12 Festive Christmas Drinks for Holiday Parties (Punches, Mocktails and Cocktails)

A good Christmas drink does a lot of work at a party: it looks festive on the table, it gives guests something to hold while they mingle, and if you batch it ahead you get to stop playing bartender.

These Christmas drinks start with six that are alcohol-free (two big-batch punches, a sparkling mocktail, a gingerbread latte, slow cooker wassail and a cooked eggnog) and finish with six cocktails for the grown-ups. Each one comes from a food blogger who shared the full recipe, so you get a quick overview here and the exact amounts on their page.

How to plan Christmas drinks for a crowd

Batch what you can

Punches, wassail, mulled wine and sangria all serve a crowd from one container. Mix the still parts ahead and add anything fizzy, like ginger ale, soda water or sparkling wine, right before guests pour so the drink does not go flat.

Label the drinks with alcohol

Put the zero-proof drinks and the cocktails in clearly separate containers or add a small sign, especially if kids are serving themselves. Several of the cocktails below also have an easy alcohol-free swap noted in the original posts.

Make eggnog the safe way

The USDA advises against eggnog made with eggs that are not thoroughly cooked. A cooked egg-and-milk base heated to 160°F, like the eggnog below, is the safer approach, and pasteurized eggs are the option for any recipe that uses eggs raw. USDA lists homemade eggnog as keeping 2 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Keep warm drinks warm and sherbet punch cold

Slow cooker drinks can stay on the low or warm setting during the party. Sherbet punches are best poured right after you build them, so keep extra juice and soda chilled and refill in smaller batches.

Alcohol-free Christmas drinks

1. Cranberry Christmas Punch

Cranberry and pineapple juice are mixed with a little almond extract, then topped with ginger ale and filled with fresh cranberries and lime slices. It is bright red, lightly fizzy and alcohol-free, and it looks especially pretty in a glass drink dispenser.

Quick ingredients

• Cranberry juice or pomegranate cranberry juice
• Pineapple juice
• Almond extract (leave it out if a guest has a tree-nut allergy concern)
• Ginger ale
• Fresh cranberries and sliced limes
• Ice

How to make it

1. Pour the cranberry juice, pineapple juice and almond extract into a large drink dispenser and stir.
2. Add the ginger ale and give it one quick stir.
3. Add the cranberries, lime slices and ice.
4. Serve within a few hours, before the ginger ale starts to go flat.

Get the full recipe: Cooking Classy.

2. Grinch Punch

A scoop of lime sherbet goes into each glass, then green fruit punch and lemon-lime soda are poured over the top so it turns frothy. The red sanding-sugar rim makes it a fun one for kids on movie night or at a class party.

Quick ingredients

• Lime sherbet
• Green fruit punch (the recipe uses Hawaiian Punch Green Berry Rush)
• Lemon-lime soda
• Green food coloring (optional)
• Red sanding sugar and corn syrup for the rims

How to make it

1. Spread corn syrup and red sanding sugar on two separate plates.
2. Dip each glass rim in the corn syrup and then in the sugar.
3. Add a scoop of lime sherbet to each glass.
4. Pour in the fruit punch and soda, add a drop of food coloring if you like, and stir gently.

Get the full recipe: Crayons & Cravings.

3. Sparkling Cranberry Rosemary Mocktail

A quick rosemary simple syrup is mixed with 100% cranberry juice and topped with soda water. It is tart, lightly sweet and grown-up looking in a coupe, which makes it a good zero-proof option to set out next to the cocktails.

Quick ingredients

• Sugar and water for the syrup
• Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Chilled 100% cranberry juice
• Chilled soda water

How to make it

1. Heat the sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, simmer briefly, then take it off the heat, add the rosemary and let it cool before straining.
2. Stir the cranberry juice and rosemary syrup together in a pitcher.
3. Divide it among glasses and top each one with soda water.
4. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and serve.

Get the full recipe: Luci’s Morsels.

4. Gingerbread Latte

A homemade gingerbread syrup made with brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg is stirred into coffee and topped with steamed milk and whipped cream. It is a cozy option for Christmas morning or a dessert table, and decaf works if you are serving it late.

