31 Of The Merriest Drinks For The Holidays

You know that old saying, "Eat, drink, and be merry"? Well, that's a good reminder that you should devote as much time planning for special holiday drinks as you do the food. They're a special way to warm up your kids after a day of sledding, welcome guests to your annual Christmas party, treat Santa when he visits your house, and ring in the new year. Here are some of our favorite drink recipes that are perfect for everyone this holiday. 

Try a classy cocktail like a Christmas Old Fashioned, an eggnog martini, or a dirty Shirley. Jingle Juice and red sangria are festive drinks to make big batches of when you're hosting a crowd. Warm, spiced drinks are a favorite for chilly December days, and there are recipes here for mulled wine, hot apple cider, and citrusy Russian tea as well. Planning a theme party or have kids around the house? Try snowman soup, several kinds of flavored hot chocolate, and a gingerbread milkshake. No matter what kind of holiday party you're planning, you can find your special festive drink here. 

You just gotta have a cup of delicious hot chocolate during the holidays, like after a day of sledding or on Christmas morning after opening the presents. This hot chocolate recipe is really special: It tastes better because it's made from scratch, it's full of warm gingerbread flavor, and best of all it's a vegan recipe so everyone can enjoy it. From scratch doesn't mean complicated — it's actually surprisingly easy and quick. Just heat coconut milk with cocoa, spices, and sweeteners, then serve the drinks hot with plenty of whipped cream. 

Recipe: Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

Having a holiday party this year? This is the perfect punch to set out for your guests to drink and be merry. Not only is it beautiful to look at with fresh cranberries and orange slices floating on top, it's really delicious, too. The punch is made with sparkling cider, a bottle of rosé, vodka, and citrus juices. It's boozy, but also tangy and fruity. Have all the ingredients chilled ahead of time, then stir them together right before your party begins. 

Recipe: Jingle Juice

Here's a cool holiday drink that everyone will love, because it's full of flavor from one of the season's best-loved cookies. To make the milkshakes, blend gingersnap cookies with ice cream, milk, and extra spices. They're ready in minutes and can be topped with whipped cream, crumbled cookies, or even a gingerbread man if you have some on hand. The recipe calls for store-bought vanilla ice cream, but you can get creative and try other flavors like chocolate chip, caramel swirl, or use dairy-free ice cream and milk. 

Recipe: Gingerbread Milkshake

Although Insider shares that the Dirty Shirley cocktail took off as a trendy summertime drink, the simplicity and festive red hue of this grown-up take on the Shirley Temple make it a good fit for holiday parties, too. The main ingredients of a Dirty Shirley are vodka and lemon-lime soda like 7-Up. A splash of grenadine adds red color and maraschino cherries are the easy garnish. Set out the ingredients with this recipe to make a build-your-own holiday cocktail bar for your guests. 

Recipe: Dirty Shirley Cocktail

Welcome everyone in on the festivities with a big bowl of punch that's alcohol-free and full of flavor. The unique blend in this punch includes tart cranberry juice balanced by sweet pomegranate juice, plus ginger ale for some fizziness. Orange slices and pomegranate seeds are gorgeous floated across the top. The most intriguing part of this recipe is a simple, rosemary-infused syrup to give every sip an herbal note, plus sprigs of fresh rosemary are perfect to garnish each cup. The recipe makes enough punch to serve 10-12 people. 

Recipe: Non-Alcoholic Christmas Punch

Hot chocolate is always a tasty and welcome treat, and it's even easier when you use your Instant Pot. No lid required here: Just use the low simmer option to gently heat the milk with cocoa mix and other ingredients in only two minutes. This method is perfect when you want to let kids make a batch of cocoa but don't want them at the stove. Or, bring your Instant Pot to a party and double/triple the recipe to make hot chocolate for everyone without having to use your host's kitchen. 

Recipe: Instant Pot Hot Chocolate

Though Vinepair says that different baristas may have different interpretations of what exactly a flat white is, it can generally be described as espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam. This recipe from Susan Olayinka recreates a Starbucks seasonal favorite, the holiday spice flat white, and the best part is that you don't even need an espresso machine. Espresso powder is the key ingredient here, blended with cinnamon and other Christmasy spices for that irresistible flavor. Use a handheld milk frother to make the milk foam to finish off each drink. 

Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Holiday Spice Flat White

Transform ordinary apple juice into a warm and cozy hot drink using your slow cooker. Buy a good, quality brand that's 100% juice without added sugar, because you'll be adding the sugar yourself — brown sugar, to be exact. After a long simmer, it gives the juice that deep sweetness that you expect with cider. Orange slices, allspice berries, and whole star anise give this cider so much spicy flavor. It's ready in as little as 90 minutes, so you can hand mugs of pipin' hot cider to your guests as they come in from the cold.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Cider

Frozen drinks aren't just for summertime — they're a fun and festive way to celebrate during the holidays, too. Especially when the slushie has a beautiful deep, dark red hue like this one, which when garnished with a sprig of mint fits right in with the rest of your Christmas-themed menu. Make this drink in your blender with your favorite, sweet red wine: some types to try include Beaujolais Nouveau, port, Lambrusco, or bottled sangria. Frozen strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries give the mixture its icy texture. The recipe makes four merry drinks. 

Recipe: Wine Slushies

Even your morning cup of coffee can take on a festive air, whether you use an electric coffee maker or prefer pour-over. This recipe from Jaime Bachtell-Shelbert shows you how to add cinnamon flavor to your coffee as it brews, all in the same time as regular coffee. Don't stop there: Make your cup of joe even more special with mounds of whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, and a cinnamon stick. Enjoy your cinnamon coffee with a plate of Christmas cookies, or use it to make holiday-spiced versions of Irish coffee or coffee martinis. 

Recipe: Cinnamon Coffee

The holidays are the time to indulge in your favorite sweets ... like white chocolate, which doesn't deserve the hate it gets. Here's a way to combine white chocolate with espresso for a Christmas morning drink or a pick-me-up after a long day of holiday shopping. This copycat of a favorite Starbucks drink combines a sweet sauce of white chocolate and dulce de leche with steamed milk and shots of espresso. Top it with plenty of whipped cream and holiday sprinkles for a sweet caffeinated treat. 

Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Toasted White Chocolate Mocha

Chocolate and orange are a favorite holiday combination. Perhaps because both chocolates and oranges can be found in Christmas stockings, but more likely because the tastes pair together beautifully in candies. Capture that flavor in a mug of rich, from-scratch hot chocolate: It's made by melting good quality dark chocolate in hot milk, then whisking in orange zest and sugar. The recipe makes four servings, so your whole family can enjoy a mugful of rich, orange hot chocolate.

Recipe: Orange Hot Chocolate

In kids' stories about the gingerbread man, the animated cookie gets up to a lot of mischief — it's easy to imagine that he might spot a cup of coffee and decide to go for a swim! And that's not a bad idea because the flavors of gingerbread are so delicious in coffee drinks like this easy latte. Warm up milk with ginger and other spices plus a little sugar, then add it to espresso or brewed coffee. Though they're an optional ingredient, mini gingerbread men (like the ones available at Trader Joe's) make for an adorable garnish. 

Recipe: Gingerbread Latte

Make a treat for yourself this holiday season with a mug of spiced hot chocolate that's ready in a flash using your microwave. The cocoa is made with chocolate chips melted into milk (regular or dairy-free) along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and chili powder. This recipe goes heavier on the cinnamon, but you can adjust the spices to your liking. Top your hot chocolate with whipped cream or marshmallows. You can even add in a splash of spiced rum or bourbon if you're feeling frisky.

Recipe: Spiced Hot Chocolate

It normally takes a long simmer on the stovetop to create a batch of mulled cider, but it can be done in just minutes using your Instant Pot. This recipe is also unique because you don't have to begin with a jug of cider: Apples, oranges, and cinnamon pressure cook together and then get mashed to create the spiced drink. Serve the spiced cider hot or cold, and store any leftovers in the fridge for later enjoyment.

Recipe: Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider