30 Easy Christmas Cocktails

Christmas cocktails don’t need a long shopping list or a complicated garnish to feel special. A splash of cranberry juice, a little peppermint, or warm apple cider can turn a simple drink into something you’ll want to serve all December.

These 30 easy Christmas cocktails include sparkling drinks for holiday parties, creamy cocktails for dessert, and warm sips for quiet evenings by the tree. Pick a couple that use the same bottles, set out a few festive garnishes, and you have a holiday drinks menu without stocking an entire bar.

The quick mixes below make one drink each unless noted. Measurements are in fluid ounces; 1 ounce equals 2 tablespoons. Sweetness varies between juices and liqueurs, so start with the smaller syrup amounts and adjust to taste.

Sparkling and Fruity Christmas Cocktails

1. Champagne Cranberry Fizz

Bright red and bubbly, this is an easy welcome drink when guests arrive. The cranberry keeps it tart, while orange liqueur adds a little citrus sweetness.

Quick mix: Pour 2 ounces cranberry juice and ½ ounce orange liqueur into a large flute. Slowly add 4 ounces chilled champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with a few frozen cranberries. Get the full champagne cranberry fizz recipe.

2. Pomegranate Prosecco Spritz

Pomegranate juice gives this spritz a jewel-red colour that looks lovely on a holiday table. Use dry prosecco to balance the fruit.

Quick mix: Add 2 ounces pomegranate juice to a wine glass with ice. Top with 3 ounces prosecco and 1 ounce soda water. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.

3. Cranberry Moscow Mule

A little cranberry juice gives the classic mule a Christmas twist. The ginger beer does most of the work, bringing plenty of spice and fizz.

Quick mix: Combine 1½ ounces vodka, 1 ounce cranberry juice, and ½ ounce lime juice in an ice-filled mug. Add 4 ounces ginger beer, stir gently, and garnish with lime.

4. Cranberry Orange Vodka Soda

This crisp cocktail is a good choice when you want something fruity without a creamy base or a sugary rim. An orange wedge gives it a fresh finish.

Quick mix: Pour 1½ ounces vodka, 2 ounces cranberry juice, and 1 ounce orange juice over ice. Add 2 ounces soda water and stir.

5. Christmas Margarita

Tequila, lime, and cranberry make a festive margarita that still has that familiar bright citrus flavour. Choose a salt rim or leave the glass plain.

Quick mix: Shake 1½ ounces tequila, ½ ounce orange liqueur, 1 ounce cranberry juice, and ¾ ounce lime juice with ice. Strain over fresh ice. Add ¼ ounce agave syrup if needed.

6. Christmas Mojito

Mint and cranberry make this mojito look festive while keeping it refreshing. It’s a nice change from richer holiday drinks.

Quick mix: Gently press 6 mint leaves with ¾ ounce lime juice and ½ ounce simple syrup in a tall glass. Add 1½ ounces white rum, 1 ounce cranberry juice, and ice. Top with 2 ounces soda water and stir.

7. Cranberry Gin and Tonic

A splash of cranberry turns a simple gin and tonic into a holiday drink. A rosemary sprig adds a lovely evergreen scent as you sip.

Quick mix: Add 1½ ounces gin and 1 ounce cranberry juice to a glass with ice. Top with 4 ounces tonic water. Garnish with lime and a small rosemary sprig.

8. Winter Aperol Spritz

Keep the familiar bittersweet spritz and add a little cranberry for a seasonal variation. Serve it with salty party snacks or a cheese board.

Quick mix: Fill a wine glass with ice. Add 2 ounces Aperol, 1 ounce cranberry juice, 3 ounces prosecco, and 1 ounce soda water. Stir gently and add an orange slice.

9. Cranberry Mimosa

This two-ingredient cocktail is easy to pour for a Christmas brunch or afternoon gathering. Keep both ingredients chilled so you don’t need ice.

Quick mix: Pour 2 ounces cranberry juice into a flute and slowly top with 3 ounces sparkling wine. Add a small orange twist if you like.

10. Pear Ginger Fizz

Pear nectar and ginger beer make a mellow, spicy combination. Lemon juice keeps the finished drink from becoming too sweet.

Quick mix: Stir 1½ ounces vodka, 2 ounces pear nectar, and ½ ounce lemon juice in a glass with ice. Add 3 ounces ginger beer and garnish with a thin pear slice.

Creamy and Dessert-Inspired Christmas Cocktails

11. Spiked Eggnog

Store-bought eggnog makes this one of the easiest drinks on the list. Rum adds a soft sweetness, while bourbon gives it a stronger vanilla-and-oak flavour.

