18 Christmas Drinks for Your Holiday Party: Cocktails, Punches, and Mocktails

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A great holiday drink sets the mood the moment guests walk in. It might be a pot of mulled wine on the stove, a sparkling punch bowl on the buffet, or a pretty mocktail so everyone has something festive to hold.

This list has warm mugs for cold nights, big-batch punches for a crowd, sparkling cocktails for a toast, creamy dessert drinks, and plenty of non-alcoholic options. Every recipe comes from a food or cocktail blogger we love, with their photo and a link to the full recipe.

How to Choose Your Christmas Drinks

• Warm and cozy: Glühwein (No. 1), wassail (No. 2), peppermint hot chocolate (No. 4), or a hot toddy (No. 6).
• Big batches for a crowd: cranberry sangria (No. 7), Champagne punch (No. 8), or the easy Christmas punch (No. 9).
• Sparkling and toast-worthy: the poinsettia (No. 10), cranberry gin fizz (No. 11), or cranberry ginger sparkler (No. 12).
• After-dinner and dessert drinks: peppermint espresso martini (No. 14) or White Christmas martini (No. 15).
• Alcohol-free: Kinderpunsch (No. 3), the hot spiced cranberry orange mocktail (No. 5), the Merry Mocktail (No. 17), and Cran Passion Sparklers (No. 18). The easy Christmas punch (No. 9) and the Christmas Moscow mule (No. 13) have alcohol-free options too.

Holiday Bar Essentials

• A stainless steel cocktail shaker: for martinis, fizzes, and sours
• A double jigger: for measuring pours so every drink tastes the same
• A Hawthorne cocktail strainer: keeps ice and herbs out of the glass
• A glass punch bowl set with ladle: the centerpiece for big-batch punch
• Clear glass mugs: show off the color of mulled wine and cider
• Champagne flutes: for poinsettias and Champagne toasts
• Fine-mesh strainers: for straining spices out of syrups and mulled drinks

1. Glühwein (German Mulled Wine)

A bottle of red wine warms gently with fresh orange slices, orange juice, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and a vanilla bean, then gets a little brown sugar and a splash of rum. It is the Christmas-market classic, and it is ready in about 15 minutes.

Keep it gentle: Heat the wine until it steams but never let it boil, or the alcohol cooks off and the spices turn bitter.

Batch tip: Keep it on the lowest setting of a slow cooker so guests can ladle their own.

Tools you need: clear glass mugs, a stainless steel ladle, and fine-mesh strainers

👉 Get the recipe at Plated Cravings

2. Wassail

Apple cider simmers low and slow with cinnamon sticks, a whole nutmeg, allspice berries, sliced apples and oranges, and a clove-studded pomander orange that is baked first. Your whole house will smell like Christmas while it steeps.

Make it sweeter: Taste at the end and stir in simple syrup a little at a time.

Make it boozy: Add a splash of brandy or spiced rum to each mug, not to the pot, so kids can have some too.

Tools you need: an enameled cast iron Dutch oven, a stainless steel ladle, and clear glass mugs

👉 Get the recipe at My Baking Addiction

3. Kinderpunsch (German Christmas Punch)

Kinderpunsch is the alcohol-free cousin of Glühwein served at German Christmas markets. Apple, orange, and cherry juices simmer with cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, then hibiscus tea steeps in for a deep ruby color and a gentle tartness. A drizzle of honey finishes it.

Kid-friendly: It is completely alcohol-free, so it is perfect for family gatherings.

Swap it: No cherry juice? Use more apple or orange juice instead.

Tools you need: a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan, clear glass mugs, and a stainless steel ladle

👉 Get the recipe at The Daring Gourmet

4. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Whole milk and half-and-half heat with Dutch-process cocoa, sugar, and a pinch of salt, then chopped semisweet chocolate melts in for a rich, real-chocolate sip. Vanilla and a careful dash of peppermint extract make it taste like a candy cane.

Go easy on the mint: Start with 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract, taste, then add more. It is strong.

Toppings: Whipped cream, crushed candy canes, and mini marshmallows.

Tools you need: a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan, a balloon whisk, and clear glass mugs

👉 Get the recipe at The Anthony Kitchen

5. Hot Spiced Cranberry Orange Mocktail

Cranberry and orange juice warm with a cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and fresh ginger slices. Glasses get an orange-sugar rim and a little skewer of dried cranberries and folded orange peel. Add an optional shot of gin to the adult glasses.

