Christmas is a time to connect with friends and family members. And what better way to enjoy the moment than sharing cocktails with people who hold a special place in your life?
To make this season a memorable one for you, we’ve outlined 12 holiday Christmas vodka cocktails. Vodka blends with a variety of flavors, and you’ll also find healthy cocktail ingredients in our recipes. Cheers to making drinks for all the fun days of Christmas.
Holiday Christmas Vodka Cocktails
Below is a list of the best vodka Christmas cocktails for you and your folks.
- Pumpkin Spice Martini with Vodka
- Festive Pomegranate Sparkler
- Pear Vodka Christmas Martini
- White Chocolate Peppermint Martini
- Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
- Christmas Morning Bloody Mary
- Holly Jolly Midori Cocktail
- Rosemary Vodka Gimlet
- White Russian Chai-Spiced Cocktail
- Apple Cider Moscow Mule
- Gingerbread Martini
- Finnish Mulled Wine
1. Pumpkin Spice Martini with Vodka
Unlike apples, pumpkins are an exciting element of the Christmas season. You’ll find tons of recipes calling for them during this period, from pies, breads, cakes, and cookies to smoothies and soups. The interesting part is that pumpkins pack a punch of nutrients, including vitamins A and C, zinc, and potassium, for overall well-being.
The Pumpkin Spice Martini with Vodka recipe contains everything pumpkin for a fun-filled holiday party. Here’s what you need: pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin spice syrup, Irish cream liqueur, and vanilla-flavored vodka.
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then shake until ice cold. Strain the drink into a chilled martini glass and garnish with ground nutmeg and ground cinnamon or whipped cream and a stick of cinnamon.
2. Festive Pomegranate Sparkler
Rich in antioxidants and fiber, pomegranates are associated with heart health, kidney health, diabetes management, improved blood flow during workouts, and more. Although juicing reduces the fiber content, you’ll still reap the health benefits of the fruit.
Our Festive Pomegranate Sparkler recipe calls for both pomegranate juice and arils, a conscious effort to ensure you don’t lose out on any nutrients. We’ll also use vodka, honey, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, sparkling water, and mint leaves.
Begin by pouring the pomegranate juice, lemon juice, vodka, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker containing ice. Shake vigorously to combine. Pour some honey into a chilled cocktail glass, then strain the drink into the glass. Stir gently using a bar spoon and top up with sparkling water or club soda to get a bubbly effect. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedges.
3. Pear Vodka Christmas Martini
Pears are a staple during Christmas, and regularly consuming them reduces the risk of stroke and heart disease. Also, the fruit is rich in fiber, which promotes digestive health.
For our Pear Vodka Christmas cocktail recipe, we’ll use pear-flavored vodka, pear puree, simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, then shake for 15 to 30 seconds. Strain the mixture into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a slice of pear.
4. White Chocolate Peppermint Martini
If you’ve ever had a taste of white chocolate peppermint mocha, you’ll agree that the flavor combo will make a perfect cocktail for Christmas cocktail recipes. On the nutrition side, chocolate helps to reduce stress and boost energy levels, while peppermint relieves a stuffy nose.
Even though our recipe uses them in a small proportion, you’ll undoubtedly get the needed stress relief from one glass. The ingredients for the White Chocolate Peppermint Martini are Godiva white chocolate liqueur, peppermint schnapps, vanilla vodka, and whipping cream.
Shake them in a cocktail shaker with ice cubes until chilled. Pour some melted chocolate chips into a cocktail glass, then strain the drink into it. Rim the glass with melted chocolate chips and crushed candy canes to achieve that festive look. Also, you can substitute peppermint schnapps with peppermint vodka for a milder taste.
5. Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
This sweet-and-sour Christmas cocktail combines the fruity taste of cranberry juice, the tangy flavor of lemon juice, and the strong notes of bourbon. And we’re throwing in some vodka to step up the classic Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail.
Pour the cranberry juice, lemon juice, bourbon, and vodka into a cocktail shaker containing ice. Shake for about 30 seconds, then strain into an ice-filled glass. Top up with simple syrup, then garnish with fresh cranberries.
Researchers have linked cranberry nutrients to lower blood pressure and the reduced risk of some types of cancer, among other health benefits. So, you may want to use fresh cranberry juice to get a healthier cocktail for your holidaymakers.
Bonus Tip: You can turn this Cranberry cocktail recipe into Rudolph’s tipsy punch. Throw in some orange juice and ginger ale. Voila! You’ve got more vodka Christmas cocktails to share.
6. Christmas Morning Bloody Mary
Best consumed on a Christmas morning, this Bloody Mary recipe contains high-quality ingredients that boast rich flavors. Top on the list is tomatoes, which are rich in antioxidants for fighting inflammation. Also, we included herbs in the classic drink, which help reduce damage to your body cells.
