25 Unique Christmas Cocktails and Recipes for your Bar or Restaurant
Looking for some seasonal drinks and appetizers for your bar or restaurant this Christmas? Try out a few of these recipes and mix up your menu for the holiday season.
Cocktails
1. Candy Cane Cocktail
This festive drink makes use of all those extra candy canes you’re sure to have lying around!
1 candy cane, crushed, for garnish
2 ounces strawberry vodka
4 dashes white creme de menthe
2 1/2 ounces cranberry juice
Ice cubes
Place crushed candy canes on a small plate or saucer. Wet the outside rim of a chilled martini glass with water. Holding the glass by the stem, rotate the rim to coat with candy.
In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, creme de menthe, cranberry juice, and ice; shake until well combined. Strain into prepared glass; serve immediately.
(Recipe and image from Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/318807/candy-cane-cocktail)
2. Dead By Christmas
A name like this lets your customers know exactly what to expect.
Fill a highball glass with ice. Then add:
1 ounce of strawberry liqueur
1 ounce of absinthe
1/2 ounce of fresh lime juice
A splash of soda water
Just stir and enjoy.
(Recipe from Hubpages: http://nylady.hubpages.com/hub/10-Tipsy-Christmas-Cocktails)
3. Sweet Tea Hot Toddy
Hot toddies are the quintessential cold-weather drink for anyone feeling under the weather during the holidays.
1 tea bag (suggested: chamomile) Juice of ½ a lemon 1 tablespoon honey 1 ounce whiskey of your choice Hot water
Steep the tea in the hot water until it’s ready. Add lemon juice, honey, and whiskey. Stir to combine. Add more honey to taste.
4. Cherry Gin-Gria
Cherry syrup and red wine give this sangria a bold holiday hue.
Ingredients:
Ice cubes
2 ounces cherry syrup (recommended: Giammona)
2 ounces gin
5 to 6 ounces club soda
1 ounce red wine
Maraschino cherries
Fresh or frozen raspberries
Directions:
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in the cherry syrup and the gin; stir to mix together. Lighten the drink with a generous splash of soda. Float a layer of red wine on top by pouring it over the back of a wide, flat spoon. (Don't worry if it doesn't float; it tastes great either way.) Drop a few maraschino cherries and raspberries into the glass. Drink.
(Recipe and image from Food Network: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cherry-gin-gria- recipe/index.html)
5. Maple Butter Kiss
The addition of real maple syrup makes this holiday cocktail extra special.
Ingredients:
Ice
1 1/2 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce DeKuyper Buttershots liqueur or butterscotch schnapps
1/4 ounce real maple syrup
1 ounce half-and-half
Fresh-ground nutmeg
Directions:
Pour liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and top with fresh-ground nutmeg.
Recipe from Food Network: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/maple-butter-kiss-recipe/index.html
6. The Grinch
If you have a customer who’s a bit more Scrooge than Santa, try serving this drink.
2 ounces Midori
1/2 ounce lemon juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup
Combine the ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
(Recipe from Mix that Drink: http://mixthatdrink.com/grinch/)
7. Citrus Cider
Citrus fruits are abundant in winter, so why not take advantage of them with this seasonal cider?
Ingredients:
2 quarts apple cider or apple juice
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup honey
8 inches stick cinnamon, broken
8 whole cloves
3 slices fresh ginger
Directions:
In a 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker, combine cider, orange juice, lemon juice, and honey. Stir to dissolve honey. For a spice bag, cut a 6-inch square from a double thickness of 100%-cotton cheesecloth. Place cinnamon, cloves, and ginger in the center of the cloth. Bring the corners together and tie closed with 100%-cotton kitchen string. Add spice bag to slow cooker. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove the spice bag and discard.
(Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/drinks/citrus-cider/)
8. The Red Hot Santa Tini
Spice up this Christmas cocktail by using chili-infused vodka and a Thai chili pepper.
2 ounces chili-infused vodka
2 ounces Godiva chocolate liqueur
Cocoa powder
Cayenne pepper
Sweetened whipping cream
One small Thai chili pepper
Mix some cocoa powder together with a pinch of cayenne pepper, and rim a chilled martini glass with it. Shake the vodka up with the chocolate liqueur and pour the mixture into the glass. Top it off with the whipping cream and garnish by floating the chili pepper on top of the cream.
(Recipe from Mix that Drink: http://mixthatdrink.com/the-red-hot-santa-tini/)
9. Bourbon and Ginger Cocktail
Bourbon and ginger will heat anyone up on a cold winter night.
Ingredients:
4 ounces bourbon
4 glasses filled with ice
1 can (12 ounces) ginger ale
4 lime wedges
Directions:
Divide bourbon among 4 glasses filled with ice. Divide ginger ale among glasses and squeeze 1 lime wedge into each. Serve immediately.
(Recipe from Everyday Food: http://www.marthastewart.com/335072/bourbon-and-ginger)
10. Frozen Cranberry Margaritos
This cross between a margarita and a mojito uses cranberry sauce for a holiday twist.
Ingredients:
1 (10-ounce) can frozen mojito mix
3/4 cup tequila $
1/4 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce $
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Ice
Directions:
Combine first 5 ingredients in a blender. Fill blender with ice to 5-cup level, and process until smooth. Serve immediately.
(Recipe from Southern Living: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/frozen-cranberry-margaritos-10000001665298/)
11. Cherry Bombs
For your customers who don’t drink alcohol, try serving this holiday spin on the Shirley Temple.
Ingredients:
1 cup grenadine
1 liter clear citrus soda, or seltzer
18 maraschino cherries
Directions:
Place 2 cups water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add grenadine; stir to combine. Pour mixture into two ice-cube trays. Freeze until solid, 2 hours or overnight.
Fill six glasses with grenadine ice cubes. Top with soda. Garnish with cherries, and serve.
(Recipe from Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/336439/cherry-bombs?czone=entertaining%2Fholiday- entertaining%2Fholidaycenter-drinks&gallery=856474&slide=336439¢er=1009068)
12. Blood Orange Champagne Cocktails
If you’re looking for a simple cocktail, it couldn’t get any easier than this classy champagne and blood orange juice mixture.
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups freshly squeezed or frozen blood-orange juice
2 750-ml bottles champagne, chilled
Directions:
Pour 3 tablespoons juice in each champagne flute. Fill flutes with champagne, and serve.
(Recipe from Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/331801/blood-orange-champagne- cocktails?czone=entertaining%2Fholiday-entertaining%2Fholidaycenter- drinks&gallery=856474&slide=331801¢er=1009068)
13. Mistletoe Martini
This martini combines cranberry tea with citrus flavors.
Ingredients:
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces orange juice
3 ounces cranberry tea, chilled
3/4 ounces lemon juice
3 teaspoons sugar
Directions:
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into two chilled cocktail glasses.
(Recipe from Cocktials: http://cocktails.about.com/od/vodkadrinkrecipes/r/mistletoe_tini.htm)
14. Hot Chocolate Shots
These (nonalcoholic) shots are a unique way to enjoy hot chocolate.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup chocolate ice cream
1 square unsweetened baking chocolate
2 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
Directions:
In a saucepan, melt together the butter, sugar, ice cream, and baking chocolate until smooth. Whisk in the water and orange flavoring. Heat over medium-high heat, just until steaming. Serve with whipped cream and a sprinkling of orange zest and grated chocolate in chocolate-dipped shot glasses.
Recipe from Babble: http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/hot-chocolate-shots/
15. Christmas Coffee Cocktail
Need to stay awake while celebrating? Try out this caffeinated cocktail.
1 ounce creme de cacao
2 ounces coffee
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
Instructions:
Stir well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Recipe from Esquire: http://www.esquire.com/drinks/cafe-cocktail-drink-recipe
16. Mocha Eggnog Punch
If you’re tired of basic eggnog, try out this mocha twist that makes enough for a crowd of customers.
Ingredients:
10 parts Kahlúa Mocha
5 parts vanilla vodka
20 parts eggnog
Directions:
Combine ingredients and serve. Appetizers
17. Spicy Pecans
Don’t just put another bowl of peanuts on the bar…try these spicy pecans.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon coarse salt
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
5 cups (20 ounces) pecans
Directions:
Step 1:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, and sugar.
Step 2:
In a medium bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy. Whisk in spice mixture. Stir in pecans. Spread coated pecans in a single layer onto the baking sheets. Bake for about 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees. Rotate the sheets in oven, and cook for 10 minutes more.
Step 3:
Immediately spread pecans in a single layer on clean parchment paper; let cool before serving or storing. (Pecans will keep, in an airtight container, up to 1 week at room temperature.)
(Recipe and image from Martha Stewart (http://www.marthastewart.com/262059/spicy- pecans?czone=entertaining%2Fholiday-entertaining%2Fholidaycenter- foods&gallery=856473&slide=262059¢er=1009060)
18. Caramelized Onion Tarts with Apples
This savory appetizer looks super-fancy but uses just a few ingredients.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced
2 red apples (such as Braeburn or Gala), cut into small pieces
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 sheets frozen puff pastry (from a 17.3-ounce package), thawed
1/2 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
Directions:
Heat oven to 400º F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in the apples, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until just tender, 2 minutes.
Place each sheet of pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Spread with the crème fraîche, leaving a ½-inch border. Top with the onion mixture and bake until the pastry is crisp and browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Cut into pieces before serving. Makes 2 tarts.
