Recipes: Holiday Spirits

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Cheers! You’ll want to raise your glass and toast the holidays with this creative collection of festive cocktails.

What goes perfectly with your libations? Batches of addictive Maple Spiced Nuts (link: http://www.bitememore.com/feedme/381/maple-spiced-nuts) and Cumin Roasted Cashews (link: http://www.bitememore.com/feedme/379/cumin-roasted-cashews), of course.

Candy Cane Martini

Martinis and mistletoe! Let the merrymaking begin with this perfect, easy and delicious Candy Cane Martini, a holiday cocktail that combines vanilla vodka with white chocolate liqueur and peppermint

 

INGREDIENTS

2oz Vanilla Vodka
1oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
½ oz White Crème de Cacao
½ oz Peppermint Schnapps

Light corn syrup, to rim the glass
Crushed candy canes, to rim the glass

DIRECTIONS

To rim the martini glass, spread a thin layer of corn syrup around the rim of the glass and press crushed canes around rim.

Fill a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Add vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur, white crème de cacao and peppermint schnapps. Shake and strain into prepared glass.

Serves 1

Up next: White Cranberry & Apple Sangria

White Cranberry & Apple Sangria

Looking for a party-in-a-pitcher? You’ve found it with this incredibly tasty White Cranberry & Apple Sangria recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup white/light rum
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup diced red apples
1 cup diced green apples
1 cup frozen cranberries
1 (750mL) bottle white wine, such as Torrontes, Pinot Grigio or Riesling
1 cup white cranberry juice
2 cups cold club soda

DIRECTIONS

1) In a large pitcher, combine rum and sugar, stirring to dissolve. Add apples, cranberries, white wine and white cranberry juice. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.

2) To serve, add club soda to pitcher, stirring to combine. Pour into ice-filled glasses and add some of the fruit from the pitcher.

Serves 6

Up next: Spiced mulled red wine

Spiced Mulled Red Wine

The gloves are off (literally) as we sip on this warming, wondrous and perfect-for-the-holidays Spiced Mulled Wine.

INGREDIENTS

1 (750mL) bottle dry red wine, such as Cabernet or Merlot
8 tbsp brown sugar
1 orange, sliced
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise

4 cinnamon sticks, for garnish
1 sliced orange, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1) In a large saucepan, combine red wine and brown sugar over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.

2) Once sugar has dissolved, add 1 sliced orange, cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks and star anise. Simmer for 20 minutes, careful not to boil wine.

3) Strain wine through a mesh sieve and let cool slightly before serving, along with cinnamon sticks and orange slices.

Makes 4 mulled wine cocktails

Up next: A Festive Christmas Shot

A Festive Christmas Shot

Looking for some extra cheer this holiday season? This shooter will help you decking the halls!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 oz grenadine syrup
1/2 oz green creme de menthe
1/2 oz peppermint schnapps

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a shot glass.

Yield: 1 shot

Up next: Hot Toddy Recipe

Hot Toddy Recipe

Feeling stressed or under the weather? We’ve got the instant cure in this soothing Hot Toddy recipe. A sip of this nice and warm boozy beverage of brandy, lemon, honey, ginger and cinnamon, will have you on the mend in no time.

INGREDIENTS

2 oz brandy
1tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp honey
1 cinnamon stick
1 slice lemon
1 slice fresh ginger

DIRECTIONS

Using a clear glass mug, combine brandy, lemon juice and honey. Fill glass with boiling water and stir well to combine. Add cinnamon stick, lemon slice and ginger to mug.

Serves 1

Up next: Hot Chocolate Shots Recipe

In a medium saucepan, whisk together cocoa powder and brown sugar. Over medium heat, whisk in ¼ cup milk and semi-sweet chocolate, continuously whisking until melted. Add remaining 1 cup milk and heat through. Remove from heat and stir in bourbon and Grand Marnier. Pour into shot glasses and top with whipped cream and orange zest.

Yield: 4 Shots