Easy Holiday Drink Recipes

 

The holiday season isn't about being stuck behind the bar, it's about being present with the people who matter.

The best holiday drink is the one that lets you stay in the room with your guests instead of stuck behind a counter measuring jiggers.

That is the test every recipe on this list had to pass. Can you make it in under five minutes? Can you prep it ahead of time? Can you scale it for a crowd without doing math on the fly? And can you offer a version that works whether your guests are drinking alcohol or not?

These 15 holiday drink recipes cover everything from Christmas morning brunch to New Year's Eve punch bowls. Some are classics. Some use cocktail concentrates that turn a single bottle into a dozen different drinks. All of them are designed for hosts, not bartenders.

Holiday Brunch Cocktails

Brunch is the single best holiday hosting format. It is low-pressure, daytime, and built around drinks that are easy to batch. If you are hosting any gathering between Thanksgiving and New Year's, start here.

Holiday Bloody Mary Bar

A Bloody Mary bar is the easiest holiday brunch setup that exists. Instead of making individual drinks, you set out the components and let guests build their own.

Here is how to do it with minimal effort:

Set out a bottle of Stu's Classic Original concentrate and a bottle of Smoked Jalapeno for guests who want heat. Add tomato juice, vodka (or skip it for a Virgin Mary), and a garnish spread: celery, pickles, olives, bacon, cheese cubes, lemon wedges.

Because the concentrate is all seasoning and no juice, guests control their own ratios. Someone who likes it mild uses less. Someone who wants it spicy grabs the Jalapeno bottle. Everyone gets exactly the drink they want, and you did not make a single one of them.

For a holiday twist, add a Sweet Corn Rimmer station with flavored salts. A Key Lime Celery Salt rim on a holiday Bloody Mary is unexpectedly good.

Alcohol-optional: The concentrate works the same way with or without vodka. Set out both options and nobody has to announce their choice.

Cranberry Mimosa

The simplest upgrade to a standard mimosa. Replace half the orange juice with unsweetened cranberry juice and top with prosecco or sparkling wine. The color alone makes it feel like a holiday drink.

For a full brunch spread, set out a mimosa station next to your Bloody Mary bar. Two stations, almost zero active bartending, and your guests feel like they walked into a restaurant.

Mocktail version: Swap the prosecco for sparkling water or a dry ginger ale. Still festive, still pretty.

Spiced Apple Cider Bellini

Warm 4 oz of apple cider with a cinnamon stick and two whole cloves for five minutes. Let it cool slightly, then pour into a champagne flute and top with cold prosecco. Garnish with a thin apple slice.

The temperature contrast between warm cider and cold bubbles is what makes this one memorable. It tastes like fall and winter colliding in a glass.

Mocktail version: Use sparkling apple cider (non-alcoholic) in place of prosecco.

Holiday Punch Recipes

Punch is the hosting shortcut that never goes out of style. Make it before guests arrive, set it on the table, walk away. Refill once or twice during the night. That is the entire job.

Cranberry Christmas Punch

This is the holiday punch that shows up at every gathering for a reason. It is easy, it scales, and it looks beautiful in a glass bowl.

Combine 4 cups unsweetened cranberry juice, 2 cups pomegranate juice, 1 cup vodka or white rum (optional), and 2 cups ginger ale or ginger beer. Stir gently. Float fresh cranberries, orange slices, and pomegranate seeds on top.

Serves 8 to 10. Double it for a bigger crowd.

The key to good punch is balancing tart, sweet, and fizzy. Unsweetened cranberry juice gives you the tart. Pomegranate adds sweetness without tasting like sugar water. Ginger ale or ginger beer brings the fizz and a little spice.

Mocktail version: Skip the vodka. The punch is just as good without it. Add an extra cup of ginger beer to keep the volume right.

Spiced Rum Punch

Combine 2 cups dark rum, 3 cups apple cider, 1 cup cranberry juice, 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, and 2 tablespoons honey. Stir until the honey dissolves. Add cinnamon sticks, star anise, and orange slices directly to the punch bowl.

This one works warm or cold. For a cold punch, chill everything and serve over ice. For a warm version, heat everything except the rum in a pot on the stove, then add the rum off-heat right before serving. Warm punch on a cold night hits different.

Mocktail version: Replace the rum with an extra cup of apple cider and a splash of vanilla extract.

Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

A lighter option for guests who do not want something heavy. Combine 3 cups pomegranate juice, 1 bottle of prosecco (or sparkling wine), and 1 cup sparkling water. Add fresh pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprigs as garnish.

This punch is more elegant than it is complicated. The rosemary sprigs floating on top make it look like something from a magazine, and the flavor is clean and bright.

Mocktail version: Replace prosecco with additional sparkling water and a tablespoon of honey stirred into the pomegranate juice.

Warm Holiday Cocktails

When the temperature drops, warm drinks pull people together in a way that cold cocktails do not. There is something about holding a warm mug that slows the pace of a conversation and makes the room feel smaller in the best way.

Spiked Hot Chocolate

Make hot chocolate however you normally make it. Stovetop with real cocoa is better than a packet, but a packet works too. Add 1.5 oz of peppermint schnapps, Irish cream, or bourbon per mug. Top with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon or cocoa powder.

The spirit you choose changes the drink completely. Peppermint schnapps makes it taste like a candy cane. Irish cream makes it richer and more dessert-like. Bourbon adds warmth and a slight bite. Pick one and let people choose.

Mocktail version: Skip the alcohol. Add a drop of peppermint extract for the candy cane version, or a splash of vanilla for richness.

Classic Hot Toddy

Combine 1.5 oz whiskey (bourbon works too), 1 tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, and 6 oz hot water. Stir until honey dissolves. Add a cinnamon stick and a few whole cloves.

A hot toddy is the simplest warm cocktail there is. Five ingredients. Two minutes. And it genuinely helps when it is freezing outside and you need something that warms you from the inside out.

Mocktail version: Replace the whiskey with strong-brewed black tea. The tannins give it body that plain hot water cannot.

Mulled Wine

Pour a bottle of dry red wine into a pot with 1/4 cup honey, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves, 2 star anise, and the peel of one orange (just the peel, not the pith). Heat on low for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not let it boil. Strain and serve.

Mulled wine fills the house with a smell that makes people think you have been cooking all day. You have not. You heated wine with spices. But the atmosphere it creates is worth the 30 minutes.

Mocktail version: Replace the wine with 3 cups of pomegranate juice and 1 cup of tart cherry juice. Same spices. Same method. Surprisingly close to the real thing.

Holiday Spritz and Light Cocktails

Not every holiday drink needs to be heavy. Spritzes and lighter cocktails work well for afternoon gatherings, holiday happy hours, or any time you want something festive without the weight of a punch or a warm cocktail.

Cranberry Rosemary Spritz

Combine 2 oz prosecco, 1 oz cranberry juice, and a splash of sparkling water in a wine glass with ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a few fresh cranberries.

This is the kind of drink that looks like it took effort but did not. The rosemary sprig and floating cranberries do all the visual work.

For a version with more depth, add 1 oz of tonic syrup in place of the cranberry juice. The botanical notes from a good tonic syrup pair well with the rosemary and give the drink a more complex, grown-up flavor.

Mocktail version: Skip the prosecco. Use sparkling water and cranberry juice with the tonic syrup.

Winter Gin and Tonic

A standard gin and tonic with seasonal garnishes: a sprig of rosemary, a few juniper berries, and a slice of blood orange. Use 2 oz gin, 4 oz tonic water, and build over ice in a rocks glass.

The garnishes are what transform this from a summer drink to a winter one. Rosemary and juniper make it smell like a holiday wreath.

If you want to elevate it further, swap commercial tonic water for a homemade tonic mixed with sparkling water. The difference in flavor is immediately noticeable.

Mocktail version: Skip the gin. Use tonic syrup with sparkling water and the same garnishes. It is a surprisingly satisfying non-alcoholic drink on its own.

Holiday Paloma

Combine 2 oz tequila, 3 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 1 oz cranberry juice, 1/2 oz lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Top with sparkling water. Serve over ice in a salt-rimmed glass.

The cranberry addition is what makes this a holiday Paloma. It shifts the color from pale pink to a deeper red and adds a tartness that balances the grapefruit beautifully.

Mocktail version: Replace the tequila with additional grapefruit juice and a splash of non-alcoholic aperitif for bitterness.

Batch Cocktails for Parties

If you are hosting more than six people, batch cocktails save your sanity. Make the full recipe in a pitcher or punch bowl before anyone arrives. When the doorbell rings, you pour. That is it.

