Christmas cocktails to make your party festive

It’s not a Christmas party without festive drinks! From the non-alcoholic to the boozy, the creamy to the refreshing, we’re showing you how to shake up your hosting game with our best Christmas cocktails, one sip at a time.

The star of the festive Christmas show has always been the food: the glazed ham, the overloaded pavlova and the show-stopping trifle. But this year, we’re giving the Christmas cocktails (and mocktails) the attention they deserve.

Although it was hard to narrow down, we’ve chosen our absolute favourite festive drinks that even Santa can’t get enough of.

Gin Star Martini

Gin star martini.

Ingredients

3 passionfruit

125ml (1/2 cup) gin

750ml (3 cups) Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic Water, chilled (see note)

Method

Step 1: Spoon the passionfruit pulp among six champagne flutes. Add 1 tbsp gin to each glass. Divide tonic water among glasses.

Note: If you can’t find elderflower tonic water, add 1 tsp elderflower cordial to 750ml (3 cups) regular tonic water.

Gin-gle bell cocktail

Gin-gle bell cocktail.

Ingredients

85g pkt Aeroplane Original Lime Jelly Crystals

Red or green liquid food colouring, to tint

1 tbsp icing sugar

1 tsp citric acid

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 egg white

125ml (1/2 cup) gin

250ml (1 cup) cranberry juice

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tsp caster sugar

500ml (2 cups) Prosecco

4 fresh lime wedges

4 fresh mint sprigs

8 maraschino cherries

Method

Step 1: Place the jelly crystals and a few drops of food colouring in a small sealable plastic bag and rub between fingers gently to distribute the colour. Add the icing sugar , citric acid and bicarb to the bag and shake well to combine.

Step 2: Lightly whisk the egg white in a shallow bowl. Pour some sugar mixture on a plate. Dip the rim of a glass into the egg white and then in the sugar mixture to coat the rim. Repeat with remaining glasses. Set aside while making the cocktail.

Step 3: For the cocktail, combine the gin , cranberry juice , lime juice and caster sugar in a jug. Stir until sugar has dissolved.

Step 4: Divide the cocktail mixture among the prepared glasses. Top each glass with cold Prosecco .

Step 5: Add a wedge of lime , a sprig of fresh mint and a cherry to each glass. Serve immediately.

Gingerbread martini

Gingerbread martini.

Ingredients

1/4 cup caramel sauce

1/4 tsp mixed spice

1/4 tsp ground ginger

6 ice cubes

1/2 cup thickened cream

1/4 cup vodka

1 tbsp Baileys Irish cream liqueur

Whipped cream, to serve

Extra caramel sauce, to serve

Small gingerbread men, whole and crushed, to serve

Method

Step 1: Combine caramel sauce, mixed spice and ginger in a small jug.

Step 2: Place ice cubes, cream, caramel mixture, vodka and Baileys in a cocktail shaker. Secure lid. Shake well to combine.

Step 3: Pour into chilled serving glasses. Dollop with whipped cream. Drizzle with extra caramel sauce. Decorate with whole and crushed gingerbread men. Serve.

Choc-mint mudslide cocktail recipe

Choc-mint mudslide cocktail.

Ingredients

100g Darrell Lea Minty Crunchy Chocolate Balls

50g dark chocolate, melted

125ml (½ cup) mint liqueur

125ml (½ cup) Baileys liqueur

60ml (1/4 cup) vodka

2 cups chocolate mint ice-cream

160ml (2/3 cup) thickened cream

1 cup crushed ice

250g can whipped cream

Method

Step 1: Place 6 martini glasses in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill. Reserve 6 mint chocolate balls . Place the remaining balls in a sealable plastic bag. Wrap in a tea towel. Use a rolling pin or meat mallet to finely crush. Transfer to a small plate.

Step 2: Place the melted chocolate on a separate small plate. Dip the rim of the chilled glasses in the melted chocolate, then in the crushed mint chocolate balls. Return to the fridge until ready to serve. Set aside any remaining crushed mint chocolate balls.

Step 3: Place mint liqueur , Baileys , vodka , ice-cream , thickened cream and ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into serving glasses. Pipe over whipped cream and sprinkle with remaining crushed mint chocolate balls. Top with reserved mint chocolate balls.

Non-alcoholic watermelon slushie

Non-alcoholic watermelon slushie.

Ingredients

3kg watermelon, rind removed, flesh coarsely chopped, plus watermelon slices, extra, to serve

125g punnet fresh raspberries

1 tbsp caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

Soda water, to serve

Persian fairy floss, to decorate (optional)

Edible flowers, to serve (optional)

Method

Step 1: Blend the watermelon in a blender until smooth. Strain through a sieve into a jug, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Reserve 500ml (2 cups) watermelon juice in a jug and place in the fridge to chill. Pour the remaining watermelon juice into a large plastic container or ice-cube trays. Place in the freezer for 4 hours or until frozen. Clean the blender.

Step 2: Blend the raspberries , sugar and vanilla bean paste in the blender until smooth. Strain the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Clean the blender.

Step 3: Remove the frozen watermelon juice from the freezer and set aside for 10 minutes to soften slightly. Turn onto a board and coarsely chop. Place in the blender with the chilled watermelon juice and blend until smooth.

Step 4: Use a star-shaped cutter to cut stars from the extra watermelon slices. Divide the raspberry puree among 4 large serving glasses. Top with the watermelon mixture and soda water . Decorate with watermelon stars and fairy floss and edible flowers, if you like.

What is the most popular alcoholic drink at Christmas?

If you guessed eggnog, you’re correct! For those who haven’t tried it, the creamy drink is typically made with eggs, egg yolk, sugar, milk, heavy cream and vanilla extract. But here at taste.com.au, we’re always up for a fun, festive twist… which is why we created this Caramilk eggnog!

What drink is often associated with Christmas?

Depending on where you’re from, cocktails associated with Christmas vary. However, the most commonly known Christmas drink is mulled wine. Made with red wine, and a variety of spices, mulled wine is served hot or warm. So, it might not be the ideal drink to serve at a scorching Aussie Christmas. Instead, these mulled wine trifles may be inspired by the traditional beverage, but will take your dessert table to a whole new level.

More alcoholic Christmas cocktails:

Creamy white Christmas martini

Mulled wine martini

Christmas pudding martini

More non-alcoholic Christmas cocktails:

Cranberry and orange iced tea

Santa Claus punch

Watermelon ‘nojitos’

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as Christmas cocktails to make your party festive