20 Holiday Beverage Recipes To Try

Ho-Ho-Hello, festive friends and holiday enthusiasts! Santa Ron here, bringing you a sleigh full of delightful beverage recipes to make your holiday season extra merry and bright. From warm, cozy drinks to cool, refreshing sips, I’ve got something for everyone in my magical recipe book.

Santa Ron’s Recipes for Special Holiday Beverages

1. Magical Mango Lassi

Get tropical this holiday season with my Mango Lassi. A blend of sweet mango, creamy buttermilk, and a hint of cardamom – it’s a refreshing escape from the winter chill. Don’t forget the optional pistachios and raspberries for that festive touch!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup of diced mango, about 1 large mango
  • 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk
  • 1 – 2 tbsp. sugar
  • Pinch of cardamom
  • Optional: pistachios (chopped and toasted), fresh raspberries
• Directions: Blend everything in a blender until well pureed. Serve with fresh raspberries or some chopped pistachios for a festive touch!

2. Cheery Cheesecake Milkshake

Indulge in the decadence of a Cheesecake Milkshake. Creamy vanilla ice cream, buttermilk, and a zest of lemon all whipped up for a quick, delightful treat. It’s like a slice of cheesecake in a glass!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 drop lemon extract
• Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender. Process on high until smooth. Pour into glasses. Refrigerate leftovers.

3. Iced Coffee Latte – A Frosty Wake-up Call

For those who need a little pick-me-up, my Iced Coffee Latte blends instant coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate milk, served over ice. It’s a frosty, energizing delight!

• Ingredients:
  • 1/3 cup instant coffee granules
  • ½ cup boiling water
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
  • 2 cups cold water
  • 1 quart cold low-fat chocolate milk
• Directions: Dissolve coffee granules in boiling water. Whisk in sweetened condensed milk and cold water. Pour into a pitcher, add chocolate milk, stir, and chill for about an hour. Serve over ice.

4. Vegan Eggnog – A Compassionate Twist

A special treat for my vegan friends – a silken tofu-based Vegan Eggnog. Rich, creamy, and spiked with a hint of rum or brandy. Sprinkle some nutmeg on top for that classic eggnog feel.

• Ingredients:
  • 21 oz extra-firm silken tofu
  • 2 cups soymilk
  • 2/3 cup turbinado sugar or alternative sweeteners
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 cup rum or brandy
  • 4 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 20 ice cubes
  • Nutmeg for garnish
• Directions: Blend tofu, soymilk, sugar, and salt until smooth. Mix in water, rum or brandy, and vanilla. Refrigerate. To serve, blend with ice until frothy and sprinkle nutmeg on top.

5. Easy Peasy Egg Nog

Here’s an Easy Egg Nog recipe that’s a cinch to make. With instant vanilla pudding, eggs, and milk, it’s a quick way to whip up some holiday cheer.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 package of instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla flavoring
  • 6 cups milk
  • Nutmeg or Pumpkin Pie Spice for garnish
• Directions: Combine pudding mix, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Gradually add milk. Chill, stir, pour into glasses, and sprinkle with nutmeg.

6. Young Folks’ Christmas Wassail Bowl

Gather the little elves around for a Christmas Wassail Bowl. A sweet mix of fruit, cider, and a fizz of 7-Up or ginger ale, it’s a hit with kids and adults alike!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 12 whole cloves
  • 2 Tbs. (or more) ground cinnamon
  • 2 lemons, sliced thin
  • 2 oranges, sliced thin
  • 1 apple, sliced thin
  • 1 gallon sweet cider
  • 1 pint 7-Up or ginger ale
• Directions: Make syrup with brown sugar, water, cloves, and cinnamon. Simmer for 10 minutes; add fruit and simmer with cider for 10 more minutes. Do not boil. Add 7-Up just before serving. Serve hot or cold in mugs with a cinnamon stick stirrer.

