The holidays are here! We just stuffed our faces during Thanksgiving and now were prepping for the many end-of-the-year soirees and family gatherings. That means lots of food will be cooked and even more drinks will be served to wash down the festive amenities.
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This year don’t settle for your normal cocktails. Upgrade up your punch game and have people really sipping tea—with a spiked kick to it of course—with some party-friendly festive cocktails. And the best part about these drinks, they’re made to satisfy a room full of thirsty guests, because the more, the merrier especially on this festive season.
Flip the page to check out the five different drinks you should try this holiday season.
White Hot Chocolate (recipe serves 20)
Ingredients:
1 qt and 1 cup of white chocolate, chopped
5 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 gal and 1 1/2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cup brandy (optional)
20 taste candy cane
Directions:
Combine the chocolate and vanilla extract in bowl.
Combine the milk and cream and heat over medium heat until simmering.
Immediately pour the hot cream over the chocolate/vanilla mixture and whisk until it’s all melted.
Add the brandy, mix, and then pour into glass or ceramic mugs.
Hang the candy canes over the edge of the mug for style.
Photo: Sharon 123
Red Nose Punch (recipe serves 8-10)
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups cranberry juice
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup bourbon
4 oz. fresh lime juice, plus 3 sliced limes
3 oz. cinnamon-infused simple syrup
4 12 oz. bottles lager beer
4 cups of hot water*
Directions:
Put the fresh cranberries in a bundt pan, pour the water over the berries and freeze.
Mix the cranberry juice, lime juice, bourbon, and syrup in a large punch bowl.
Take the frozen cranberries out the pan and put it in the punch (it should float).
Pour the beer and sliced limes on top.
Photo Credit: Helen Rosner
*The hot water will freeze clear
Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate (recipe serves six)
Ingredients:
1 qt milk (you can use any type of milk—skim, whole—it’s your choice)
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate or 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 ounces peppermint schnapps
whipped cream
6 peppermint stick candy
Directions:
Heat one cup of the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat.
Add chocolate and stir until melted.
Once melted, increase heat to medium and add the rest of the milk—still stirring. Do not bring to a boil.
Serve in small cups with (1 1/2 oz—or to your liking) of peppermint schnapps and whipped cream.
Add a peppermint stick.
Photo Credit: Teresa S
Fizzy Ginger Limeade (recipe makes 8) | Recipe by Melissa Rubel Jacobson
Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
3 inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced
5 cups club soda
1 cup fresh lime juice
Lime wedges (for garnish)
2 cups vodka
3/4 cup water
ice
Directions:
Mix the sugar, 3/4 cup water and ginger in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat and let it stand for 10 minutes.
Strain mixture into pitcher/bowl and mix in club soda, lime juice and vodka.
Fill ice-filled glasses with drink and top with limeade.
Garnish with lime wedges.
Photo Credit: Kate Sears
Milk Punch (recipe serves 18)
1 gal and 5 cups whole milk
3 cup half-and-half
4 1/2 cups bourbon
6 cups powdered sugar
5 tbsp. vanilla extract
Nutmeg
Mix all the ingredients (EXCEPT nutmeg) into a large bowl and let it chill in freezer for one hour.
When milk turns to slush, pour nutmeg on it and serve.
Photo Credit: Christopher Hirsheimer