Quick ingredients

• Brown sugar and water
• Ground ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg
• Vanilla extract
• Brewed coffee or espresso
• Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
• Whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for the top

How to make it

1. Simmer the brown sugar, water, spices and vanilla for about 5 minutes, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then let the syrup cool.
2. Brew the coffee or espresso.
3. Heat the milk until steaming but not boiling, or froth it.
4. Stir the syrup into the coffee, pour in the milk, and finish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of spice. Refrigerate leftover syrup in a sealed container.

Get the full recipe: Made In A Pinch.

5. Slow Cooker Wassail

Cranberry juice, orange juice concentrate, apple cider and lemon juice are warmed with cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg until the whole house smells like the holidays. It is alcohol-free as written, and the post notes that adults can add a splash of wine, brandy or rum to their own mugs.

Quick ingredients

• Cranberry juice
• Frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• Apple cider
• Sugar and lemon juice
• Water or brewed black tea
• Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, ground nutmeg and optional star anise
• Orange and apple slices for floating on top

How to make it

1. Add everything to a 6-quart slow cooker and stir. Wrapping the whole spices in cheesecloth makes them easier to remove.
2. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, until hot.
3. Lift out the spices before serving.
4. Float orange and apple slices on top and ladle into mugs.

Get the full recipe: Slow Cooked Eats.

6. Homemade Cooked Eggnog

This eggnog is a stovetop custard: egg yolks and sugar are tempered with hot spiced milk and cooked until the mixture thickens and reaches 160°F, then cream, vanilla and nutmeg go in. The bourbon and rum are optional, so you can keep a batch kid-friendly.

Quick ingredients

• Egg yolks and sugar
• Milk, whole cloves and a pinch of cinnamon
• Heavy cream
• Vanilla extract and freshly grated nutmeg
• Bourbon and rum (optional)

How to make it

1. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Heat the milk with the cloves and cinnamon until steamy, then slowly whisk half of it into the yolks and pour everything back into the pan.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it coats the back of a spoon and reaches 160°F. Do not let it boil.
4. Take it off the heat, stir in the cream, strain and chill. Stir in the vanilla, nutmeg and any spirits before serving. The original post also has an optional step that folds in raw whipped egg whites. The USDA advises against eating raw eggs, so skip that step, use pasteurized eggs, or follow the post’s tip to reheat the combined mixture to 160°F before chilling. This matters most for children, older adults, pregnant guests and anyone with a weakened immune system.

Get the full recipe: Simply Recipes.

Christmas cocktails for the grown-ups

7. Mulled Wine

Dry red wine is simmered gently with apple cider, orange zest and juice, cloves, star anise and cinnamon sticks. The cider adds sweetness without extra sugar, and a little fresh ginger juice is an optional extra kick.

Quick ingredients

• 1 bottle dry red wine, such as merlot
• Apple cider
• 1 orange (zest strips, juice and slices for garnish)
• Whole cloves, star anise and cinnamon sticks
• Ginger juice (optional)
• Rosemary and cranberries for garnish

How to make it

1. Peel a few strips of zest from half the orange and slice the other half into rounds for serving.
2. Combine the wine, cider, orange juice, zest and spices in a saucepan.
3. Bring to a simmer, then keep it on low for 20 to 30 minutes without letting it boil.
4. Stir in ginger juice if using, adjust with more cider or spice, then strain and serve with orange slices and a cinnamon stick.

Get the full recipe: Love and Lemons.

8. Cranberry Moscow Mule

This “yule mule” adds unsweetened cranberry juice and a little simple syrup to the classic vodka, lime and ginger beer combination. It is served over ice in a copper mug, and the original post includes a pitcher version for six.

Quick ingredients

• Unsweetened cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail)
• Vodka
• Simple syrup
• Fresh lime juice
• Ginger beer
• Lime wedges, cranberries and rosemary for garnish

How to make it

1. Fill a copper mug or glass with ice.
2. Add the cranberry juice, vodka, simple syrup and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer and stir to combine.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge, cranberries and a rosemary sprig and serve right away.

Get the full recipe: The Speckled Palate.

9. Poinsettia Cocktail

Triple sec and cranberry juice are shaken with ice, poured into a flute and topped with chilled Champagne. Sugared cranberries and a rosemary sprig make it look dressed up for a Christmas Eve toast, and the post suggests orange juice with sparkling apple cider for an alcohol-free version.