To make our Christmas Morning Bloody Mary, mix tomato juice and lemon juice in a container. Then, add Worcestershire sauce, horseradish sauce, black pepper, garlic, and dried rosemary. Include some parsley, marjoram, and basil as well. After that, shake the container lightly to mix the ingredients and store it in the fridge overnight to allow the herbs to settle in.
When you’re ready to serve, strain the Bloody Mary mixture to remove the fresh herbs. Get your chilled cocktail glasses and pour some vodka into them. Afterward, pour the Bloody Mary mixture and garnish with celery, cherry tomato, pickles, green olive, and bacon.
7. Holly Jolly Midori Cocktail
Known for its fruitiness and green color, Midori liqueur is the fav of sweet-toothed cocktail lovers. Besides, it improves digestion, moods, cognitive performance, and energy levels. Also, it pairs well with pineapple, lemon, lime, and orange, which offers more health benefits.
Our Holly Jolly Midori cocktail combines muddled mint leaves, Midori liqueur, vodka, and pineapple juice. Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice, then strain into a champagne flute. Garnish with lemon wheels, pomegranate seeds, a sprig of rosemary, and fresh mint leaves.
8. Rosemary Vodka Gimlet
Deviating slightly from the classic gimlet, we’re swapping out gin to create a fresh and elegant rendition of vodka Christmas cocktails. Although you can drink your gimlet all year round, the addition of fresh rosemary sprigs makes it ideal for Christmas.
For this recipe, you’ll need vodka, fresh lime juice, and rosemary syrup. Shake the ingredients with ice until chilled, then strain into a glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or rosemary sprig.
Fresh rosemary is known for its ability to aid blood circulation in cold hands and feet, which is common during winter. Also, it improves gut health and boosts immunity, keeping sickness at bay. In short, adding it to your Christmas cocktail recipes is a great way to stay healthy and enjoy your holiday.
9. White Russian Chai-Spiced Cocktail
The classic White Russian cocktail features three main ingredients: vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream. But this version incorporates chai tea bags, which contain ginger, pepper, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. They aid weight loss, improve heart health, and reduce blood sugar levels.
We’ll start with infusing the chai tea flavors into the vodka. Pour vodka into a pitcher and drop the tea bags. Allow to stand for about two hours. Afterward, remove the tea bags and add coffee liqueur and whipped cream. Stir to combine.
When serving the White Russian at holiday parties, add ice cubes to the glass, then pour the drink. Garnish with star anise and cinnamon sticks.
10. Apple Cider Moscow Mule
Traditionally served in a frosty copper mug, Moscow mules combine liquor, ginger beer, and citrus juice. However, our recipe includes apple cider, one of our most treasured ingredients for holiday drinks. It has numerous health benefits, including weight loss, gut health, type 2 diabetes prevention, lowering cholesterol levels, and so on.
To make this Christmas cocktail recipe, pour vodka, apple cider, ginger beer, and freshly squeezed lime juice into a copper mug. Stir to combine, then throw in some ice cubes. After that, garnish with a slice of apple, a lime wheel, or a cinnamon stick to finish.
When making vodka Christmas cocktail recipes that call for ginger beer, you can substitute it with ginger ale. The beverage helps to maintain your hydration levels and aids digestion, which is vital since there will be a copious amount of food to eat during the holiday season.
11. Gingerbread Martini
This easy-to-make recipe uses alcoholic ingredients and homemade gingerbread simple syrup, which has potent medicinal properties. It improves digestion, relieves menstrual cramps, and reduces inflammation, among others.
The Gingerbread Martini ingredients are gingerbread simple syrup, vanilla vodka, hazelnut liqueur, and Irish cream liqueur. Shake in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with gingerbread cookies.
This recipe can easily become a dessert if you include heavy cream. However, we want to make sure you’re eating and drinking healthy during the festive season.
12. Finnish Mulled Wine
Whether you’re hosting an outdoor holiday party in December or meeting a friend on a snowy winter afternoon, the Finnish Mulled Wine is an all-rounder. It contains several heart-friendly spices that also protect you from cold and detoxify the body.
To make this Christmas cocktail recipe, combine the following ingredients in a bowl: vodka, port wine, orange and lemon zest, lemon slices, orange slices, whole cloves, freshly peeled ginger, and cardamom pods. Then, store the mix in a fridge for 24 hours. After that, gently simmer the mixture with red wine and brown sugar to blend in the flavors.
When the sugar has completely dissolved, strain out the zests and spices. Serve warm with whole almonds and raisins.
Conclusion
The versatility of vodka makes it easy to combine with other flavors, which we successfully did with healthy ingredients like chai, ginger, pumpkin, cranberry juice, and pomegranates. So take a break from the “empty calories” drinks and try out our nutrient-dense holiday Christmas cocktails. Who knows? You may end up creating a new family tradition.