Batch Whiskey Sour with Cranberry

Combine 2 cups bourbon, 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 3/4 cup simple syrup, and 1/2 cup cranberry juice in a pitcher. Stir well and refrigerate for at least two hours. When ready to serve, pour over ice and garnish with fresh cranberries and a lemon wheel.

This makes about 8 drinks. The cranberry gives it a holiday color without overpowering the whiskey. It is a crowd-pleaser for guests who prefer something stronger than punch.

Mocktail version: Replace bourbon with strong-brewed black tea (cooled) and reduce the simple syrup to 1/2 cup.

Big Batch Holiday Bloody Marys

For larger holiday brunches where a build-your-own bar feels like too much setup, batch your Bloody Marys instead.

Combine 32 oz tomato juice with 4 to 6 tablespoons of Stu's concentrate (adjust to taste), 1 cup vodka, and the juice of two lemons in a large pitcher. Stir well and refrigerate overnight. The flavors develop as it sits.

Serve over ice with simple garnishes. This makes about 8 drinks and takes five minutes to prep the night before. In the morning, all you do is pour.

For a holiday brunch, set out the pitcher alongside a Bloody Mary kit so guests who want the full experience can rim their glasses with flavored salts and add garnishes. The pitcher handles the crowd. The kit handles the enthusiasts.

Mocktail version: Skip the vodka. The concentrate and tomato juice stand on their own without alcohol.

Michelada Station

If your holiday gathering has a more casual, game-day energy (college bowl games, anyone?), set out a Michelada station. Combine Stu's concentrate with lime juice and hot sauce in a pitcher, and let guests pour it into a glass with their beer of choice. Or skip the beer and use sparkling water for a savory, spicy mocktail.

Micheladas are one of the most underrated holiday drinks. They are refreshing, savory, and completely different from everything else on the table. When every other host is serving cranberry punch, you are serving something nobody expected.

How to Plan Holiday Drinks for a Party

A quick framework for figuring out what to serve and how much to make:

For brunch (6 to 12 guests): One Bloody Mary bar station plus one batch mimosa or bellini. Budget two to three drinks per person over a two-hour brunch.

For an evening party (10 to 20 guests): One batch punch, one signature cocktail (pre-batched), and one warm option if the weather is cold. Budget three to four drinks per person over a three- to four-hour party.

For a casual gathering (4 to 8 guests): Pick two recipes from this list and make them both. One cold, one warm. Keep it simple.

Always offer a mocktail version. It is not a trend anymore. It is an expectation. One in three adults under 45 is actively cutting back on alcohol. Making alcohol-optional drinks available is not a nice-to-have. It is hosting done right.

And the single best thing you can do for yourself as a host: prep everything before the first guest arrives. Batch your cocktails. Set out your stations. Put the garnishes in bowls. When the doorbell rings, you should be holding a drink, not making one.

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FAQ

What are the easiest holiday drinks to make for a crowd?

Punch is always the easiest option. Cranberry Christmas Punch and Spiced Rum Punch both serve 8 to 10 people and take under 10 minutes to prepare. For brunch, a Bloody Mary bar lets guests serve themselves, which means zero active bartending on your part.

What holiday drinks can be made without alcohol?

Every recipe on this list includes a mocktail version. The best alcohol-free holiday options are the mulled pomegranate juice (in place of mulled wine), cranberry Christmas punch without the vodka, and a Bloody Mary bar using Stu's concentrate with just tomato juice. The concentrate works the same way with or without alcohol.

How far ahead can I make holiday cocktails?

Batch cocktails like the Whiskey Sour with Cranberry and the Big Batch Bloody Mary can be made the night before and refrigerated. Punch bases (without the fizzy components) can be prepped a day ahead. Add sparkling water, ginger ale, or prosecco right before serving so you keep the carbonation.

What is a good Christmas morning cocktail?

A Bloody Mary or mimosa are the classic Christmas morning drinks. A Bloody Mary bar works especially well because everyone in the house can build their own drink while you focus on breakfast.

How much alcohol do I need for a holiday party?

Plan for two to four drinks per guest depending on the length of the party. For a three-hour evening party with 12 guests, that is roughly 36 to 48 servings. A double batch of punch (16 to 20 servings) plus a pre-batched cocktail (8 to 10 servings) covers most of it. Always have more mixer and non-alcoholic options than you think you need.