Favorite Party SIPS
These holiday season, it’s safe to say a signature cocktail is a must at any gathering. You won’t go wrong with one of the following delicious ideas to please your guests — and even yourself!
Pomegranate Martini
Serves 4
Ingredients:
¼ cup sugar
¾ cup vodka
½ cup pome
granate juice
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
¼ cup triple sec Lime slices, for garnish
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and ¼ cup water to a simmer. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the vodka, juices and Cointreau. Add 2 cups ice and stir until well chilled.
3. Strain the martinis into chilled martini glasses; garnish each with a lime slice.
Hot Buttered Rum
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.
¼ cup honey
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
Pinch salt
¾ cup spiced rum
2 cups boiling water
4 sticks cinnamon, for garnish
Directions:
1. Using an electric mixer, beat brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a medium bowl until blended and smooth.
2. Transfer the mixture to a 4-cup (or larger) measuring cup. Add the rum and 2 cups of boiling water. Stir until the butter mixture dissolves.
3. Divide the buttered rum among four mugs. Garnish with the cinnamon sticks and serve.
Mulled Wine With Cranberries
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1½ cups cranberry juice cocktail ½ cup sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 2 pieces star anise 3 cups dry red wine (such as merlot or
cabernet sauvignon) ½ cup fresh cranberries
Directions:
1. In a large saucepan, combine the cranberry juice cocktail, sugar, cinnamon sticks and star anise. Simmer for 15 minutes. 2. Stir in the wine and cranberries and bring back to a simmer. Serve warm.
Candy Cane Cocktail
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 shot vanilla rum 1 shot white choco
late liqueur (such as Godiva) 1 shot peppermint
schnapps Candy cane, for
garnish
Directions:
1. Add all liquid ingredients to cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into martini glass.
3. Garnish with candy cane.
Easy Blender Eggnog
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
4 large eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon freshly grated
nutmeg; more for sprinkling
4 ounces brandy
4 ounces spiced rum
12 ounces whole milk
8 ounces heavy cream
Directions:
1. Crack eggs into blender and process for one minute on medium speed. Slowly add sugar and blend for one more minute.
2. With blender running, add remaining ingredients until combined. Refrigerate for at least one hour (up to overnight).
3. Serve in chilled wine glasses, grating nutmeg on top. If multiplying recipe, use a stand mixer.
Spicy Cranberry-Orange Christmas Punch
Serves happy people
Ingredients:
½ cup white sugar
2 cups orange juice
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 (4-oz) jar maraschino cherries, with juice
1 ounce triple sec 1 (750-mil.) bottle light rum
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1 lemon, sliced into rounds
1 (8-ounce) can pineapple chunks
1 liter carbonated water
Directions:
1. In a punch bowl, combine sugar, orange juice and lemon juice. Stir until sugar dissolves.
2. Add cherries, triple sec, light rum, orange slices, lemon slices and pineapple chunks. Refrigerate for one to two hours to allow flavors to blend.
3. Pour in carbonated water, and add ice just before serving.