Quick mix: Stir 1 ounce rum or bourbon into 4 ounces chilled prepared eggnog. Pour into a small glass and finish with a pinch of ground nutmeg.

12. Peppermint White Russian

Coffee, cream, and peppermint make a cosy combination for an after-dinner cocktail. A small amount of peppermint schnapps is plenty to start.

Quick mix: Pour 1 ounce vodka, ¾ ounce coffee liqueur, and ¼ ounce peppermint schnapps over ice. Add 1 ounce cream and stir gently.

13. Candy Cane Martini

This creamy peppermint cocktail looks especially pretty with a crushed candy cane rim. Apply the rim before pouring so the candy stays out of the shaker.

Quick mix: Shake 1 ounce vanilla vodka, ½ ounce white crème de cacao, ¼ ounce peppermint schnapps, and 1 ounce cream with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

14. Peppermint Mocha Martini

If your favourite holiday coffee order involves chocolate and mint, try this dessert cocktail. Cooled espresso gives it a more pronounced coffee flavour.

Quick mix: Shake 1 ounce vodka, ½ ounce coffee liqueur, ½ ounce chocolate liqueur, ¼ ounce peppermint schnapps, and 1 ounce cooled espresso with ice. Strain into a chilled glass.

15. Gingerbread Cream Cocktail

Gingerbread syrup brings the cookie flavour without a homemade spice mixture. Look for a syrup intended for coffee, then adjust the amount to suit its sweetness.

Quick mix: Shake 1 ounce vanilla vodka, 1 ounce Irish cream, 1 ounce milk, and ¼ to ½ ounce gingerbread syrup with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and dust lightly with cinnamon.

16. Sugar Cookie Cocktail

Vanilla and almond flavours give this drink a sugar-cookie feel. A sprinkle rim makes it playful enough for an adult Christmas cookie night.

Quick mix: Shake 1 ounce vanilla vodka, ½ ounce amaretto, 1 ounce Irish cream, and 1 ounce milk with ice. Strain into a chilled glass with an optional sprinkle rim.

17. Chocolate Orange Martini

Chocolate and orange are a Christmas classic, and this cocktail brings both into one glass. Use chocolate liqueur rather than syrup for the quick mix below.

Quick mix: Shake 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce chocolate liqueur, ½ ounce orange liqueur, and 1 ounce cream with ice. Strain and garnish with an orange twist.

18. Snowball Cocktail

A snowball is a retro Christmas favourite made with advocaat, a rich egg-based liqueur. The lemonade used here is fizzy lemonade, rather than still lemon juice and sugar.

Quick mix: Stir 2 ounces advocaat and ¼ ounce lime juice over ice. Slowly add 4 ounces chilled fizzy lemonade and stir gently. For another version, try the snowball cocktail recipe.

19. Salted Caramel White Russian

A little caramel syrup adds a dessert-like finish to a coffee-and-cream cocktail. Keep the salt to a tiny pinch so it enhances the caramel.

Quick mix: Stir 1 ounce vodka, ¾ ounce coffee liqueur, and ¼ ounce caramel syrup over ice. Add 1 ounce cream and a tiny pinch of fine salt.

20. Eggnog Espresso Cocktail

This is a festive way to use the eggnog already in your fridge. Let the espresso cool before shaking so it doesn’t melt the ice too quickly.

Quick mix: Shake 1 ounce vodka, ½ ounce coffee liqueur, 1 ounce cooled espresso, and 2 ounces chilled prepared eggnog with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and add a little nutmeg.

Warm and Cosy Christmas Cocktails

21. Classic Mulled Wine

Mulled wine makes the kitchen smell like Christmas while giving you a whole batch of drinks in one pot. Use a dry red wine you enjoy drinking.

Quick batch, about 5 servings: Combine one 750-millilitre bottle of red wine, 1 sliced orange, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves, and 2 tablespoons honey in a saucepan. Warm gently for 20 minutes without boiling, then strain into heatproof mugs. Adjust the honey to taste.

22. Bourbon Hot Toddy

Honey and lemon soften bourbon into an easy warm drink. It’s a simple option when you want a cocktail without juice, cream, or a shaker.

Quick mix: Stir 1½ ounces bourbon, ½ ounce lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons honey in a heatproof mug. Add 4 ounces hot water and stir until the honey dissolves. Garnish with lemon.

23. Spiked Hot Chocolate

You don’t need to make hot chocolate from scratch for a festive nightcap. Use your favourite prepared cocoa and add whipped cream if you want a richer finish.

Quick mix: Prepare 6 ounces hot chocolate in a mug. Stir in 1 ounce dark rum or bourbon, then top with whipped cream and a little grated chocolate.