Quick ingredients

• Triple sec
• Unsweetened cranberry juice
• Chilled Champagne or other sparkling wine
• Sugared, frozen or fresh cranberries
• Fresh rosemary

How to make it

1. Chill the Champagne for a few hours before you start.
2. Shake the triple sec and cranberry juice with ice.
3. Strain into a Champagne flute and top with the sparkling wine.
4. Garnish with cranberries on a pick or a sprig of rosemary.

Get the full recipe: Feast + West.

10. White Christmas Sangria

White wine, ginger beer and a splash of pear brandy soak with sliced pears, cranberries and star anise for a few hours. It is a make-ahead pitcher drink, and frozen cranberries keep each glass cold without watering it down.

Quick ingredients

• Dry white wine, such as Riesling or Pinot Grigio
• Ginger beer
• Pear brandy
• Sugar
• Thinly sliced Bartlett pears
• Fresh or frozen cranberries
• Star anise and rosemary for garnish

How to make it

1. Add the pears and cranberries to a large pitcher.
2. Pour in the wine, ginger beer, brandy and sugar and stir.
3. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
4. Pour into chilled glasses, top with more ginger beer if you like, and garnish with rosemary, star anise and frozen cranberries. The post recommends drinking it within 2 days.

Get the full recipe: The Crumby Kitchen.

11. Peppermint White Russian

Equal parts peppermint coffee liqueur, peppermint cream liqueur and vodka are poured over ice and finished with a layer of heavy cream. A crushed candy cane rim, held on with a little melted white chocolate, makes it look like dessert in a glass.

Quick ingredients

• Peppermint Kahlúa (or regular coffee liqueur)
• Peppermint cream liqueur
• Vodka
• Heavy cream
• Crushed candy canes and white chocolate for the rim (optional)

How to make it

1. Dip the rim of a rocks glass in melted white chocolate and then in crushed candy cane, if using.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Pour in equal parts coffee liqueur, peppermint cream liqueur and vodka.
4. Top with heavy cream and serve.

Get the full recipe: Sweet ReciPEAs.

12. Hot Buttered Rum

A spiced butter and brown sugar batter is made ahead and kept in the fridge, so each warm drink takes about a minute: batter, dark rum and boiling water in a mug. The post notes the batter keeps for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator or longer in the freezer.

Quick ingredients

• Softened butter
• Light brown sugar
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and a pinch of cloves
• Dark rum
• Boiling water
• A splash of half and half or cream (optional)

How to make it

1. Cream the butter, brown sugar and spices together.
2. Chill for an hour or two, until almost firm.
3. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of batter into a mug, add the rum and pour boiling water over the top.
4. Stir until the batter melts, adjust the rum and water to taste, and add a splash of cream if you like.

Get the full recipe: Barefeet in the Kitchen.

Christmas drinks FAQ

What are good non-alcoholic Christmas drinks for a party?

The cranberry punch, Grinch punch, rosemary mocktail, gingerbread latte and wassail are alcohol-free as written, and the eggnog works without the bourbon and rum. The poinsettia can also be made alcohol-free with orange juice and sparkling apple cider, as the original post suggests.

Which Christmas drinks can I make ahead?

Mix the juices for the punch, the mocktail syrup, the gingerbread syrup, the eggnog base, the sangria and the hot buttered rum batter ahead of time and keep them refrigerated. Add ginger ale, soda water, sherbet or sparkling wine just before serving.

How do I keep homemade eggnog safe?

Cook the egg-and-milk base until it reaches 160°F, like the eggnog above, or use pasteurized eggs in any recipe that calls for raw eggs. The USDA lists homemade eggnog as keeping 2 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

How do I serve warm drinks to a crowd?

Wassail can be made and held in the slow cooker. Mulled wine can be made on the stovetop and moved to a slow cooker on a low or warm setting so it stays hot without boiling.

If you are building a whole Christmas menu, pour these next to easy Christmas appetizers, easy Christmas desserts and a Christmas charcuterie board. For a cozy cup station with toppings, see these hot cocoa bar ideas, and save the original recipes above for the exact amounts.