21 Festive Christmas Cocktail Recipes for Holiday Cheer

Celebrate the season in style with these 21 festive Christmas cocktail recipes that will bring sparkle and cheer to any holiday gathering. From cozy classics like mulled wine and eggnog to creative twists featuring cranberry, peppermint, and winter spices.

These drinks are perfect for toasting with friends and family.

Whether you’re hosting a big holiday bash or enjoying a quiet night by the fire, these cocktails will fill your glass and your heart with Christmas spirit.

1. Cranberry Ginger Sparkler

This Cranberry Ginger Sparkler is a refreshing and bubbly cocktail that combines the tartness of cranberries with the zesty warmth of ginger, perfect for festive celebrations. It’s light, bright, and beautifully red, making it a showstopper for any holiday table.

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup cranberry juice
2. 1 oz vodka
3. 1/2 oz ginger liqueur or ginger syrup
4. Sparkling wine or champagne, to top
5. Fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig, for garnish
6. Ice

Steps:

1. Fill a shaker with ice, cranberry juice, vodka, and ginger liqueur.
2. Shake well until chilled, then strain into a flute glass.
3. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with cranberries and rosemary.

2. Peppermint White Chocolate Martini

This creamy and dreamy Peppermint White Chocolate Martini tastes like a grown-up holiday dessert in a glass. With smooth white chocolate and a cool hint of peppermint, it’s perfect for Christmas parties or cozy nights in.

Ingredients:

1. 1 oz vanilla vodka
2. 1 oz white crème de cacao
3. 1 oz peppermint schnapps
4. 1 oz heavy cream or milk
5. Crushed candy canes, for rimming
6. Ice

Steps:

1. Rim a martini glass with crushed candy canes.
2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
3. Shake until chilled and creamy, then strain into the glass.

3. Classic Eggnog Cocktail

Nothing says Christmas like a glass of rich, creamy eggnog spiked with a touch of spirits and sprinkled with nutmeg. This classic cocktail is a must-have for the holiday season.

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup eggnog (store-bought or homemade)
2. 1 oz dark rum or bourbon
3. 1/2 oz brandy (optional)
4. Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish

Steps:

1. Combine eggnog and rum (and brandy, if using) in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake gently and pour into a chilled glass.
3. Sprinkle with nutmeg before serving.

4. Pomegranate Rosemary Gin Fizz

This elegant cocktail combines tart pomegranate juice with herbal rosemary and crisp gin for a festive and refreshing sip that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz gin
2. 2 oz pomegranate juice
3. 1 oz simple syrup
4. Club soda, to top
5. Rosemary sprig and pomegranate seeds, for garnish
6. Ice

Steps:

1. Combine gin, pomegranate juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a glass filled with ice.
3. Top with club soda and garnish with rosemary and pomegranate seeds.

5. Spiced Cranberry Mule

A Christmas twist on the Moscow Mule, this cocktail pairs spicy ginger beer with tart cranberry juice and a splash of lime for a crisp, festive drink.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz vodka
2. 1 oz cranberry juice
3. 1/2 oz lime juice
4. Ginger beer, to top
5. Fresh cranberries and mint, for garnish
6. Ice

Steps:

1. Fill a copper mug with ice and add vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
2. Stir and top with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with cranberries and mint.

6. Cinnamon Maple Old Fashioned

This cozy Old Fashioned combines the rich sweetness of maple syrup with the warming spice of cinnamon perfect for sipping fireside.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/2 oz maple syrup
3. Dash of Angostura bitters
4. Cinnamon stick and orange peel, for garnish
5. Ice

Steps:

1. Stir bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters over ice.
2. Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange peel.

7. Sparkling Cranberry Mimosa

Simple, elegant, and festive, this cranberry mimosa is a cheerful addition to Christmas brunch or holiday toasts.

Ingredients:

1. 1 oz cranberry juice
2. 1/2 oz triple sec
3. Sparkling wine or champagne, to top
4. Fresh cranberries, for garnish

Steps:

1. Pour cranberry juice and triple sec into a flute.
2. Top with chilled sparkling wine.
3. Garnish with cranberries.

8. Gingerbread Espresso Martini

Bring dessert and coffee together with this decadent Gingerbread Espresso Martini featuring bold espresso, coffee liqueur, and festive spice.

Ingredients:

1. 1 oz vodka
2. 1 oz coffee liqueur
3. 1 oz espresso
4. 1/2 oz gingerbread syrup
5. Ice

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
3. Dust with cinnamon or nutmeg.

9. Mulled Red Wine

Warm, aromatic, and full of spice, this traditional Christmas drink is a cozy favorite across Europe perfect for cold nights.

