Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 16 Tasty Holiday Cocktails Sure to Get You in the Festive Spirit If you're a cocktail novice, try #11 first. (It's delicious—and the easiest to make.) By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is a food writer and editor with more than a decade’s experience working on titles such as Food Network Magazine, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping. She is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and is currently overseeing all food and nutritional content for Well+Good as senior food editor. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 15, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images 'Tis the season to enjoy festive traditions, and what's a better way to celebrate than by making a creative cocktail? Whether you're attending an Ugly Christmas Sweater party over Zoom or hosting Chanukah dinner at home with your intimate family, these delicious drinks will be sure to get you and your loved ones in the holiday spirit(s). What's better, playing bartender has never been easier. You can whip up a batch of many of these delicious drinks in two shakes. No matter what you're celebrating, you'll love our range of recipe offerings here. Craving the warming wallop of a hot toddy? Or maybe the tart, sophisticated tickle of a champagne cocktail? We've got you. These 23 holiday cocktails will keep the party going all winter long. If you're looking for more great drinks to fill your glass, check out our apple cider cocktails, coffee cocktails, classic cocktails, and decadent hot chocolate upgrades (yum). 01 of 16 Ponche Crema Getty Images This Venezuelan alternative to your usual eggnog is decadently rich and delicious and gets its buzz from dark rum. get the recipe 02 of 16 Holiday Punch Jennifer Causey Your guests will appreciate the different mix of flavors and elements in this delicious holiday punch: There's sweet pineapple juice, sour lime juice, and three (!) kinds of alcohol. Dark rum plays off the simple syrup, Campari adds a bitter touch for balance, and Prosecco supplies a fun fizz. Get the Recipe 03 of 16 Spicy Mulled Wine Greg DuPree There is nothing quite as comforting as drinking mulled wine on a chilly winter night. A mixture of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise are sure to awaken your senses while also warming up your belly. I have a feeling this will be your new favorite cocktail to sip by the fire with friends. get the recipe 04 of 16 Boozy Apple Cider Slushie J MUCKLE; STYLING: REBEKAH PEPPLER Want to know how to win the holidays? Make boozy apple cider slushies. These delightful frozen cocktails taste like nothing you've ever had before. If you want to get super fancy, garnish each drink with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. Your friends will be begging you to make these all year round. Get the Recipe 05 of 16 White Russian Getty Images This deliciously indulgent cocktail is made for happy holidays. Why? Because White Russians are a simple combination of just three ingredients: vodka, Kahlúa, and heavy cream. To make it even more festive, swap the heavy cream for eggnog and sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon on top. get the recipe 06 of 16 White Negroni Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler I'm dreaming of a white… negroni. No seriously, this cocktail is so good you'll want to make it all year round—and you definitely can. It's refreshing and elegant, but don't be fooled. It will knock your Christmas socks off! Get the Recipe 07 of 16 Spiced Apple Kombucha Stephen DeVries Wow your guests with this cocktail containing kombucha, spiced rum, and classic winter spices. Make it a few days ahead of your event to let the flavors really come together. Then, serve it up in a highball glass with ice and an apple to garnish. get the recipe 08 of 16 Holiday Negroni Brie Passano If you fancy yourself a negroni fan, this deliciously spiced rendition is about to be your favorite holiday cocktail. You'll start by infusing your Campari with toasted cinnamon, cloves, star anise, peppercorns, and orange zest. After resting overnight, mix with gin and sweet vermouth. get the recipe 09 of 16 Molasses-Spiced Spiked Cider Caitlin Bensel Hosting a holiday happy hour or dinner? Welcome your guests with this decadent spike cider. The molasses add a deep, rich flavor and color, and the spices add a lovely dimension. get the recipe 10 of 16 Minty Moscow Mule Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Who knew a Moscow Mule could be so refreshing? A combination of vodka, ginger beer, and a homemade ginger-mint simple syrup is sure to be hit among friends and family. And to make hosting a little easier, you can pre-batch these mules into mugs so guests can help themselves. Get the Recipe 11 of 16 Coffee Old Fashioned Getty Images This classic drink gets a boost from strong coffee. It's as smooth and sophisticated as the original cocktail, but the Coffee Old Fashioned will give you a kick when you're starting to lag at that holiday party. Get the recipe 12 of 16 Gingerbread Beer-Tini Tavour This seasonal cocktail is all about the sweet presentation, with its glass rim dipped in crushed ginger cookie and brown sugar. get the recipe 13 of 16 Campari and Cranberry Jello Shots Brie Passano A grown-up version of jello shots? Yes, please! These Campari and cranberry shots bring the festive spirit to a whole new level. get the recipe 14 of 16 Cranberry-Lemon Spritz Greg DuPree Not too sweet, not too tart. This refreshing cocktail is a perfectly balanced way to celebrate the holidays. get the recipe 15 of 16 Easy Blender Eggnog Tom Schierlitz Traditional eggnog is delicious, but why not spice it up with some brandy and nutmeg? Enjoy this easy-to-make eggnog with a slice of pumpkin pie or your favorite Christmas cookie. get the recipe 16 of 16 Mulled Wine With Cranberries Tom Schierlitz Cranberry juice cocktail and fresh cranberries give this favorite winter warmer a tart kick. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit