Need a great punch recipe for the holidays? Try this Christmas Punch! The flavor is fruity and delicious, with a little sparkle from ginger ale. You can make it with rum for a punch with alcohol, or omit it for non alcoholic. Either way, it tastes incredible!

As two drink and cocktail experts, we’re big fans of punches and pitchers because they make it so simple to serve a crowd. Garnish it up with sliced citrus, rosemary branches, and cranberries, and it makes a festive centerpiece for any gather.

Three Christmas punch alcohol options

What’s the best alcohol for Christmas punch? Here are a few options and how it changes the flavor:

• Rum: Aged rum, aka añejo rum, has notes of vanilla, coconut, almond, citrus, or caramel. White rum has a straightforward flavor with a signature fruity finish. Dark rum would make the color very dark, but you can use it if you like—it adds deep, caramel flavor and notes of cinnamon and spices.
• Bourbon: Bourbon is also ideal for a Christmas punch! Bourbon adds spicy notes, with hints of vanilla and caramel.
• Champagne or Prosecco: Or, go for a bubbly punch! Add champagne or Prosecco right before serving (see Holiday Punch).

The other day we were out at a restaurant and something on the cocktail menu sparked our interest: a “pickle martini.” Since Alex and I are lovers of all things dill pickles and authors of hundreds of cocktail recipes, of course we had to give it a try.

This drink tastes exactly how it sounds—adding pickle juice to a dry martini infuses it with briny, salty flavor. It makes for one irresistible sip (at least for pickle lovers!). Here’s how to make one for yourself!

Making multiple servings at once

The cranberry Aperol spritz is perfect for parties, and it’s easy to make several servings at once! Here’s what to know:

• If you’re making 2 drinks, a mini bottle is perfect—it holds 187 mL or about 6 ounces! For 4 drinks, use a half bottle 375 ml (12 oz).
• A 750 ml bottle of Prosecco is 25 ounces, enough for 8 drinks.
• If you’re serving 8, mix up 1 ½ cups Aperol and 1 ½ cups cranberry juice. Into each glass, pour 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) of the mixture and top with 3 ounces Prosecco.

Ready for the most vibrant, stunning cocktail for cool weather entertaining? Enter the Poinsettia, a cranberry champagne cocktail! Its brilliant color and cozy vibe makes it the perfect fall cocktail or winter drink.

It makes any occasion more fun, from Thanksgiving to holiday parties to Christmas to New Year’s Eve drinks. Of course, you can serve it any time of the year too! It uses only a few simple ingredients. Let’s get started!

Can you make a non-alcoholic Poinsettia drink?

You absolutely can make this Poinsettia drink without alcohol! All you have to do is substitute non-alcoholic sparkling cider, grape juice, or wine for the champagne and orange juice for the Cointreau. These days there are some great non-alcoholic sparkling wine options on the market. You could also try this Cranberry Mocktail with ginger beer.

Making mocktails or 0 proof cocktails is perfect for including people who don’t drink alcohol, pregnant women, or kids. Our kids always wants to drink what we’re drinking—so you could make up some kiddie cranberry champagne cocktails for the young ones!

Need a Christmas cocktail that’s quick and easy? Try the Christmas Moscow mule! This spin on the classic Moscow mule is a zingy, festive combination of cranberry juice, vodka, peppermint schnapps and ginger beer.

It’s so simple you can build it right in the glass, no cocktail shakers required! Alex and I love making this holiday drink, and the hint of peppermint on the finish makes everyone say, “What’s in this?” Here are a few tips (or go right to the recipe!).

Use copper mugs if you like

Traditionally, a Moscow Mule is always served in a copper mug. Placing the cold drink in a copper mug makes an ice cold rim, which makes the drink taste even colder. It’s so satisfying! Of course, you can use any type of mug for a Christmas mule.

Copper mugs make great gifts, so it’s a fun gift idea for the cocktail lover in your life. Here’s a link to some solid copper mugs on Amazon.

Dietary notes

This Christmas Moscow mule is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Got a bottle of Prosecco you want to make even better? Make one of these top Prosecco cocktails! These drinks are extremely versatile: there are options for fruity brunch drinks, sippable afternoon drinks, and classic and sophisticated evening drinks.

Whenever you’re ready to pop open a bottle, there’s a drink for you! As cocktail experts and certified mixologists, we reviewed our cocktail recipes to find all the top ways to use this sparkling wine. Here are our top Prosecco cocktails for any occasion!

Here’s a sophisticated classic cocktail that steals the show: the Clover Club! This bright pink drink stems back before Prohibition, but it’s just as en vogue today. Sweet raspberry or grenadine syrup combine with zingy lemon and gin to make a perfectly balanced sweet tart drink.

The best part: a classic egg white foam gives a creamy body and frothy texture to each sip! This one’s a unique gin cocktail that’s just plain fun.

How to make a Breve coffee: basic steps

How to make a Breve latte? There are two main steps that are similar to other popular espresso drinks: the latte, cappuccino, flat white, and more. Here’s what to do:

• Make a double shot of espresso.
• Steam or froth ¼ cup half and half using the instructions below.
• Pour the espresso into a small glass, then top with the frothed half and half.

Serve in a small glass

Mix the espresso and steamed half and half together, and you’ve got the Breve! It’s typically served in a 4.5 ounce glass, which is the perfect size for the 2 ounces each of espresso and steamed dairy. We recommend it because it’s nice to know when to stop pouring the half and half (since it’s easiest to steam a double quantity of milk). Here are a few glass options:

• Cortado glass: Try this small tumbler glass
• Gibraltar glass: Opt for a Gibraltar glass, which narrows at the bottom

The Fuzzy Navel has a reputation that precedes it—this fruity party drink is a child of the 1980’s, a marriage of peach schnapps and orange juice. Like many drinks of that era, it’s sweet and uses a trendy ingredient. But guess what? This drink is pretty darn tasty.

In fact, you can make a classy Fuzzy Navel drink to rival any Screwdriver or Harvey Wallbanger! As cocktail experts and certified mixologists, we were surprised to be won over by its “pleasantly peachy” aroma.

How to make the best Fuzzy Navel: a few tips!

The Fuzzy Navel is a 1980’s party drink, so there’s really no need to turn it into a sophisticated craft cocktail. At the same time, there are a few things you can do to class it up. Here’s what we recommend for the best Fuzzy Navel recipe:

• Use the 1:2 ratio. Equal parts is much too strong; a balanced Fuzzy Navel recipe has less peach schnapps than OJ.
• Use no sugar added orange juice or fresh juice. Grab the best quality brand of orange juice you can: no sugar added is a must. Even better, make it with fresh orange juice! You can taste the difference.
• Add garnishes. A few orange slices and mint sprigs takes the drink from blah to beautiful.

When it comes to parties, we’re all about pitcher drinks—especially the Mojito pitcher. But what if it’s fall or winter? Enter the pomegranate mojito! I am not lying when I say this is Alex and my favorite mojito variation to date (out of almost 20!).

Take one sip and the sweet tart, minty flavor is unreal. The bright red color makes a huge statement and it’s so perfect for parties. Garnish it with those cute pomegranate arils for a total wow moment! We’re making this for both Thanksgiving and Christmas because we are obsessed.

Make a single drink instead

Want to make a single drink instead of a pitcher? You can do that too. Simply make the mint simple syrup in advance, then the recipe below has the quantities for a single drink.

Here’s a classic cocktail that’s as unique as its name—the Corpse Reviver No 2! To be honest, we were a little wary of this cocktail at first because of its moniker. But it turns out that the Corpse Reviver has nothing scary or ghoulish about it. In fact, it’s incredibly tasty.

It’s a classic gin sour cocktail that’s tart and zingy from lemon juice and orange liqueur, with a hint of licorice on the finish. It’s truly stunning—and the name is a fun party trick to impress all your friends.

Variations on the Corpse Reviver

Want to add a little spin on a Corpse Reviver? Here are a few quick variations to get your wheels turning:

• Lavender Corpse Reviver: Stir in a hint of Lavender Simple Syrup (to taste).
• Rosemary Corpse Reviver: Stir in a hint of Rosemary Simple Syrup (to taste).

Another drink with a macabre name? Try the Zombie.

More about amaretto

Amaretto is an almond liqueur that originates from Italy. Today it’s made around the world and is stocked in bars worldwide. It has a distinctive flavor that’s both sweet and bitter (amaretto means in Italian “little bitter”). You may know the flavor from the popular amaretto cookies, a popular Italian sweet.

It’s worth getting a bottle for your shelf: you can use it in amaretto cocktails like an Amaretto Sour, Amaretto Coffee, or a French Connection.

If you’re a cocktail connoisseur, you likely have a bottle of absinthe around. Here’s one of the most fun ways to use it: the Death in the Afternoon cocktail! This iridescent green cocktail stars the combination of absinthe and sparkling wine, and the flavor is delightful: bubbly with that classic black licorice finish.

Invented by Ernest Hemingway himself, it’s a unique drink to pull out to impress guests. Of course, we like it so much we don’t mind sipping on it as a nightcap, either!

Want to step up your cocktails and coffee drinks? Try demerara syrup! This simple syrup made with demerara sugar transforms drinks with its nutty, caramel flavor. There’s an essence to the flavor that’s hard to describe in words.

It makes for one impressive cocktail! Alex and I like adding it to an Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour, or Manhattan for a caramel boost. It’s also great for adding flavor to a latte or tea latte. It takes just 5 minutes to make!

Dietary notes

This demerara syrup recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

As two cocktail experts who are also obsessed with simple recipes, this recipe is pretty much a perfect fit for our holiday. Try Thanksgiving sangria, a fruity pitcher infused with cozy flavors that’s so simple to whip up for a crowd!

A signature drink can be tough for parties if you’re shaking up individual drinks in a cocktail shaker every time (we know from experience!). So we like to mix up a pitcher of sangria instead! For this recipe, Alex had the idea of infusing simple syrup with whole spices: cinnamon, cloves, and star anise—and it’s a stroke of genius. We’re hosting Thanksgiving this year and will be serving this as a signature drink: I know it will be a family favorite for years to come!

Dietary notes

This Thanksgiving sangria recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

What’s more festive on Christmas morning than waking up to a Christmas mimosa? This tasty drink is bubbly and perfect for the season. Rich pomegranate juice contrasts with the citrus sweetness of orange, topped off with a profusion of bubbles.

This one is a great tradition for Christmas breakfast or brunch…with gingerbread waffles or snowman pancakes. It’s become a tradition in our house!

Here’s a next level secret for all your coffee drinks: brown sugar syrup! Sure, you can sweeten your lattes and iced espresso with classic simple syrup. But this unique syrup adds even more flavor: its deep caramel flavor is intensely cozy, with notes of toffee and vanilla.

It’s truly transforming! This Starbucks special takes only 5 minutes to mix up at home. Use it for so many other things: pancakes, waffles, oatmeal: you name it!

Dietary notes

This brown sugar syrup recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.