You could serve guests the full spectrum of booze at your holiday party. But all of that mixing, shaking and stirring would leave you no time to overeat, smooch underneath the mistletoe or gossip about your neighbor’s collection of sequined holiday sweatshirts.
Instead, we recommend offering a limited menu. Assemble one or two signature drinks, a colorful nonalcoholic option and a cooler of beer, preferably produced by a fine local brewery.
Another tip: rent glasses. Cheap plastic cups are for college keggers. Check the Yellow Pages or online for a nearby party rental store.
We’ve gathered three festive recipes. Some can be prepared in advance; others require just a few ingredients. But each is as beautiful as it is flavorful.
Harvest Bowl
Adapted from “Champagne Cocktails,” by A.J. Rathbun (Harvard Common Press, 2010). Makes 10.
Ingredients
Ice block or cracked ice
2 cups apple cider
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, such as orange curacao or triple sec
1 apple, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 (75 0ml) bottle sparkling apple juice, chilled
1 (75 0ml) bottle brut champagne, chilled
Directions
Place a block of ice in a large punch bowl or fill bowl halfway with cracked ice. Add cider, vodka, orange liqueur and apple and lemon slices. Stir.
Carefully add sparkling apple juice and then champagne. Stir. Serve in wine glasses or goblets.
Amaretto-Cranberry Kiss
Adapted from Bon Appetit. 8 servings.
Ingredients
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup amaretto
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Ice cubes
1 clementine, peeled, and separated into segments
Directions
Mix cranberry juice, vodka, amaretto, and orange juice in a pitcher. Cover and chill until ready to serve. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.)
To make 2 drinks, fill cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Pour in scant 1 cup vodka mixture. Cover and shake vigorously. Strain into two martini glasses. Garnish each with a clementine segment.
Non-Alcoholic Apple Sparkler
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens. 5 servings.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon red or green colored sugar, optional
10 unpeeled orange wedges or chunks
5 unpeeled lime wedges or chunks
5 ( 6-inch) wooden skewers
2/3 cup raspberry juice blend
1 (750ml) bottle sparkling apple cider or sparkling pear-apple juice, chilled
Directions
Sprinkle colored sugar on a piece of waxed paper. Moisten the rims of five wine glasses, one at a time, with a little water. Dip each rim in sugar and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes to dry.
For fruit garnish, place 2 orange wedges and 1 lime wedge onto each skewer; set aside.
Divide raspberry juice blend among prepared wine glasses, being careful not to disturb the sugar on the rim. Gently pour sparkling cider into each glass. Place a citrus skewer in each glass.