7. Traditional Christmas Wassail

For a more traditional touch, try my Christmas Wassail with apple cider, pineapple juice, and aromatic spices. It’s like the holiday season in a cup!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 gallon apple cider
  • 25-30 whole cloves
  • 6-10 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 quart pineapple juice
  • 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
• Directions: Mix all ingredients in a large pot and simmer. Serve hot.

8. Another Wassail – With a Cranberry Twist

If you’re looking for variety, my Cranberry-Apple Wassail is a delightful twist on the classic, featuring a blend of cranberry and apple juices with a hint of citrus.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 can frozen cranberry juice
  • 1 can frozen apple juice
  • 1 cup citrus juice (orange, grapefruit, lemon, or a combination)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 12 whole cloves
  • Cheese cloth for spices
• Directions: Prepare the juices according to package directions. Add citrus juice and sugar. Wrap cinnamon and cloves in cheese cloth, add to pot, bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 hours. Store leftovers in the fridge.

9. Festive Red Punch

My Red Punch is a crowd-pleaser with pineapple grapefruit juice, cinnamon candies, and a fizzy ginger ale finish. Don’t forget the ice ring for that extra pizzazz!

• Ingredients:
  • 2 (46oz.) cans pineapple grapefruit juice (3 cups reserved for ice ring)
  • 1/3 cup red cinnamon candies
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 qt. ginger ale, chilled
• Directions: Heat 1 cup juice with cinnamon candies and sugar until dissolved. Combine with remaining juice, chill. Add ginger ale before serving. For an ice ring, freeze some juice in a Jello ring.

10. Warm Winter Drink Spice Bags

Make your own Spice Bags for Warm Winter Drinks. A perfect addition to cider, tea, or wine, these sachets of cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel will fill your home with the scent of the holidays.

• Ingredients:
  • 8 sticks cinnamon, broken
  • 2 whole nutmegs, crushed
  • 1/3 cup whole cloves
  • 1/3 cup minced dried orange peel (or ground)
  • 1/4 cup whole allspice berries
  • Optional garnish: cinnamon sticks, orange slice, lemon peel
• Directions: Combine ingredients, tie 1 tablespoon each in cheesecloth. Store in an airtight container. To use, simmer 1 quart of cider, tea, or wine with 1 sachet for 20 minutes.

11. Comforting Cocoa Mix

Whip up a batch of my Cocoa Mix for a quick and comforting chocolate treat. Great for gifting or savoring on a chilly evening.

• Ingredients:
  • 3 cups chocolate powdered drink mix
  • 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 jar Cremora
  • 10 cups powdered milk
  • Mini marshmallows to taste
• Directions: Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Pour into jars or bags for gifting. Attach a card: “Add 3 heaping tablespoons to a cup of hot water.

12. Captivating Cappuccino Mix

For coffee lovers, my Cappuccino Mix is a must-try. A blend of creamer, chocolate, coffee, and spices, it’s a cozy cup to start your morning or wind down your evening.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup powdered instant non-dairy creamer
  • 1 cup chocolate-flavored drink mix
  • 3/4 cup instant coffee
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Directions: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Store in an airtight container. To use, put 2 tablespoons of mix in a mug, pour 6 ounces boiling water over it, and stir until smooth. Garnish with shaved chocolate and whipped cream if desired.

13. Coffee Parfait – A Sophisticated Sip

Elevate your coffee game with a Coffee Parfait. A sophisticated mix of strong coffee, cream, and a hint of cinnamon – it’s elegance in a glass.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 Tbs (30 ml) cornstarch (cornflour)
  • 3/4 cup (180 ml) sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • 2 Tbs (30 ml) milk
  • 2 egg yolks, beaten
  • 1 cup strong black coffee or espresso
  • 1+1/2 cups (375 ml) whipping cream
  • Additional whipped cream for topping
  • Ground cinnamon
• Directions: Combine all ingredients except for the whipping cream in a saucepan over simmering water. Stir until thickened. Chill for 1-2 hours. Whip the cream until light and fold into the coffee mixture. Serve in parfait cups or wine glasses, topped with additional whipped cream and cinnamon.

