It’s no different at this time of year when I’m getting ready for the festivities. Christmas vodka cocktails are the treats I like to offer myself and, though it’s the vodka that steals my heart every time, it’s the contemporary tradition of adding seasonal embellishments like cranberry, cinnamon and peppermint that appeals to me.
So, whether I’m hosting parties to kick off the festivities, as long as my ice-bucket is primed with the key ingredients, I can conjure an array of special cocktails that never fail to add an extra festive sheen.
Here are some of my favorite Christmas vodka cocktails recipes – but take my word for it, they are all so easy and sure-fire hits they’ll impress all who try.
So, here goes … Christmas vodka cocktails.
The 17 Best Christmas vodka cocktails and recipes
1. Cranberry Vodka Spritzer
I am often asked to host parties and I love making a refreshing drink that can be enjoyed by everyone. I believe that a very good drink is cranberry juice, with a little bit of sweet and sour at the same time, mixed with the lime (for citrus flavor) and with a little splash of club soda to make the drink a bit fizzy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup club soda
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- Fresh cranberries, for garnish
- Lime wedges, for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Fill a large glass or cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes.
2. Pour in the cranberry juice, vodka, and lime juice.
3. Stir or shake well until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
4. Add club soda to the mixture and gently stir to combine.
5. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
6. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a lime wedge. Serve immediately.
2. Peppermint Vodka Martini
In order to make the best peppermint vodka martini, I like to start with my favorite vodka. I think that a high-quality vodka lays the foundation for a great cocktail.
Next, I throw in a splash of peppermint schnapps. I like the minty flavor that this brings.
I prefer my cocktail to have a subtle hint of sweet, so I add a little white crème de cacao. Lastly, the touch that truly finishes the whole process is a crushed candy cane rim – I never make mine without one!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
- 1 ounce white crème de cacao
- Crushed candy canes or peppermint candies for rimming
- Ice cubes
- Peppermint stick or candy cane for garnish
Instructions
1. Press the rim of a martini glass into crushed candy canes, dipping it first in water or light corn syrup.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
3. Add vodka, peppermint schnapps, and white crème de cacao to the shaker.
4. Shake well until the mixture is chilled, about 15-20 seconds.
5. Strain the mixture into the prepared martini glass.
6. Garnish with a peppermint stick or candy cane and serve immediately.
3. Mistletoe Mule
This simple cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, cranberry juice, a garnish of cranberries, and rosemary sprig adds something special to any occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 4 oz ginger beer
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- Juice of half a lime
- Fresh cranberries (for garnish)
- Sprig of rosemary (for garnish)
- Ice
Instructions
1. Fill a mule mug or glass with ice.
2. Pour in the vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer and gently stir to combine.
4. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive Mistletoe Mule!
4. Gingerbread Vodka Sour
Here’s one of my favorite seasonal cocktail recipes: Mix equal parts of spicy gingerbread syrup, a glug of vodka, a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a few drops of aromatic bitters.
I think what you’ve got there is a very appealingly comforting seasonal beverage.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz gingerbread syrup
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 egg white (optional)
- Ice cubes
- Ground cinnamon (for garnish)
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
Instructions
1.Shake together the vodka, gingerbread syrup, fresh lemon juice and egg white (if you are using one).
2. Give it a dry shake (no ice) for about 15 seconds to whip the egg white into an emulsion.
3. Pour ice cubes into the shaker and shake again until well-chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a coupe or rocks glass.
5. Garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and a lemon twist.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy!
5. Spiced Cranberry Vodka Punch
My favorite thing about holiday parties is making a beautiful beverage that everyone can enjoy, especially when it involves fresh cranberries and orange slices – add some cinnamon and a splash of cranberry juice and you have something that is both refreshing and perfectly spiced!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1/4 cup triple sec
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- Fresh cranberries and orange slices for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Mix the cranberry juice, orange juice, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup in a pitcher. Stir until all the ingredients are combined.
2. Add the ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and mix well so that all the spices are incorporated.
3. Refrigerate mixture for at least 1 hour to marinate the flavors.
4. Just before serving, add sparkling water to the pitcher and gently stir.
5. Add ice cubes to glasses and pour over the Spiced Cranberry Vodka Punch.
6. Garnish with fresh cranberries and orange slices before serving.
6. Candy Cane Vodka Cooler
Peppermint vodka and just a splash of cranberry juice – I love the festive minty flavor.