Recipe from Real Simple (http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/caramelized-onion-tarts-with- apples-recipe-00000000024634/index.html)
19. Sausage Cheddar Balls
These tiny appetizers are like an easier-to-eat version of meatballs.
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups grated cheddar (1/2 pound)
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage
1/2 large yellow onion, grated on large holes of a box grater
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and baking powder. Add cheddar and toss to coat. Add sausage,
onion, and butter. With your hands, mix until well combined and roll mixture into 1-inch balls. Place balls, 1/2 inch apart, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until balls are golden and cooked through, 25 minutes. Serve warm.
(Recipe from Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/326848/sausage-cheddar- balls?czone=entertaining%2Fholiday-entertaining%2Fholidaycenter- foods&gallery=276350&slide=296865¢er=1009060)
20. Candied Bacon
This sweet and spicy bacon goes great alongside any holiday appetizer.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
20 slices of thick-cut bacon
Preheat the oven to 400° and line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil. Whisk together the brown sugar and chili powder. Place the bacon strips on the foil and coat the tops with the chili sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until caramelized and almost crisp. Transfer the bacon to a rack set over a sheet of foil to cool completely.
21. Sweet and Spicy Walnuts
These sweet and spicy nuts will complement any holiday cocktail.
Ingredients:
1 pound walnut halves (about 4 cups)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup sesame seeds (4 ounces)
1 1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large, wide saucepan, combine the walnuts, sugar and water and bring to a boil. Add the sesame seeds, cayenne and salt and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the water is nearly evaporated, about 4 minutes. Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the walnuts are golden brown and sandy, about 4 minutes longer.
Immediately pour the walnuts onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in a single layer. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the nuts are deeply golden and covered with a sandy coating. Let the walnuts cool completely. Break any large clusters apart; transfer to a bowl to serve.
(Recipe from Food and Wine:http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/sweet-and-spicy-sesame-walnuts)
22. Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms are a Christmas dish that can make a great appetizer at a bar or restaurant.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Italian-style dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
28 large (2 1/2-inch-diameter) white mushrooms, stemmed
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Stir the bread crumbs, Pecorino Romano, garlic, parsley, mint, salt and pepper, to taste, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium bowl to blend.
Drizzle a heavy large baking sheet with about 1 tablespoon olive oil, to coat. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cavities and arrange on the baking sheet, cavity side up. Drizzle remaining oil over the filling in each mushroom. Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top, about 25 minutes.
(Recipe from the Food Network: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/stuffed-mushrooms- recipe/index.html)
23. Baked Coconut Shrimp
Forget about the same boring shrimp cocktail and try serving these baked coconut shrimp instead.
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon lime juice
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup pineapple preserves
1 pound uncooked large shrimp peeled and deveined
2 egg whites
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
Directions:
Combine lime juice, jalapeno pepper, and pineapple preserves in a small bowl and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl beat egg whites with a hand mixer until soft peaks form.
Place cornstarch and coconut on two separate plates. Hold shrimp by the tail and dip and coat the shrimp with cornstarch. Next, dip the shrimp in the egg whites and finally in the coconut coating well. Place shrimp on the cookie sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until coconut is a golden brown. Make sure to turn it once halfway through (around 8 minutes into cooking time) to make sure both sides brown. Serve with pineapple dipping sauce.
(Recipe and image from The Girl Who Ate Everything: http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/01/baked- coconut-shrimp.html)
24. Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos
This appetizer has only a few ingredients but packs major flavor.
Ingredients
8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or finely chopped green onions
12 jalapeño chiles (2 to 3 inch), halved lengthwise, seeded
8 slices bacon
Toothpicks
Directions:
Heat oven to 375°F. Line cookie sheet with foil or cooking parchment paper. Soak toothpicks in small bowl of warm water to prevent burning.
Mix cream cheese and chives, then spoon mixture evenly into chile halves.
Cut each bacon slice crosswise into thirds. Wrap 1 piece of bacon around each stuffed chile half; secure with soaked toothpick. Place on cookie sheet.
Bake 25 minutes or until bacon is crispy and peppers are soft.
25. Artichoke Dip
This rich, cheesy dip is a perfect indulgent treat for the holidays.
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for baking dish
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds spinach, cleaned, trimmed, and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup milk
6 ounces reduced-fat bar cream cheese
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
3 dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Baguette slices, breadsticks, or crackers, for serving
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion and garlic; cook until lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes.
Add spinach in two additions, letting the first batch wilt before adding the next; cook until completely wilted, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a colander; drain, pressing to release all excess liquid.
In the same pot, warm milk over high heat. Whisk in cream cheese until melted, about 3 minutes. Add spinach, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and 1/4 cup mozzarella; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a lightly oiled 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.
(Recipe from Martha Stewart: http://www.marthastewart.com/338357/hot-spinach-dip)
If you’re looking for something unique to add to your menu this Christmas, try out a few of these festive recipes and get in the holiday spirit!