Christmas Drinks Recipes

Five Recipes for Festive Drinks

© Corinne Lutton

Nov 19, 2007
Recipes for Old Fashioned Mulled Wine, Eggnog, Prosecco Punch, Champagne Cocktails & Appleberry Mulled Wine

Welcome your Christmas and New Year guests with these delicious party drinks.

Old-Fashioned Mulled Wine Recipe

When making mulled wine it is important to use a good, gutsy red wine like a Chilean Merlot, Australian Shiraz or a French Cotes du Rhone. Serves 6 - 8

  • 1 large bottle (1 litre) red wine
  • 250ml (10fl oz) ginger ale
  • 1 orange, stuck with cloves
  • 3 cinnamon sticks or 1tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground mixed spice
  • 100g (4 oz) brown sugar
  • a large wine glass of brandy or whisky

Method

  1. Put all the ingredients, except the brandy or whisky, into a large pan and warm gently on a low heat, for about 30 mins. Do not allow the mixture to boil, or the alcohol will evaporate.
  2. Add the brandy or whisky just before serving.

Eggnog Recipe

The eggnog base can be made 1 day in advance, simply beat in the stiff egg whites and whipped cream just before serving. Serves 24

  • 12 eggs, separated
  • 1 1/2 cups caster sugar
  • 1 quart whole milk
  • 1 1/2 quarts heavy cream
  • 3 cups bourbon
  • 1/2 cup dark rum
  • 2 cups cognac
  • freshly grated nutmeg

Method

  1. In a very large bowl, beat the egg yolks until thick and pale yellow in colour. Gradually add the sugar to the yolks. Beat in the milk and 1 quart of the cream with a wire whisk. Add the bourbon, rum and cognac, stirring constantly.
  2. Just before serving, beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the mixture. Whip the remaining 1/2 quart of cream until stiff and fold in. Srinkle with the freshly grated nutmeg.

Prosecco Punch Recipe

  • 2 bottles Prosecco
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 1 bottle sparkling water
  • 300ml brandy
  • 250ml maraschino cherry liqueur
  • 200ml Martini Rosso
  • Diced seasonal fruits e.g. winter berries, plums or figs
  • handful of ice

Method

  1. Into a large punch bowl, put the sugar, prosecco, sparkling water, brandy, cherry liqueur and Martini.
  2. Throw in your choice of seasonal fruit and a handful of ice.
  3. Serve ladled into champagne flutes.

Serves 6

Champagne Cocktail Recipe

  • 50ml (2fl oz) cognac
  • 20ml (3/4 fl oz) Frangelico
  • 15ml (1/2 fl oz) lemon juice
  • 1 bottle Champagne or Cava
  • 6 glace cherries

Method

  1. Shake together the Cognac, Frangelico and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Divide between Champagne glasses. Top up with the Champagne or Cava and drop in a cherry.

Serves 6

Appleberry Mulled Wine Recipe

  • 2 bottles good quality red wine
  • 1 litre / 13/4 pints cloudy apple juice
  • 115g / 4 oz caster sugar
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 star anise
  • 3 tablespoons Curacao or Cointreau
  • handful of berries
  • 3 small red-skinned apples sliced into rings

Method

  1. Pour the wine the wine and apple juice into large saucepan and add the sugar, star anise and cinnamon sticks. Heat gently, stirring once or twice until the sugar has dissolved. Continue heating gently for another 15 minutes. Be careful not to allow the mixture to boil or the alcohol will evaporate.
  2. Just before serving, stir in the Curacao or Cointreau and add the berries and apple slices.

Serves 12


The copyright of the article Christmas Drinks Recipes in Beverage Recipes is owned by Corinne Lutton. Permission to republish Christmas Drinks Recipes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.




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