14. Cantaloupe Smoothie – A Fresh Start

Lighten things up with a refreshing Cantaloupe Smoothie. It’s a blend of ripe cantaloupe, milk, yogurt, and ice – a fresh start to any festive day.

• Ingredients:
  • 1/2 ripe cantaloupe, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
  • 1 cup (250 ml) skim milk
  • 1 cup (250 ml) unflavored or vanilla fat-free yogurt
  • 1 cup (250 ml) crushed ice
  • 2 Tbs (30 ml) sugar, or to taste
• Directions: Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Serves 2.

15. Real Egg Nog – A Classic Indulgence

Indulge in the classic Real Egg Nog. Rich, creamy, and spiked with your choice of liquor, it’s the real deal for eggnog connoisseurs.

• Ingredients:
  • 6 eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • 1 pint milk
  • 1 pint whiskey, bourbon, brandy, or rum
  • Nutmeg for garnish
• Directions: Beat yolks and whites of eggs separately. Add 1/2 cup sugar to yolks while beating. Add 1/4 cup of sugar to whites after they are beaten stiff. Mix whites with yolks by hand. Stir in cream and milk. Mix in a punch bowl, garnish with nutmeg.

16. White Christmas Cocktail – A Dreamy Delight

Dreaming of a White Christmas? My White Christmas Cocktail combines gin, cream, and soda pop for a frothy, dreamy concoction.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup gin
  • 1/2 pint whipping cream
  • 1 cup half & half
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Cream soda pop
  • Red and Green Maraschino Cherries
• Directions: Mix ingredients in a shaker bottle. Shake for 2-3 minutes. Chill for 2-3 hours. To serve, pour 1 ounce in a glass and fill with cream soda. Garnish with cherries.

17. Champagne Cocktail – Ring in the Cheer

Toast to the season with a simple yet elegant Champagne Cocktail. A sugar cube, a dash of bitters, and chilled champagne – cheers to holiday cheer!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 sugar cube
  • A dash of Angostura bitters
  • A twist of lemon peel
  • 6 fl oz (180 ml) chilled champagne, sparkling white wine, or sparkling white grape juice
• Directions: Place sugar cube, bitters, and lemon twist in a champagne glass. Add champagne.

18. Puerto Rican Coquito – A Tropical Holiday Treat

Experience the tropics with my Puerto Rican Coquito. A creamy, coconutty delight with a kick of Puerto Rican Rum.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 cups white Puerto Rican Rum
• Directions: Blend sugar, salt, cinnamon, egg yolks, and coconut milk. Bring to a low boil, stirring. Remove from heat, let cool. Add rum, bottle, and chill. Serve in small glasses with a dusting of cinnamon.

19. Gluhwein – A German Tradition

Warm up with a cup of Gluhwein, the German warmed wine. Spiced and soothing, it’s a holiday hug in a mug.

• Ingredients:
  • 10 cloves
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 cups red wine
• Directions: Boil cloves, cinnamon, and sugar in water. Add wine. Remove cloves and cinnamon sticks. Serve in mugs with a cinnamon stick.

20. Pudding Shots – A Party Favorite

And for the grand finale, Pudding Shots! A fun, festive way to enjoy your dessert and drink all in one. Mix and match flavors for endless fun.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup Irish cream liqueur
  • 1/2 cup vodka
  • 1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 1 tub of cool whip
  • Optional: various liqueurs for flavor variations
• Directions: Whisk together milk, liqueur, vodka, and pudding mix. Fold in cool whip. Spoon into shot glasses and chill until set. Explore with different flavor combinations.

Remember, festive friends, drink responsibly and savor every sip of the holiday season. From my sleigh to your table, enjoy these holiday beverage recipes. And if you’re looking for a jolly Santa visit, don’t forget to book me, Santa Ron, for a magical experience!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Santa Ron