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.
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
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
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
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
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
More non-alcoholic Christmas cocktails:
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
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