon mixed drink. It’s one of my favorites on a chilly December evening. Sit back and sip on one of these classic cocktails while you admire the Christmas tree!
Cranberry Mimosa
Festive cranberry mimosas make the perfect holiday cocktail. This easy mimosa recipe uses tart cranberry juice, sparkling champagne, and a sugar lime-rimmed glass for the ultimate sip. The rosemary garnish really tops it all off!
Tips for Making Christmas Cocktails in Advance
The real joy about some of these cocktails (no pun intended!) is that they can be made ahead of time. Here are some tips to keep in mind when making drinks in advance:
- Don’t add the bubbly! If you are making a bubbly drink ahead of time, mix the non-carbonated ingredients first and then add the bubbles right before serving.
- Don’t add the ice… yet. Save the ice for when you’re ready to serve so that it doesn’t dilute your drink.
- Invest in a pretty pitcher. What better time to treat yourself to a festive cocktail pitcher that will wow your guests and keep your pre-made cocktail fresh and delicious?
- Label everything. Your fridge is bound to be filled with all sorts of sauces, syrups, kid-friendly drinks, etc., this holiday season. Always be sure to label any pre-made alcoholic drinks so you can keep track of it and be sure you’re serving the right thing.
Serving Suggestions
Looking for tasty ideas to serve alongside these holiday cocktail recipes? These are some easy serving suggestions.
- Meat and cheese platters. Follow my tutorial that shows you how to make a charcuterie board, and this one specifically for the perfect holiday cheese board.
- Appetizers. Nothing beats finger foods at a Christmas cocktail hour. Try these sausage stuffed mushrooms, easy prosciutto fig goat cheese crostini, and spiced candied nuts. I also love this baked Brie with fig jam.
- Christmas dinner. Who says you can’t sip on a cocktail while tucking into your Christmas prime rib or roast turkey with gravy? Don’t forget the scalloped potatoes and cranberry sauce.
- Holiday brunch. Serve your favorite cockails at Christmas brunch with a bacon spinach fritatta or apple cinnamon crepes.
- With dessert. I love having a cocktail with a slice of cranberry orange bundt cake or a mini pumpkin cheesecake for an after dinner treat.