Serve it warm, not hot: Serve the kids’ glasses a little cooler.

Prep ahead: Make the orange sugar and the garnish skewers earlier in the day.

Tools you need: a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan, a Microplane zester, and fine-mesh strainers

👉 Get the recipe at The Gingered Whisk

6. Easy Hot Toddy

Boiling water poured over cloves and star anise, then honey, fresh lemon juice, and a shot of whiskey. You can use brandy, rum, or bourbon instead. It takes five minutes and is the coziest nightcap on a cold December evening.

Make it your own: Use your favorite honey; darker honey gives a deeper flavor.

Garnish: A lemon wheel and a cinnamon stick.

Tools you need: clear glass mugs and a double jigger

👉 Get the recipe at The Dinner Bite

7. Christmas Cranberry Sangria

Cranberries simmer with sugar, water, orange peel, rosemary, and star anise into a bright ruby syrup. The syrup is strained over ice and topped with a bottle of Prosecco and some soda water. Orange slices and rosemary make it look like Christmas in a pitcher.

Make-ahead: Make the syrup up to a few days ahead and keep it chilled; add the bubbles right before serving.

Lighter version: Use more soda water and less Prosecco.

Tools you need: a 2-liter glass pitcher, a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan, and fine-mesh strainers

👉 Get the recipe at Simply Delicious

8. Pomegranate Cranberry Champagne Punch

A quick homemade cranberry juice (cranberries simmered with sugar and water) joins pomegranate juice, orange juice, and triple sec in a punch bowl. A whole bottle of Champagne goes in right before serving, with rosemary sprigs, orange slices, and cranberries floating on top.

Fancy ice: Freeze some of the punch in ice cube trays with cranberries and rosemary so the punch doesn’t get watered down.

For the kids: Top their glasses with sparkling water or sparkling apple juice instead of Champagne.

Tools you need: a glass punch bowl set with ladle, a stainless steel ladle, and champagne flutes

👉 Get the recipe at Chef Savvy

9. Easy Christmas Punch

Cranberry juice, orange juice, and apple cider stirred together in a punch bowl with fresh cranberries, sliced orange, and optional star anise and vanilla bean. It takes 15 minutes and serves a crowd. For an adult version, add a shot of vodka to each glass.

Why it works: The base is alcohol-free, so one bowl works for everyone.

Serve it: Over plenty of ice with a cinnamon stick in each glass.

Tools you need: a glass punch bowl set with ladle, a stainless steel ladle, and a double jigger

👉 Get the recipe at Erren's Kitchen

10. Poinsettia Cocktail

Cointreau and 100% cranberry juice are shaken with ice, strained into a flute, and topped with Champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with rosemary, fresh cranberries, and a lime wedge. It is a festive red sparkler that takes five minutes.

Best for: Christmas morning brunch or a New Year’s Eve toast.

Swap it: Use any orange liqueur you have on hand.

Tools you need: a stainless steel cocktail shaker, champagne flutes, and a double jigger

👉 Get the recipe at The Wicked Noodle

11. Cranberry Gin Fizz

A quick homemade cranberry simple syrup is shaken with gin, fresh lemon juice, orange bitters, and an egg white, then topped with club soda for a tall, frothy, blush-pink fizz. The syrup makes enough for about 16 drinks.

Food safety: The egg white is raw, so use pasteurized egg whites, especially for anyone pregnant, elderly, or immune-compromised.

The trick: Dry-shake without ice first to build the foam, then shake again with ice.

Tools you need: a stainless steel cocktail shaker, a double jigger, and a Hawthorne cocktail strainer

👉 Get the recipe at Wholefully

12. Cranberry Ginger Sparkler

Fresh ginger is muddled with grapefruit and lemon juice, then shaken with gin, cranberry juice, and simple syrup. It is strained into a coupe and topped with sparkling wine. It is a little tart, a little spicy, and very pretty.

Garnish: A grapefruit slice, a rosemary sprig, and a few whole cranberries.

Make it a mocktail: Skip the gin and top with sparkling water instead of wine.

