Christmas is a time for celebration and indulgence, and what better way to do so than with a delicious holiday drink? From warm and comforting hot chocolate to festive and spiced mulled wine, there are so many tasty options to choose from. Here are the top ten Christmas drinks that are sure to get you into the holiday spirit: eggnog, hot chocolate, mulled wine, apple cider, Irish coffee, spiked apple cider, hot toddy, gingerbread latte, peppermint mocha, and wassel. Whether you prefer a classic and traditional drink or something a little more unique and creative, there’s something on this list for everyone to enjoy. So grab a mug and get ready to toast to the holiday season with one of these top ten Christmas drinks!
Here are ten popular Christmas drinks that you may enjoy:
- Eggnog – A traditional holiday drink made with milk, cream, sugar, and beaten eggs, often spiked with rum, brandy, or bourbon.
- Hot chocolate – A warm, comforting drink made with cocoa powder, milk, and sugar, and often topped with whipped cream and marshmallows.
- Mulled wine – Red wine that has been heated and spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and other aromatic spices.
- Apple cider – A warm, spiced apple drink made with apple juice, cinnamon, and other spices.
- Irish coffee – A coffee cocktail made with Irish whiskey, hot coffee, and sugar, topped with whipped cream.
- Spiked apple cider – Apple cider that has been spiked with rum or other spirits.
- Hot toddy – A warm, soothing drink made with hot water, honey, lemon juice, and whiskey or rum.
- Gingerbread latte – A holiday twist on a classic latte, made with espresso, milk, and gingerbread syrup.
- Peppermint mocha – A festive twist on a classic mocha, made with chocolate, peppermint syrup, and espresso.
- Wassel – A traditional English holiday punch made with red wine, brandy, and fruit juices, spiced with cinnamon and cloves.
Here are the recipes for each of the top ten Christmas drinks:
1. Eggnog
Ingredients:
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup rum, brandy, or bourbon (optional)
- 5 egg whites
- additional nutmeg for garnish
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, heat the milk, cream, and sugar over medium heat until hot and the sugar has dissolved.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and salt. Gradually add a cup of the hot milk mixture to the yolks, whisking constantly.
- Pour the yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the nutmeg and optional alcohol.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the eggnog mixture.
- Serve the eggnog hot or chilled, garnished with additional nutmeg.
2. Hot chocolate
Ingredients:
- 2 cups milk
- 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- whipped cream and marshmallows for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
- Add the chocolate and sugar to the hot milk and stir until the chocolate has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the hot chocolate into mugs and garnish with whipped cream and marshmallows, if desired.
3. Mulled wine
Ingredients:
- 750ml bottle red wine
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 10 whole cloves
- 1 orange, sliced
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, combine the wine, brandy, honey, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
- Add the orange slices and heat the mixture over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Strain the wine into a punch bowl or individual mugs and serve hot.
4. Apple Cider
Ingredients:
- 8 cups apple juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 10 whole cloves
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1/4 cup honey (optional)
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, combine the apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange slices.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- If desired, stir in the honey to sweeten the cider.
- Strain the cider into a punch bowl or individual mugs and serve hot.
5. Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hot coffee
- 1 shot Irish whiskey
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- whipped cream for garnish
Instructions:
- Pour the hot coffee into a mug.
- Add the Irish whiskey and sugar to the mug and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Top the coffee with a dollop of whipped cream.
6. Spiked Apple Cider
Spiked apple cider is a warm and comforting drink that is perfect for fall and winter gatherings. Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:
Ingredients:
- 8 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup dark rum
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 slices fresh ginger
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
Instructions:
- In a large pot, combine the apple cider, rum, brandy, and maple syrup.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger slices, and lemon slices to the pot.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it begins to steam.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer the cider for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve the spiked apple cider warm in mugs or glasses, garnished with additional cinnamon sticks and lemon slices if desired.
Note: You can adjust the amount of alcohol in the recipe to your liking. You can also add other spices such as nutmeg or allspice for added flavor. Enjoy!
7. Hot Toddy
A hot toddy is a warm and comforting drink that is traditionally made with hot water, honey, lemon, and whiskey. It is often used as a natural remedy for colds and flu. Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1.5 ounces whiskey
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 1 slice lemon (optional)
Instructions:
- In a mug, combine the hot water, honey, and lemon juice. Stir until the honey is dissolved.
- Add the whiskey to the mug and stir to combine.
- If desired, add a cinnamon stick and a slice of lemon to the mug.
- Sip the hot toddy slowly and enjoy!
Note: You can adjust the amount of whiskey in the recipe to your liking. You can also add other spices such as cloves or nutmeg for added flavor. If you prefer, you can also use brandy or rum in place of the whiskey. Enjoy!
8. Gingerbread Latte
Gingerbread latte is a delicious and festive holiday drink that combines the flavors of gingerbread and espresso. Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons gingerbread syrup
- 1 shot espresso
- whipped cream (optional)
- ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to steam.
- Stir in the gingerbread syrup until it is fully incorporated.
- Prepare a shot of espresso and add it to the mug.
- Pour the flavored milk over the espresso and stir to combine.
- If desired, top the latte with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
- Serve the gingerbread latte hot and enjoy!
Note: You can adjust the amount of gingerbread syrup in the recipe to your liking. You can also use soy milk, almond milk, or any other plant-based milk in place of regular milk. Enjoy!
9. Peppermint mocha
Peppermint mocha is a delicious and festive holiday drink that combines the flavors of peppermint and chocolate. Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
- 1 tablespoon peppermint syrup
- 1 shot espresso
- whipped cream (optional)
- crushed peppermint candy (optional)
Instructtions:
- Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to steam.
- Stir in the chocolate syrup and peppermint syrup until they are fully incorporated.
- Prepare a shot of espresso and add it to the mug.
- Pour the flavored milk over the espresso and stir to combine.
- If desired, top the mocha with whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy.
- Serve the peppermint mocha hot and enjoy!
Note: You can adjust the amount of chocolate syrup and peppermint syrup in the recipe to your liking. You can also use soy milk, almond milk, or any other plant-based milk in place of regular milk. Enjoy!
10. Wassel
A wassel is a type of spiced, mulled wine that is traditionally served during the holiday season in many parts of Europe and the United States. Here is a recipe for a classic wassel:
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 1 cup of brandy
- 1 cup of orange juice
- 1 cup of apple cider
- 1/2 cup of honey
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 sliced oranges
- 4 sliced lemons
Instructtions:
- In a large pot, combine the red wine, brandy, orange juice, apple cider, and honey.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves to the pot and stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Add the sliced oranges and lemons to the pot and continue to simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let the wassel cool for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the wassel hot in mugs or cups, garnished with a slice of orange or lemon if desired. Enjoy!
Note: You can adjust the amount of honey and spices to taste. Some people also like to add a splash of lemon juice or a sliced apple to the wassel for added flavor. Feel free to experiment and make the recipe your own!
Disclaimer:
Please remember to drink responsibly! This post is not intended to promote excessive or irresponsible drinking. PartyPingo does not condone underage drinking, drinking and driving, or any form of reckless alcohol consumption. Stay safe and know your limits.
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