I like to add some lime and a splash of soda water, too. Mine is topped off with sprinkle of crushed candy cane around the rim.
It’s as pretty as it is invigorating.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup peppermint schnapps
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Candy canes, for garnish
- Fresh mint leaves, for garnish
- Club soda, optional
Instructions
1. Combine vodka, peppermint schnapps, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice in a big pitcher.
2. Stir the mixture well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
3.Make up four glasses with ice cubes and pour in the cocktail mixture.
4. Opt a club soda for a fizz and top off each glass.
5. Garnish each drink with a candy cane and fresh mint leaves.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive Candy Cane Vodka Cooler!
7. Holiday Vodka Sour
Ingredients
2 oz vodka
1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz cranberry juice
1/4 oz amaretto liqueur
Ice
Lemon wheel or cranberries for garnish
Instructions
1.Mix the vodka with the lemon juice, simple syrup, cranberry juice and amaretto liqueur in a cocktail shaker.
2. Throw a bunch of ice in the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill.
3. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a lemon wheel or fresh cranberries as desired.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive Holiday Vodka Sour!
8. White Christmas Cosmo
At Christmastime I like to make a fancy, sparkling cocktail for entertaining, with cranberry juice, triple sec and a little lime juice, shaken together, served on ice with a dash of white cranberry juice.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz St. Germain (elderflower liqueur)
- 1 oz white cranberry juice
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- Ice cubes
- Sugar for rimming the glass
- Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions:
1 First, moisten the rim of your martini glass with a lime wedge and dip in sugar.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
3. Pour vodka, St. Germain liqueur, white cranberry juice and fresh lime juice into the shaker.
4. Shake well until the mixture is well-chilled and combined.
5. Strain the cocktail into your prepared glass.
6. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a seasonal touch. Serve immediately.
9. Pomegranate Vodka Fizz
This is my refreshing cocktail, I use for impress my guests. Pomegranate juice is the cheapest ingredient, which brings brilliant color and slight sweetness, than we have a vodka to make a kick, lime juice into this drink balances the zesty taste and finally soda water.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz pomegranate juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
- Club soda
- Ice
- Pomegranate seeds (for garnish)
- Lime wheel (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add the vodka, pomegranate juice, simple syrup, and lime juice to the shaker.
3. Shake well until the mixture is chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
5. Top off with club soda.
6. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and a lime wheel.
10. Christmas Cranberry Moscow Mule
Ginger beer is one of my favorite seasonal cocktail ingredients. I love making it with some vodka and cranberry juice, and throwing a fistful of cranberries and a sprig of rosemary in to make it feel more festive.
Ingredients
2 oz vodka
4 oz ginger beer
2 oz cranberry juice
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Cranberries, for garnish
Lime wedges, for garnish
Fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Fill a Moscow mule mug or a large glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour in the vodka, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer and give it a gentle stir to combine.
4. Garnish with cranberries, a lime wedge, and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive Christmas Cranberry Moscow Mule!
11. Winter Wonderland Vodka Martini
What’s the best time to celebrate the holiday season with a frosty winter cocktail? My top winter beverage is an extravagant chilled mix of vodka, white chocolate liqueur and peppermint schnapps.
The smooth sweetness combined with the dash of peppermint mousse is a rich, snow-white blend always fit for a holiday gathering.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz white chocolate liqueur
- 0.5 oz peppermint schnapps
- 1 oz half-and-half or heavy cream
- Crushed candy canes for rimming the glass
- Ice cubes
- Optional garnish: mini candy cane or peppermint stick
Instructions
1. Rim the martini glass with crushed candy canes by dipping the rim into a shallow plate of simple syrup, then into the crushed candy canes.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
3. Shake the vodka, white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps and half-and-half, or heavy cream in the shaker.
4. Shake well until the mixture is fully chilled.
5. Strain the mixture into the prepared martini glass.
6. Garnish with a mini candy cane or peppermint stick, if desired, and serve immediately.
6. Garnish with a mini candy cane or peppermint stick, if desired, and serve immediately.
12. Cherry Vodka Christmas Fizz
A favorite this year is a merry cocktail with an extra dose of jolly to make it the cushiest cocktail of the season.