Tools you need: a cocktail muddler, a stainless steel cocktail shaker, and coupe cocktail glasses

👉 Get the recipe at Craft and Cocktails

13. Merry Christmas Moscow Mule

A quick homemade ginger syrup, fresh sage, and sliced ginger are muddled together, then mixed with vodka, pomegranate juice, and lime. Everything gets poured over ice in a copper mug and topped with ginger beer. The recipe includes a mocktail version too.

Make-ahead: The ginger syrup keeps in the fridge, so make it a few days early.

Garnish: Pomegranate seeds and a sprig of sage.

Tools you need: copper Moscow mule mugs, a cocktail muddler, and a double jigger

👉 Get the recipe at Sweet Tea + Thyme

14. Peppermint Espresso Martini

Espresso, Baileys, vodka, and coffee liqueur are shaken hard with a touch of simple syrup and a drop or two of peppermint oil. The glass gets a chocolate rim dipped in crushed peppermint candies. It is dessert and an after-dinner coffee in one glass.

Prep tip: Rim the glasses ahead and chill them so the chocolate sets.

Get the foam: Shake until the shaker is frosty for that signature foamy top.

Tools you need: a stainless steel cocktail shaker, coupe cocktail glasses, and a double jigger

👉 Get the recipe at Joyful Healthy Eats

15. White Christmas Martini

Only three ingredients: RumChata, vanilla vodka, and sweetened condensed milk, stirred over ice and strained into a garnished glass. It tastes like a snowy, cinnamon-vanilla milkshake for grown-ups.

Garnish: Rim the glass with sanding sugar or crushed white chocolate for a snowy look.

Sip slowly: It is creamy and sweet, so serve small pours.

Tools you need: a stainless steel cocktail shaker, a Hawthorne cocktail strainer, and coupe cocktail glasses

👉 Get the recipe at Shake Drink Repeat

16. Lemon Drop Jolly Pops

A lemon drop with a festive red twist: cranberry-raspberry juice, triple sec, vodka, fresh lemon, and a squeeze of lime, shaken with plenty of ice and poured into sugar-rimmed martini glasses. The recipe makes two.

Fresh is best: Use fresh lemon and lime juice, not bottled, for the brightest flavor.

Sugar rim: Run a citrus wedge around the rim, then dip it in sugar.

Tools you need: a stainless steel cocktail shaker, a double jigger, and a Microplane zester

👉 Get the recipe at Life As A Strawberry

17. The Merry Mocktail (Rosemary Pomegranate Spritzer)

A batch of rosemary simple syrup, made with an optional pinch of cloves, is poured over a big ice ball with pomegranate juice and topped with club soda. It feels just as special as a cocktail, and the syrup makes enough for 15 to 20 drinks.

Swap it: Cranberry juice works in place of pomegranate.

Gift idea: Bottle extra rosemary syrup as a hostess gift.

Tools you need: sphere ice molds, a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan, and fine-mesh strainers

👉 Get the recipe at Pinch of Yum

18. Cran Passion Sparklers

Just three ingredients: frozen passion fruit juice concentrate, cranberry juice cocktail, and sparkling water, stirred together in a pitcher and poured over a few raspberries or blackberries. It takes five minutes and is a fun, fruity non-alcoholic option for the kids’ table.

Make-ahead: Mix the juices and chill; add the sparkling water just before serving.

Make it boozy: Swap the sparkling water for Prosecco for the adults.

Tools you need: a 2-liter glass pitcher and champagne flutes

👉 Get the recipe at Bakerita

Tips for Serving Christmas Drinks

• Batch what you can. Make simple syrups, cranberry syrup, and ginger syrup a few days ahead and keep them chilled. Add sparkling wine, soda, or ginger beer right before serving so it stays bubbly.
• Keep warm drinks warm, not boiling. Mulled wine and cider can sit on the lowest setting of a slow cooker all party long.
• Always offer an alcohol-free option. Kinderpunsch, the Merry Mocktail, or a punch served without the spirits means everyone gets a festive glass.
• Food safety: drinks made with raw egg white, like the gin fizz, are safest with pasteurized egg whites. Homemade eggnog should be cooked to 160°F.
• Drink responsibly. Serve plenty of water and food, and help guests get home safely.

Pick one warm drink, one big-batch punch, and one mocktail, and your holiday bar is set. Pair them with our Christmas appetizers and finish with a few Christmas desserts. Click through to each creator’s full recipe for exact amounts and steps.

You might also like: homemade eggnog, sugared cranberries, and Christmas cookie recipes.