Holiday Drink Ideas for Thanksgiving & Christmas

Can you believe we are here already? Thanksgiving is tomorrow & Christmas is a mere 31 days! Wild. Steve has to work Thanksgiving, but we are planning a short trip to see his family for the weekend. My sister, Daisy & I have early afternoon reservations at a restaurant in Cape May for Thursday to celebrate together. If you’re hosting this season, or looking to showcase your mixology talents at the family get-together, this roundup of holiday drinks is for you ! I enlisted the help of my dad & sisters who have been in food & beverage for many years, to create this post. Each person shared their go-to holiday drink for hosting or ordering while out. I also included my own recipe for a Dirty Chai Martini, and my mom’s & Steve’s picks too, because why not make this a family affair? You’re going to want to save this post for later.

Dirty Chai Martini | Katie’s Pick

Last year while searching to see if such a drink exists, I found this recipe from With Food + Love. The drink looked so beautiful & delicious and I wanted to make my own version. This recipe is a little simpler, but I loved Sher’s presentation and the star anise garnish, so I incorporated the same. Here’s my twist on the Dirty Chai Martini. It makes for a perfect dessert drink or something fun to sip while getting ready.

Makes two servings

• 4 oz. vodka of choice

• 4 oz iced coffee or two double espresso shots.

• 1 oz Silk Heavy Cream or non-dairy milk of choice

• 6 dashes chocolate bitters

• 2 oz chai concentrate

• Optional: cinnamon and star anise for garnish

Directions: Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a Martini or Coupe glass (pictured above). Garnish with star anise & cinnamon.

Spiced Apple Old Fashioned | Molly’s Pick

The 2nd of us four, Molly is the first person I thought to ask when I decided to write this post. She recently took on a new role as Bar Manager for a venue in Nashville, and formerly worked for Hard Rock Cafe as Operations Manager. And she loves a good boujee cocktail. Her recipe is inspired by one she found on Pinterest here.

Makes one serving

• 2oz apple whiskey

• 1 sugar cube

• 1/2 teaspoon water

• 6 dashes orange bitters

• 1 orange zest strip

• 1 luxardo cherry

• Optional: cinnamon or allspice to garnish, whiskey ice ball

Directions: Place sugar cube in a rocks glass (or lowball glass). Add bitters, water, and orange zest strip. Muddle together until sugar is dissolved. Add apple whiskey, stir well. Add whiskey ice ball. Garnish with orange peel and Luxardo cherry.

Yule Mule | Shannen’s Pick

When I asked my middle sister for her pick, she chose a drink she’d had at a friend’s Christmas party. I was expecting a coffee-infused cocktail from our family’s resident barista, so this was a fun surprise. A seasonal twist on the Moscow Mule, here’s how to make this festive drink:

Makes two servings

• 4 oz vodka

• 1.5 ounces fresh-squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)

• 4 ounces unsweetened cranberry juice

• 6 ounces ginger beer

• 4 to 6 cranberries, for garnish

• rosemary sprig, for garnish

Directions: In a cocktail shaker, muddle together herbs & sugar. Add cranberry juice, vodka & lime juice and shake with ice. Pour into copper mug with ice & ginger beer. Garnish with herbs and berries.

Boozy Hot Chocolate | Grace’s Pick

My youngest sister’s pick is another Christmas party favorite: a boozy hot chocolate. She lives & works in Florida while she finishes school, and said that if you’re out & about in the Delray area, one of her favorite seasonal drinks is the Baked Apple Margarita from Park Tavern. Here’s how to make the boozy hot chocolate:

Makes 2 servings

• 3 cups milk

• 1/2 cup hot chocolate mix, or 2-4 tbsp of cacao powder

• 2 ounces peppermint schnapps

• 2 ounces creme de cacao

• Optional: whipped cream, sprinkles, or mini marshmallows for garnish

Directions: Heat milk in a medium saucepan on medium heat. Add hot chocolate mix or cacao and stir to combine. Add peppermint schnapps & creme de cacao and stir again. Pour into your favorite mug & garnish with whipped cream or mini marshmallows.

White Christmas Cocktail | Dan’s Pick

My dad has worked in food & beverage since before I was even born, so he’s the real pro in our house. He’s done it all from bartending, to teaching at a bartending school, to restaurant & club management. Nowadays you’ll find him working seasonally for a local beach bar, or at venues & events with his gourmet hot dog company, Toppers Hot Dogs. Here’s how to make his holiday pick:

Makes one serving

• 1/2 oz Crème de Banana

• 1/2oz Crème de Cacao White

• 1oz Bourbon

• 1oz half n half

• Dash of Cinnamon

• Optional: sugar for glass rim

Directions: In a cocktail shaker with ice, add all ingredients and shake well. Pour into a martini glass & enjoy.

Champagne & Chambord | Ellen’s Pick

Growing up, I remember my parents having this cocktail for holidays and special occasions. It’s as straightforward as it sounds, sweet to taste & fun to drink! Here’s how to make my mom’s pick:

Makes two servings

• 8 oz champagne

• 2 oz Chambord

• Optional: raspberries for garnish

Directions: pour 4oz of chilled champagne & 1oz of Chambord into each flute. Add raspberries to garnish & enjoy!

Classic Hot Chocolate | Steve’s Pick

Steve isn’t one for the boozy beverages, so we are coming in hot with a classic chocolate drink for the last pick. Here’s how we make ours:

Makes two servings

• 16 oz non-dairy milk of choice (I prefer oat or soy for this)

• 4 tbsp of cacao (or less if you don’t want it to be as rich)

• 2 tbsp of agave

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• optional: coconut Reddi Whip & sprinkles or cinnamon for topping

Directions: warm milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Add cacao, vanilla, and agave and stir until fully incorporated. Once the cocoa has reach your desired temperature, pour into your favorite mug & top with whipped cream & sprinkles or cinnamon. For an even simpler recipe, we’ve been using this premade mix. Follow the same steps but sub the powder for the cacao, vanilla & agave.

I rounded up these & a few more recipes on my Holiday Fun Pinterest board! Find it here.

If you make one of these I’d love for you to tag me on Instagram so I can see! You can shop some of the items mentioned here.

xo 😘