While almost everything about the way we celebrate Christmas and New Year’s looks very different this year, one thing remains the same – we’re all still craving a festive drink to have in hand.
Toasting a glass to surviving the turbulent year we’ve faced, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite festive cocktail and mocktail recipes below.
Mulled Wine
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You will need:
- 750ml bottle red wine
- 1 large cinnamon stick, or 2 small ones
- 2 star anise
- 4 cloves
- 2 strips lemon zest, pared using a vegetable peeler
- 4 tbsp caster sugar
Method:
- Mix together red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Place on a low heat for 10 minutes.
- Once heated, remove from heat and allow to infuse for 30 minutes.
- To serve simply pour into mugs and garnish as desired.
Amaretto Sour
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You will need:
- 200ml amaretto
- 3-4 lemons, juiced (you will need 120ml)
- 1 egg white
- small jar or can of cherries in syrup
- Ice
Method:
- Place the amaretto, lemon juice, egg white and 4 tsp of the cherry syrup into a blender, or mix with a cocktail shaker.
- Whiz or mix together until it is pale and increasing in volume. Then add in ice if desired, and continued to whiz slowly until the mixture is cold.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with cherries.
Mulled Apple Juice
You will need:
- 1litre of apple juice
- strips of orange peel
- 1 cinnamon stick , plus extra to garnish, if you like
- 3 cloves
- sugar or honey, to taste
Method:
- Much similar to mulled wine, begin by place apple juice strips of orange peel, cinnamon stick and cloves into a pan and simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes.
- Sweeten if needed, and serve accordignly. Garnish with orange peelings.
Christmas Cream Liqueur
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You will need:
- 300g dulce de leche
- 1 tbsp instant coffee dissolved in 1 tbsp boiling water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 300ml brandy
- 284ml pot single cream
Method:
- Spoon the dulce de leche into a mixing bowl and whisk in coffee, vanilla, and brandy until smooth.
- Stir in cream until mixed well.
- Serve in liqueur glasses over ice. Store extra mixture in sterilised bottles for up to 2 weeks.
Christmas Coffee
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You will need:
- 4 tbsp ground coffee
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 2 pitted dates
- pinch of ground nutmeg
- 2 cloves
- Strip of pared orange zest
Method:
- Add ground coffee, dates, ground nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest into a cafetiere. Pour over freshly boiled water.
- Combine together by gently stirring with a wooden spoon, and steep for 4 minutes.
- Slowly pushing down the plunger, serve in espresso cups.