Holiday Drinks

Hope you had a great weekend!  We had our annual Tacky Christmas Sweater/Cookie Decorating Party.  I’m going to share with you some drink ideas for the holidays that we served at the party…

The first one I call “Jingle Juice”.  My aunt actually served it at Thanksgiving so that’s where I got the idea but for the Christmas holiday I call it “Jingle Juice”.  It’s a BEAUTIFUL cocktail because of the fresh cranberries floating at the top!  Here are a few close up pictures of how we served it at the party and the recipe…

Reindeer glasses from Pottery Barn

I like to label everything!  This is a peel and stick pre-cut chalk label from Hobby Lobby and I stuck it on a Crane & Co place card so that it would stand on its own.  The straws are from Target.

 

My next favorite, and a staple around our house in December is “Milk Punch”!  This year I found these ADORABLE, old fashioned, mini-milk jars at Target to serve them in, 2 for $3!!!!!!!!  They are real glass and can go in the dishwasher.  Here are a few pictures of how I served the Milk Punch this year and the recipe…

These are made of glass, they came with a silver screw top lid, and they can go in the dishwasher!!!

There are SEVERAL different ways to make Milk Punch but this is how we make it…

Ingredients:
-2oz bourbon whiskey
-3oz half and half
-1tsp sugar
-1/4 tsp vanilla extract
-1/4 tsp nutmeg
-1 tbsp powdered sugar
-crushed ice

Directions:
Shake all ingredients well in a cocktail shaker, pour over ice to serve

Last but not least, some good ole hot chocolate by the fire!  We didn’t serve hot chocolate at the party because by the time the cookies were decorated, more sugar was the last thing anyone needed!  But, my husband and I enjoy hot chocolate often during this time of year.  I remember when I was pregnant, he made it for me so much that he had the timing in the microwave down to the very second to where it was the perfect temperature and ready to drink right when it came out!  We usually use the typical packets of swiss miss powdered hot chocolate but I’ve been dying to try this recipe for homemade hot chocolate.  It is supposedly a replica of the Starbucks hot chocolate which is TO DIE FOR…

Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp unsweetened coco powder
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups milk (I prefer whole milk for hot coco)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
whip cream to garnish

Directions:
1.  combine the water, coco, & sugar in a 16 oz microwave safe pitcher
2.  microwave for 30 secs or until hot.  stir well to make a chocolate syrup mixture
3. add the milk to this chocolate syrup mixture and microwave for 1 1/2 mins or until hot
4. add vanilla and pour into a 16oz mug
5.  add whip cream on top for garnish if you desire

Makes a “grande” size hot coco at Starbucks!