The holiday season brings together the joy of festive traditions, and what better way to celebrate than with Christmas cocktails inspired by your favorite holiday films? Whether you’re cozying up with a classic like A Charlie Brown Christmas or embracing the Christmas chaos in Christmas Vacation, there’s a recipe for every mood. Here are a few Christmas cocktail recipes inspired by beloved holiday movies to make your celebrations even more festive.
Christmas Vacation: Spiked Eggnog
As you settle in to watch Christmas Vacation and join the Griswold family on their holiday misadventures, nothing complements the chaos of Christmas quite like a classic spiked eggnog. Creamy, spiced, and just the right amount of boozy, this festive drink will keep you warm and merry throughout the movie.
Ingredients:
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup bourbon (or rum)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- Ice (for serving)
Instructions:
1. Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Warm milk, cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a saucepan, then slowly add to eggs (tempering them).
- Return mixture to saucepan, cook over low heat until thickened (about 160°F).
- Stir in bourbon and vanilla, cool, then chill for at least 2 hours.
- Serve over ice, garnish with cinnamon or nutmeg.
It’s a Wonderful Life: Bourbon Espresso Maple Old Fashioned
As you sit back and enjoy the heartwarming classic It’s a Wonderful Life, elevate the experience with an Espresso Maple Old Fashioned. This rich, smooth cocktail blends the warmth of bourbon with the depth of cold brew espresso and the sweetness of maple syrup. Finished with a coffee bean-crusted orange twist, it’s the perfect sipping companion for a holiday film filled with love, hope, and a little bit of magic.
Ingredients:
- 2oz bourbon
- 1oz cold brew espresso (decaf if wanted)
- .5 oz maple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Garnish: coffee bean crusted orange twist
Instructions:
- In a mixing glass, combine the bourbon, cold brew espresso, maple syrup, and orange bitters.
- Add ice to the mixing glass and stir well until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a glass over a large ice cube.
- To garnish, carefully add a coffee bean-crusted orange twist.
Elf: Candy Cane Martini
A sweet, minty treat that captures the fun-loving spirit of Buddy the Elf and his candy cane obsession. This Christmas cocktail blends vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, and a splash of cream into a festive, dessert-like drink that’s as playful and cheerful as Buddy himself.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz peppermint schnapps
- 1 oz white chocolate liqueur
- Crushed candy cane (for rimming)
- Mini candy cane (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Rim your martini glass with crushed candy canes.
- In a shaker, combine vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, and white chocolate liqueur with ice.
- Shake well and strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a mini candy cane for that extra touch of holiday magic.
Home Alone: Christmas Cookie Martini
As you settle in to watch Home Alone and join Kevin McCallister on his hilarious holiday adventure, what better way to enjoy the chaos of the holidays than with a Christmas Cookie Martini?
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz Irish cream liqueur (like Baileys)
- 1 oz amaretto
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- Crushed graham crackers or sugar for rimming (optional)
- Cinnamon stick or mini cookie (for garnish)
Instructions:
- If desired, rim your martini glass with crushed graham crackers or sugar.
- In a shaker, combine vanilla vodka, Irish cream liqueur, amaretto, heavy cream, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
- Add ice and shake well until chilled.
- Strain into your prepared martini glass.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick or a mini cookie for a fun touch.
A Christmas Story: Red Ryder Christmas Cocktail Punch
As Ralphie dreams of his Red Ryder BB gun, get into the spirit with a Red Ryder Rum Punch—a bold, fruity cocktail that packs a punch, just like Ralphie’s relentless pursuit of his Christmas wish.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz light rum
- 1 oz dark rum
- 3 oz pineapple juice
- 2 oz orange juice
- 1 oz grenadine
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- Ice
- Orange or cherry slice (for garnish)
Instructions:
- In a shaker, combine both rums, pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine, and lime juice with ice.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice or a cherry for a festive touch.
The Polar Express: Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Hop aboard The Polar Express with a spiked peppermint hot chocolate in hand! This cozy cocktail blends hot chocolate, vodka, peppermint schnapps, and chocolate liqueur, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Peppermint Schnapps
- 2-4 oz (to desired sweetness) cool hot chocolate
- 2 oz chocolate liquor
- Crushed peppermint candy (for rimming the glass)
- Whipped cream (optional)
- Chocolate shaving or crushed peppermint for garnish
Instructions:
- Rim the glass: Dip the rim on any glass in chocolate syrup, then coat it with crushed peppermint candy.
- Mix ingredients: In a shaker, combine vodka, peppermint schnapps, cooled hot chocolate, and chocolate liquor.
- Shake: Add ice and shake until well chilled. (We always mix until our hands are ice cold!)
- Strain and serve: Strain the mixture into your prepared glass.
- Garnish: Optionally top with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings or crushed peppermint. (Quick Trick: use some of the hot chocolate mix you used and sprinkle that over your whipped cream)