No one wants to play bartender at their own holiday get together, but you do want to impress your guests with fabulous cocktails. The answer is these make ahead holiday cocktail recipes, which are perfect for your Christmas Eve or Christmas guests, if you have them, or even your New Year’s festivities. With these drinks, you can sip and mingle, instead of shaking and stirring.
Top: White Christmas Margarita Punch | How Sweet Eats
Related: 12 prep ahead holiday cooking tricks to ease last minute stress (and cleanup!) in the kitchen.
The Blood Orange Mimosa Pitcher Cocktail at The Kitchn is perfect for your holiday brunch parties. Blood Oranges are so lovely in the winter and the deep orange color fancies up a traditional mimosa made with regular OJ. You can use fresh blood orange juice or find good bottled juice to top your favorite Prosecco.
Maple syrup, ginger, and cinnamon make this Sparkling Apple Bourbon Sangria cocktail at Vanilla and Bean perfect for a wintery holiday get together. The best thing about this cocktail — besides the taste, of course — is that it’s even better if you make it at least 12-18 hours in advance. It doesn’t get more “make ahead” than that!
For a warm version of sangria, we love Mulled Wine for holiday get togethers, especially our editor, Stacie’s recipe! Make a big batch of this mulled wine recipe, which is packed with citrus and boosted with holiday spices, and keep it warm all day for your guests. (She has a great tip for how to do that easily!) Plus, it makes your home smell divine.
Related: 12 holiday cocktail and mocktail recipes to make your parties merry and bright.
Punch is the ultimate make-ahead holiday cocktail and great for a large crowd. This Christmas Punch at Sugar and Soul is colorful and festive with cranberries, oranges, and pomegranates. Both rum and vodka would work with this mix of fruit juices.
If you’re a fan of eggnog and also love coconut, you have to try Coquito at least once — though be warned that you may never go back! The creamy coconut rum drink, essential to any Puerto Rican Christmas celebration, is rich, spicy, sweet, and so delicious. Make this version at The Noshery on Christmas morning, refrigerate, and it will be perfect for your celebration in the evening.
If you love a good Moscow Mule, then this Apple-Cranberry Moscow Mule at Heather Christo is the holiday version you’ll adore. The cranberries and apple give the classic a wintery twist. Plus, you can make this ahead and have guests help themselves to the pitcher for extra easy entertaining.
Related: The one genius shortcut that makes these 7 amazing holiday dinner recipes even easier.
I’m dreaming of a glass (or two) of this White Christmas Margarita Punch at How Sweet Eats. Tequila, Grand Marnier, rum, and coconut dressed up with fresh cranberries and rosemary for a festive holiday pop of color. Yes, please!
