Santa-Approved Cocktails: 5 Christmas Drinks for the Holidays

Ah yes, it’s that time of year... when snow, visiting relatives, and a little too much time on your hands inevitably makes you wish for one thing: Christmas drinks.

OK, maybe you want a little more than Christmas drinks, like some peace and quiet, or relaxing ambience in which to enjoy them.

What constitutes a Christmas drink? When you think of Christmas, you think of Santa and his reindeer, stockings hung above the fireplace, and a glowing tree with presents beneath it. But you might also think about hosting your family for a holiday meal. Whether you stick to a simple, quiet tradition or invite all the relatives over for family fun, here are five holiday-inspired cocktail recipes to try.

Peppermint Pattie Cocktail

Does a mint chocolate Christmas drink sound good to you? Look no further than the Peppermint Pattie Cocktail, like a York mint in a glass.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup hot chocolate mix
• 1/4–1/2 cup peppermint schnapps
• 1/4 cup crème de cacao chocolate liqueur
• whipped cream
• sprinkles

How to make two Peppermint Pattie Cocktails:

1. Over medium heat, warm two cups of milk in a saucepan.
2. Stir in the hot chocolate mix when milk steams. Keep stirring for about two minutes, but don’t let it boil.
3. Remove the mixture from heat and stir in 1/4–1/2 cup of peppermint schnapps and crème de cacao chocolate liqueur. Add more schnapps if you want to feel extra jolly.
4. Pour the mixture into two glass cups, top each with whipped cream and the most festive of wintery sprinkles, and find a drinking buddy.

White Christmas Cocktail

You’re dreaming of a white Christmas... yeah, yeah, yeah. But why dream of one when you can fabricate your very own White Christmas Cocktail?

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. vanilla vodka
• 4 oz. white crème de cacao chocolate liqueur
• 2 oz. Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
• 4 oz. half and half
• 2 oz. white chocolate
• white chocolate or vanilla sprinkles

How to make two White Christmas Cocktails:

1. Use a microwave to melt the white chocolate. Pour the sprinkles on a small plate.
2. Get two glasses and dip the rims first in the chocolate and then in the sprinkles.
3. Immediately place glasses in a refrigerator to chill.
4. Pour vodka, crème de cacao, Frangelico, and half and half into a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well.
5. Bring out the two glasses and pour the mixture evenly between them, then serve and enjoy.

Jingle Juice Cocktail

You’ve no doubt heard of Jungle Juice — but how about Jingle Juice? This is prime for crowd-pleasing Christmas drinks, but we won’t judge if you just make it for yourself and a couple friends on a cold December night.

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles red Moscato wine
• 1 bottle Prosecco
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 4 cups cranberry-apple juice
• 2 cups frozen cranberries
• 1/3 cup mint leaves
• 2 limes
• 1/2 cup sugar

How to make Jingle Juice:

1. Slice the limes and use them to wet the rim of each glass. Dip the glass rims in sugar and set aside.
2. Pour Moscato, Prosecco, vodka, and cranberry-apple juice into a large punch bowl.
3. Stir the punch and garnish with cranberries, mint leaves, and limes. Serve with a ladle.

Ginger Snap Cocktail

For many of us, this is only the beginning of a long, dark winter. Snap back to life with this zingy Ginger Snap Cocktail that will keep you content in the bitter cold.

Ingredients:

• 1–1/2 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. Domaine de Canton or other ginger liqueur
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. agave syrup
• 1/4 tsp. fresh ginger
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground cloves
• Grated nutmeg
• Cinnamon stick

How to make a Ginger Snap Cocktail:

1. Pour vodka, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, agave syrup, peeled and grated ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice and shake well.
3. Strain the mixture into a lowball glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Sugar Cookie Martini

Hankering for more dessert but also want more Christmas drinks? The holidays offer no better excuse to make this Sugar Cookie Martini.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. vanilla vodka
• 1 oz. amaretto liqueur
• 2 oz. coffee creamer (either Frosted Sugar Cookie or Vanilla by International Delight)
• Sugar
• Light corn syrup

How to make a Sugar Cookie Martini:

1. Pour a small amount of light corn syrup on a plate and pour some sugar on another plate. Dip the rim of a martini glass in the corn syrup and then in the sugar.
2. Pour vodka, amaretto, and coffee creamer into a cocktail shaker.
3. Add ice, shake well, and strain the mixture into the glass. Sweet dreams, Cookie.

With Christmas drinks like these, you can say with hearty sincerity: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.