To get started — a splash of cranberry juice and a shot of cherry vodka and a spritz of lime — to spike up the Christmas season.
You’ll be dancing on a cloud with this one.
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of cherry vodka (750 ml)
- 1 liter of lemon-lime soda
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries
- 1/4 cup simple syrup
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices (for garnish)
- Mint leaves (for garnish)
Instructions:
1. In large pitcher, combine cherry vodka, simple syrup and fresh lemon juice.
2. Add in the fresh or frozen cherries and mix well.
3. Fill the pitcher with ice cubes to chill the mixture.
4. Right before serving, fill the mixture to the top with lemon-lime soda then stir to combine.
5. Pour the Cherry Vodka Christmas Fizz into a glass. Garnish each one with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive cocktail!
13. Eggnog Vodka Martini
If you’re as big a fan of holiday cocktails as I am, then you’ll love this one. Here’s how to make it: Get your vodka ready to be poured.
Creamy, decadent and a bit of a kick? Check.
Ingredients
- 2 oz eggnog
-
1.5 oz vodka
- 0.5 oz amaretto
- Ground nutmeg (for garnish)
- Cinnamon stick (for garnish)
- Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add the eggnog, vodka, and amaretto to the shaker.
3. Shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds until well mixed and chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
5. Garnish with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive Eggnog Vodka Martini!
14. Citrus Vodka Snowball
I’ve always really liked making snowballs, the fresh citrus vodka really makes the difference. I usually add fresh lemon and lime juice, which helps it deal that little punch of extra citrus.
You also want a little splash of orange liqueur and with that, you want to cap it off by adding a little drizzle of your favorite mint syrup. It is a citrus lovers dream in a martini glass.
Ingredients
- 2 oz citrus vodka
- 1 oz lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 oz elderflower liqueur
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 2 oz club soda
- Crushed ice
- Lime wheel (for garnish)
- Mint leaves (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice.
2. Add citrus vodka, lime juice, elderflower liqueur, and simple syrup to the shaker.
3. Shake well until the mixture is properly chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with crushed ice.
5. Top up with club soda and stir gently.
6. Garnish with a lime wheel and a sprig of mint before serving.
15. North Pole Vodka Nog
‘Tis soon the season for holiday cheer, so there’s no better way to raise your glass than with 15. North Pole Vodka Nog.
Now eggnog is a classic, yummy drink, but add a dash of vodka, nutmeg and cinnamon, and you’ve got a seasonal libation custom-made for merriment. My favorite holiday party libation includes all these ingredients, and it’s my way to toast a season of sharing and friendship.
It warms your heart making you feel like everyone wants to sit by a fire.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz Irish cream liqueur
- 2 oz eggnog
- Cinnamon stick (for garnish)
- Grated nutmeg (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Pour in the vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, and eggnog.
3. Shake well until the mixture is chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice.
5. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a sprinkle of grated nutmeg.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy!
16. Merry Berry Vodka Cocktail
Picture yourself on a quiet afternoon taking satisfying sips of a refreshing cocktail. An irresistible blend of fresh berries and chilled vodka.
A loving combo of raspberries and blueberries plus the acidity of freshly squeezed lime juice. completes the picture with a mint leaf or two.
A splash of sparkling water and it’s done.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz raspberry liqueur
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- Fresh berries (cranberries, raspberries, blueberries) for garnish
- Ice cubes
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add the vodka, cranberry juice, raspberry liqueur, fresh lime juice + simple syrup.
3. Shake well until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
5. Garnish with fresh berries for a festive touch.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy responsibly!
17. Sparkling Christmas Vodka Martini
When I think of a celebratory holiday drink, sparkling cocktails are the first thing that comes to mind. I love adding cranberry juice for a burst of red-seasonal color.
And of course, a little sparkle of champagne to make the drink bubbly and fun to share with your friends and family.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Splash of club soda or sparkling wine
- Ice cubes
- Fresh cranberries (for garnish)
- Lime wedge (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup to the shaker.
3. Shake well until the mixture is chilled.
4. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
5. Top off with a splash of club soda or sparkling wine.
6. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a lime wedge. Serve immediately.