All The Simple Christmas Cocktails You Need To Try

The festive season is almost here…for some it has already started, have you put up your tree and decorations yet?

With that comes the traditional food and drink that we indulge in every year, from candy canes to Christmas pudding to mulled wine and eggnog – sounds delicious!

For all you cocktail lovers, why not expand your cocktail options this year and try out these simple Christmas cocktails to get in the festive mood this season?

We have something for everyone with a variety of flavours and alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, carry on reading to find out. 

Cocktails

Kick starting our list of simple Christmas cocktails is the alcoholic tipples, with something for everyone we’re sure you and your mates will enjoy these drinks.

Try them out for yourself with our quick and easy to follow recipes – you’re welcome!

1. Clementine Margarita

If you love anything that is orange flavoured then you’ll love this Clementine Margarita with a zingy twist. 

Here’s how you can make this delicious tipple for yourself:

• 100ml Tequila
• 50ml triple sec
• 50ml clementine juice or 2 whole clementines
• 50ml lime juice or 2 whole limes

For the salt rim mix:

• 1 tsp sea salt flakes
• 1 tsp golden caster sugar
• 1 tsp dried clementine zest

Make sure to chill the cocktail base for at least a few days or more before you make it. 

Dampen the rims of the glass and dip into salt rim mix.

Then add ice cubes and pour in the cocktail base before topping up with clementine juice or lime juice – whatever you prefer.

2. Classic Snowball

A Christmas classic and a very easy and quick cocktail to make is a Snowball – so if you have yet to try it, be sure to soon!

All that is needed is 50ml advocaat, 50ml sparkling lemonade and ice – how simple is that?

Plus an optional 10-15 ml of lime juice depending on your tastes. 

Don’t forget to top it off with a maraschino cherry.

3. Sloe Gin Fizz

Next on our list of simple Christmas cocktails is a Sloe Gin Fizz.

Treat yourself this Christmas and try one – you won’t regret it!

A quick cocktail to make, only requiring:

• 50 ml Sloe gin
• 25 ml lemon juice
• 2 tsp sugar syrup
• Ice
• Sparkling water

Pour the Sloe gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and ice into a shaker. 

Next, shake well before straining it into a tall glass containing more ice. 

Top up with sparkling water and stir. 

Finish it off with a lemon slice and a blackberry for good measure.

4. Peppermint Mojito

Another of our simple Christmas cocktails you need to try is a Peppermint Mojito.

If candy canes are one of your favourite things about Christmas, then this candy cane inspired cocktail is one to test out this season.

You will need:

• 25 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• 50 ml white rum
• 15 ml mint syrup
• Ice
• 100 ml sparkling water
• 100g golden caster sugar
• ½ tsp peppermint extract
• 100 ml water

The first thing to do is to make the syrup – heat the sugar and 100 ml water in a pan on medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. 

Then turn the heat off and stir in the peppermint extract then leave to cool completely. 

Once cooled, in a tall glass pour in the lime juice, rum, 15 ml mint syrup and ice before stirring well and topping up with sparkling water. 

To complete the cocktail, garnish with a candy cane.

5. Christmas Pudding

There is nothing more like Christmas than a Christmas Pudding so why not incorporate that into a cocktail? 

This cocktail made by The Oxford Artisan Distillery is for anyone who loves a creamy cocktail.

It is so easy to make! 

All that is required is 20 mls of Christmas Pudding rye, creme de cacao, Baileys and Frangelico.

Fill the martini glass with ice so it is chilled. 

Put all the ingredients together in a shaker with ice and shake well. 

Remove the ice from the glass and double strain the mixture into the glass. 

To finish, top the cocktail with your favourite Christmas chocolate! 

Mocktails

You don’t need to drink alcohol to make some festive drinks for this Christmas.

Even if you do drink alcohol, sometimes having a nice refreshing mocktail can be nice for a change. 

We’ve listed a few of our favourite Christmas mocktails below for you to try out with your pals! 

1. Grapefruit Gin Sour

A Grapefruit Gin Sour is a great mocktail to try for those who don’t want an alcoholic drink this season.

All you need is:

• ½ red or pink grapefruit juiced and 2 strips of zest
• 50 ml non-alcoholic gin
• ½ lemon juiced
• 2 tbsp sugar syrup
• 1 egg white
• Ice

Once you have your ingredients, put everything but the ice in a shaker and shake well. 

Add ice to the shaker and shake it again for 30 seconds. 

Either strain into tumblers with ice or into martini glasses without ice. 

Top with a grapefruit twist.

2. Toasted Marshmallow Campfire Cocktail

The great thing about this cocktail is that it can be made with alcohol or without alcohol. 

So, it really is up to you whether it is a cocktail or a mocktail!

Plus it is so easy to whip up, so you don’t need to be a hospitality whizz to make this one.

To make this a mocktail you need:

• Marshmallow fluff
• Splash of vanilla extract
• 2 tsp simple syrup
• 2 oz hot espresso
• Ice 
• Toasted marshmallows

If you want to make this a cocktail then just add in 1 oz of vodka – either marshmallow flavoured or plain.

Place 2 or 3 spoonfuls of marshmallow fluff in a glass and add vanilla extract and simple syrup. 

Pour the espresso in and stir until it is all mixed together. 

If it is a mocktail just add the toasted marshmallows on top. 

If it is a cocktail add in the vodka and place the toasted marshmallows on top.

3. Crimson Christmas Punch

Another delicious non-alcoholic drink to try is the Crimson Christmas Punch. 

Served from a punch bowl, this is a good one to make if you plan on having guests round.

The recipe includes:

• 5 cups tropical punch
• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 4-5 cups ginger ale
• 1 pint raspberry sherbet

Combine all the juices into a large punch bowl. 

Add ginger ale slowly to keep as much fizz as possible. 

Lastly, you need to add the raspberry sherbet and let it sit for a few mins before serving.

4. Cranberry Spritz

Cranberry Spritz is a mocktail to have this Christmas if you’re planning to be alcohol-free.

It is one of the simplest to make, only requiring 100 ml cranberry juice, ½ orange juice, 6 sage leaves, 4 ice cubes and 80 ml sparkling white grape juice.

To make one cocktail, pour 50ml cranberry juice into a champagne or wine glass, add in ¼ orange juice and stir.

Complete the mocktail by adding in 3 sage leaves, 1 or 2 ice cubes and 40 ml sparkling white grape juice.

That’s it from us everyone, the end of our post on the best Christmas cocktails you need to try – we told you they were simple, didn’t we? 

To find more Christmas cocktails or mocktails, check out the BBC’s Good Food, Woman’s Day and Delish. 

A simple search on TikTok will give you loaaaads of cocktail inspo for the holiday season too, and they’re quick and easy to follow – you’ll be a mixologist in no time! 

Let us know what your favourite Christmas-themed cocktail is @_homesforstudents. 

We hope no matter where you are this festive season, whether that is at home or in your student accommodation, that you have a fabulous holiday with friends and family. 

With the cold weather setting in and prices rising check out our post for some energy saving tips this Winter.