Ingredients:

1. 1 bottle red wine
2. 1/4 cup honey or sugar
3. 2 cinnamon sticks
4. 4 cloves
5. 1 orange, sliced
6. 2 star anise

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pot and heat gently (do not boil).
2. Simmer for 15 minutes, strain, and serve warm.

10. Winter White Sangria

This light and fruity sangria blends white wine, pear, apple, and a splash of brandy for a fresh winter spin.

Ingredients:

1. 1 bottle dry white wine
2. 1/4 cup brandy
3. 1/4 cup orange liqueur
4. 1 pear, sliced
5. 1 apple, sliced
6. 1/2 cup cranberries

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pitcher.
2. Chill for 2–3 hours before serving over ice.

11. Candy Cane Mojito

A fun twist on the classic mojito, this peppermint-infused version brings holiday joy to every sip.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz white rum
2. 1 oz simple syrup
3. 1/2 oz peppermint schnapps
4. Fresh mint leaves
5. Club soda, to top
6. Crushed candy canes, for garnish

Steps:

1. Muddle mint with simple syrup in a glass.
2. Add rum, peppermint schnapps, and ice.
3. Stir and top with club soda. Garnish with crushed candy canes.

12. Hot Buttered Rum

This rich and buttery cocktail is a cozy winter classic, warming you from the inside out with every sip.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz dark rum
2. 1 tbsp butter
3. 1 tsp brown sugar
4. Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
5. Hot water

Steps:

1. Combine butter, sugar, and spices in a mug.
2. Pour in rum and hot water. Stir until butter melts.

13. Apple Cider Bourbon Smash

A deliciously spiced apple cocktail that combines bourbon, cider, and lemon for a refreshing and warming drink.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 2 oz apple cider
3. 1/2 oz lemon juice
4. 1/2 oz simple syrup
5. Apple slices and cinnamon stick, for garnish

Steps:

1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a glass and garnish.

14. Rosemary Clementine Spritz

Bright citrus meets fragrant rosemary in this elegant and lightly sparkling holiday cocktail.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz clementine juice
2. 1 oz Aperol
3. Sparkling wine, to top
4. Rosemary sprig, for garnish

Steps:

1. Combine juice and Aperol in a glass with ice.
2. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with rosemary.

15. White Christmas Margarita

A creamy, coconut-infused margarita that brings tropical vibes to your holiday celebrations.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz tequila
2. 1 oz triple sec
3. 1 oz coconut milk
4. 1 oz lime juice
5. Sugar for rimming

Steps:

1. Rim the glass with sugar.
2. Shake ingredients with ice and strain into glass.

16. Spiced Rum Punch

This party-ready punch combines rum, pineapple, and holiday spices for a crowd-pleasing favorite.

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups pineapple juice
2. 1 cup orange juice
3. 1 cup dark rum
4. 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
5. Orange slices and cinnamon sticks

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.
2. Chill and serve over ice.

17. Cranberry Aperol Spritz

A festive twist on the classic Aperol Spritz with cranberry juice for color and tang.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz Aperol
2. 2 oz cranberry juice
3. 3 oz prosecco
4. Splash of club soda

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice
2. Add Aperol and cranberry juice
3. Top with prosecco and a splash of soda.

18. Maple Bourbon Sour

Sweet, tangy, and full of warm maple notes, this bourbon sour is a perfect winter cocktail.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 3/4 oz lemon juice
3. 1/2 oz maple syrup
4. Ice

Steps:

1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a glass and garnish with lemon.

19. Chocolate Peppermint Martini

Rich and decadent, this chocolate peppermint martini is pure dessert bliss in a glass.

Ingredients:

1. 1 oz vodka
2. 1 oz chocolate liqueur
3. 1/2 oz peppermint schnapps
4. Chocolate shavings, for garnish

Steps:

1. Shake all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain into a martini glass and top with chocolate shavings.

20. Vanilla Chai White Russian

A cozy, spiced take on the White Russian, infused with chai and vanilla for holiday warmth.

Ingredients:

1. 1 oz vodka
2. 1 oz coffee liqueur
3. 2 oz chai-spiced cream or milk
4. Ice

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add vodka and coffee liqueur.
3. Top with chai cream and stir gently.

21. Sparkling Holiday Punch

A bubbly and fruit-filled punch that’s perfect for entertaining and easy to make in batches.

Ingredients:

1. 1 bottle sparkling wine
2. 2 cups cranberry juice
3. 1 cup orange juice
4. 1/2 cup vodka or rum
5. Orange slices, cranberries, and mint for garnish

Steps:

1. Combine juices and spirits in a large pitcher.
2. Chill, then top with sparkling wine before serving.