24. Spiced Rum Cider

Apple cider and spiced rum are an easy pairing for a December evening. Warm the cider separately so you can also offer mugs without alcohol.

Quick mix: Warm 6 ounces apple cider with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice. Pour into a mug and stir in 1 ounce spiced rum. For a party-size batch, use the full spiced rum cider recipe.

25. Irish Cream Coffee

This two-ingredient drink is especially convenient after Christmas dinner. The Irish cream brings sweetness and creaminess, so taste before adding any extra sugar.

Quick mix: Pour 5 ounces hot brewed coffee into a mug and stir in 1½ ounces Irish cream. Add a small spoonful of whipped cream if desired.

26. Hot Buttered Rum

Butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon give this warm rum drink a rich, comforting flavour. Mix the butter and sugar first to help them blend into the water.

Quick mix: Mash 1 teaspoon softened unsalted butter with 2 teaspoons brown sugar and a pinch each of cinnamon and nutmeg in a heatproof mug. Add 1½ ounces dark rum and 5 ounces hot water. Stir thoroughly and serve.

Simple Christmas Cocktails with Classic Spirits

27. Maple Old Fashioned

Maple syrup adds a gentle seasonal twist to an old fashioned. This is a good choice for someone who prefers a spirit-forward drink over a fruity cocktail.

Quick mix: Stir 2 ounces bourbon, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, and 2 dashes aromatic bitters with ice. Serve over a large ice cube and squeeze an orange peel over the glass.

28. Amaretto Cranberry Cocktail

Almond-flavoured amaretto gives cranberry juice a softer, sweeter edge. Lemon juice adds enough brightness to balance the liqueur.

Quick mix: Shake 1½ ounces amaretto, 2 ounces cranberry juice, and ½ ounce lemon juice with ice. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with an orange slice.

29. Cranberry Whiskey Ginger

This easy highball uses ginger ale for a gentler ginger flavour than a mule. It comes together right in the serving glass.

Quick mix: Pour 1½ ounces whiskey and 1½ ounces cranberry juice over ice. Add 3 ounces ginger ale, squeeze in a lime wedge, and stir gently.

30. Winter Sangria

Winter sangria is a convenient pitcher drink when you want to prepare the fruit and wine before guests arrive. Add the bubbly ingredient just before serving.

Quick batch, about 6 servings: Combine one 750-millilitre bottle of red wine, 1 cup cranberry juice, ¼ cup orange liqueur, 1 sliced orange, and 1 chopped apple in a pitcher. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours. Add 1 cup chilled ginger ale just before serving and pour over ice.

How to Keep Your Christmas Drinks Menu Easy

You don’t need to offer all 30 drinks at one party. Choose one sparkling cocktail, one warm drink, and one alcohol-free option. Cranberry fizz and spiced cider make a useful pair because both are easy to assemble without spending the evening shaking individual drinks.

• Reuse ingredients: Cranberry juice, oranges, and limes work in several drinks on this list.
• Prepare garnishes first: Slice citrus and rinse herbs before guests arrive. Add apple and pear slices closer to serving so they look fresh.
• Keep bubbles separate: Add sparkling wine, soda, tonic, and ginger beer at serving time.
• Chill creamy ingredients: Keep eggnog, milk, and cream refrigerated until you’re ready to mix.
• Measure pitcher drinks: Multiply the ingredients by your intended number of servings and label the pitcher so guests know what’s inside.

Easy Alcohol-Free Options for the Same Party

For a cranberry ginger fizz, combine 2 ounces cranberry juice and ½ ounce lime juice over ice, then add 4 ounces alcohol-free ginger beer. For a sparkling cranberry drink, use cranberry juice with sparkling white grape juice. Warm spiced cider and hot chocolate also work beautifully before any spirits are added.

Christmas Cocktail FAQs

What is the easiest Christmas cocktail to make?

A cranberry mimosa needs only cranberry juice and sparkling wine. Spiked eggnog and Irish cream coffee are also simple two-ingredient options.

Which Christmas cocktails can I make ahead?

Winter sangria can chill for a few hours before serving; add the ginger ale at the end. You can also combine the juice and liqueur for cranberry fizz ahead of time, then pour in the sparkling wine when you serve it.

Do I need a cocktail shaker?

Many of these drinks are built directly in a glass or mug. Choose a spritz, mule, whiskey ginger, or warm cocktail if you want to skip the shaker. A shaker is most useful for the chilled creamy cocktails and margarita.

Whether you choose a bubbly cranberry drink or a mug of spiced rum cider, a short drinks menu keeps holiday hosting manageable. Save your favourites now so you have a few easy Christmas cocktails ready for your next gathering.