40+ Christmas Cocktails – A Beautiful Mess

This roundup of our favorite Christmas cocktails is guaranteed to bring some Christmas cheer to your holiday season.

We have lots of festive holiday cocktails to choose from, like spiced apple cider, hot toddy, a delicious peppermint White Russian, and my personal favorite … mistletoe punch. Our variety of festive cocktails includes classics, punch bowls, hot drinks, shots and even cute novelty recipes perfect for a party.

Related: 20 Easy Holiday Desserts, 50 Holiday Dinner Ideas, Christmas Nail Designs and Christmas Cupcakes.

Ready to see our best Christmas cocktail recipes for your holiday party or cozy night by the Christmas tree?

Espresso Martini

Create this iconic espresso martini with just three ingredients: vodka, espresso and Kahlúa with the optional ingredient of simple syrup. Prep time is only five minutes!

Pomegranate Martini

Learn to make a Pomegranate Martini using pomegranate juice, vodka, orange liqueur and fresh squeezed lemon juice. 

Peppermint White Russian

A fun holiday variation of a classic White Russian made with Kahlúa, peppermint vodka and a splash of heavy cream. With the addition of peppermint-infused ice cubes and a candy cane rim, this cocktail is extra festive.

Coquito

A creamy coconut Puerto Rican version of a holiday eggnog-like drink.

Glühwein (German Mulled Wine)

A warm and spicy mulled wine served at German Christmas markets.

Classic Hot Toddy

A simple hot cocktail with only four ingredients: hot water, whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and honey.

Spiced Apple Cider

A simple recipe for spiced apple cider that you can add alcohol to or enjoy as a mocktail. This is a great cold weather drink for any holiday gathering! Made with apple juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, spiced rum and cinnamon sticks for garnish.

Mulled Wine

Classic mulled wine recipe made with red wine, fruit (such as cranberries, apple, oranges and lemons) and spices (such as whole cloves and vanilla bean) along with brandy. This recipe is full of holiday cheer.

Grasshopper Cocktail

A minty chocolate classic cocktail made with three simple ingredients: creme de menthe, creme de cacao and heavy whipping cream.

Sidecar Drink

Learn to make a classic Sidecar cocktail. Made with a mixture of brandy, orange liqueur and lemon juice, this tasty recipe is a classic to have on your home bar menu.

Spiked Peppermint Mocha Milkshake

A decadent holiday milkshake cocktail made of chocolate ice cream, peppermint schnapps, coffee liqueur and candy canes.

Orange and Coffee Moscow Mule

Alongside ginger beer, there are also notes of coffee and cinnamon with a big splash of freshly squeezed orange juice in this orange and coffee Moscow Mule.

Cranberry Mimosa

You can’t go wrong with a mimosa, especially one made with prosecco and fresh cranberries as garnish. Perfect for Christmas morning!

Santa’s Little Helper Shot

This fun novelty Santa Claus shot recipe is perfect for an adult Christmas party.

Cranberry Spiced Hot Toddy

Warm cozy spices and homemade cranberry honey syrup add so much flavor to this cranberry spiced hot toddy!

Strawberry Mojito

Red and green have never looked so good. A recipe for a strawberry mojito using fresh ingredients, including white rum, soda water, mint, strawberries, simple syrup and fresh lime juice.

Cosmopolitan Recipe

This cosmopolitan recipe is a very balanced drink with just a little sweetness from Cointreau (orange flavored triple sec) and the sweet and sour blend of cranberry juice. 

Peppermint Coconut Cocktail

If you like peppermint AND coconut, you’re going to love this cocktail. It’s wonderful, creamy, and perfectly festive. Garnished with holiday sprinkles and a candy cane, it’s perfectly on theme.

Appletini

A dessert cocktail made with vodka, apple juice, sour apple schnapps and fresh lemon juice.

Boozy Apple Cider A La Mode

Boozy mulled apple cider comes in at the top of my list for most perfect chilly weather cocktail. The aroma of apple and spice is so delightful and mulling cider is one of my favorite domestic activities this time of year.

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Made with vanilla vodka, pumpkin liqueur, horchata liqueur and milk. This festive martini is so perfect for the season.

Homemade Eggnog

Classic homemade eggnog from scratch!

Dirty Shirley Cocktail Recipe

Put an alcoholic twist on the classic Shirley Temple drink with just a few ingredients!

Eggnog Jello Shots

If you like eggnog, these jello shots are so much fun!

The Gold Rush Cocktail

A classic cocktail made with bourbon, fresh lemon juice and honey syrup.

Negroni Cocktail

Learn to make a classic Negroni cocktail at home. This famous, bright orange cocktail is made with gin, campari and sweet vermouth, then garnished with an orange peel.

Painkiller Cocktail

Learn to mix a classic Painkiller Cocktail. I consider this a winter version of the Pina Colada. Made with dark rum, pineapple, orange juice, cream of coconut and grated nutmeg, it’s smooth and delicious.

Manhattan Drink

This classic drink is made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, angostura bitters and a luxardo cherry.

Rum Runner

Learn to make a Rum Runner cocktail at home. This classic fruity cocktail could easily have a white or green rim added to make it extra festive!

Black Russian

Learn to mix a Black Russian cocktail at home. This drink is the White Russian cocktail without the cream.

Chocolate Martini Recipe

A deliciously sweet at-home chocolate martini recipe.

Mistletoe Punch Bowl

A vibrant cranberry citrus punch that Elsie appropriately named mistletoe punch. It’s a favorite cocktail for any holiday party. Don’t forget the rosemary sprig garnish!

Holiday Vibes Mai Tai

A holiday-flavored Mai Tai infused with the festive flavors of cranberry and clementine (and a green sugar rim). Such a fun drink!

Snickerdoodle Martini

A dessert martini made with vanilla vodka, heavy whipping cream, amaretto and cinnamon schnapps.

Spiked Hot Chocolate

This cozy hot chocolate is spiked with rum. Perfect for the holiday movie season.

Washington Apple Shot

Learn to make a Washington Apple Shot at home. Made with Canadian whiskey, sour apple schnapps, cranberry juice and a splash of club soda. This is one of our favorite shot recipes!

Spiced Cranberry Punch

This cozy punch is made with cranberries, an orange, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves and fresh sprigs of rosemary.

Old Fashioned Cocktail

It’s always Old Fashioned season to me, but especially during winter! The classic Old Fashioned cocktail is iconic and perfect for a fancy holiday dinner party.

Boulevardier Cocktail

Let’s learn the classic recipe for a Boulevardier cocktail. Using Campari, bourbon (or rye whiskey) and sweet vermouth, you can mix this stiff, flavorful cocktail.

Cranberry Spritz

An easy cranberry cocktail for any holiday gathering!

Peppermint Mocha Jello Shots

These fun jello shots are a play off Starbucks’ popular Peppermint Mocha. You have to try them.

Easy Orange Cranberry Margarita

This orange cranberry margarita is Elsie’s favorite cocktail for the holidays. It’s SO good, and it’s made with our famous homemade margarita mix.

Apple Cinnamon Hot Toddy

This apple cinnamon hot toddy only has three ingredients, including the best cinnamon tea. This drink can also be enjoyed as a cozy mocktail.

Vieux Carré Cocktail

Learn to make a classic Vieux Carré cocktail at home. This famous New Orleans drink is made of rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, benedictine liquor and pimento bitters. 

Eggnog Martini

The best way to enjoy eggnog? As a martini with a hint of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick garnish, of course.

Irish Coffee

Learn to make this classic caffeinated cocktail. Irish coffee is a delightful blend of coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and whipped cream.

Oatmeal Cookie Shot

We love this novelty shot (it tastes exactly like an oatmeal cookie!). Made of butterscotch schnapps, Bailey’s Irish cream and cinnamon schnapps. Keep these three ingredients on hand for fun holiday shot making.

Gingerbread People Jello Shots

Holiday parties can be a lot of fun, but they can become a bit of a blur if you go to a lot of them. To avoid that from happening at your party, why not make something that your guests won’t forget? Like, gingerbread people jello shots!