They’re colorful, boozy, and guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Just don’t forget to fill Santa’s glass too! Plain (good) vodka basically has no taste, which means you get plenty of boozy goodness without overpowering the other ingredients in your drinks. But vodka comes in many fantastic flavors, too. So from salted caramel and whipped cream to spiced apple and citrus, it’s a pretty impressive and versatile cocktail ingredient. Of course, these are vodka Christmas cocktails, so expect lots of fun festive flavors and plenty of holiday pizazz!
20 Easy Vodka Cocktails for Christmas
1. Rudolph’s Tipsy Punch
This pretty punch is the quintessential holiday drink. It’s as red as Rudolph’s nose and boasts classic holiday flavors. I’m talking orange, cranberry, lemon, and maraschino cherry juices. And let’s not forget the vodka and ginger ale. Let’s just say Rudolph shouldn’t be guiding anyone’s sleigh after a few of these. And you probably shouldn’t either because they’re so delicious, you can’t have only one! Garnish with cranberries, maraschino cherries, and a sprig of rosemary.
2. Mistletoe Martini
One sip of this light cocktail is like standing under mistletoe with your sweetheart. It’s sweet, exciting, and incredibly fun. The Mistletoe Martini features a mix of elderflower and cranberry. That means it’s bright, a little tart, and fabulously floral. And while it’s super simple to make, it’s pretty complex and refreshing. Simply combine elderflower liqueur (like St. Germain) with vodka and cranberry juice. Add a bit of simple syrup for sweetness and garnish with cranberries and mint.
3. Santa Cocktail
Ho, ho, ho, the Santa Cocktail is coming to town. And every sip is full of holly jolly Christmas. It’s sweet, fruity, and full of soda bubbles to tickle your tongue. And the best part is, it’s effortless to recreate. You only need four delicious ingredients: vodka, grenadine, cranberry juice, and Sprite. The result is a sweet, strong, and vibrant cocktail that’s redder than rubies. A bit of white sugar and corn syrup rim the glass, and the whole effect is like Santa’s suit! How cute is that?
4. Cranberry St. Germain Cocktail
Similar to the Mistletoe Martini, this cranberry and St. Germain cocktail boasts plenty of floral, tart flavors. However, this one has a burst of fresh lime to keep things light. It’s even brighter and absolutely wonderful, especially when you add frozen cranberries as garnish. They add extra color and don’t water the drink down like ice.
5. Partridge in a Pear Tree
Don’t worry, this fun cocktail features no drummers, milking maids, French hens, or turtle doves. There’s no partridges either! But there is plenty of fabulous pear flavor. It’s simple, classy, and pretty irresistible. In fact, I’d rather have this for twelve days instead of all those extravagant gifts. Made with pear vodka, a squeeze of lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne, all that’s missing is a sprig of rosemary for some fabulous earthiness. Each sip is light and effervescent. Just be careful: it’ll creep up on you after the first couple of glasses!
6. Jolly ‘Ole Christmas Cocktail
One of my favorite anytime cocktails is the mojito. It’s bubbly, sweet, and super versatile. Case in point: this jolly ‘ole Christmas cocktail! It has a fabulous vodka and cranberry twist instead of rum. But it’s just as refreshingly minty and bubbly as you’d expect. My favorite part, though, is the simple syrup. Rather than just boiling sugar and water, you’ll add cranberry and mint for an extra boost of incredible flavor.
7. Vanilla Cranberry Mimosa
The recipe above is ideal for Christmas Day. But this vanilla and cranberry mimosa is the only thing you’ll want when opening presents in the morning. If you find cranberries a little too tart, this is the recipe for you. It’s got that signature red holiday hue, but vanilla vodka adds such a pleasant warmth and sweetness, balancing every sip. Top it off with your favorite sparkling wine or Prosecco, and get ready to cheers!
8. Gingerbread Martini
All of the recipes so far have been quite bright and fruity. So this one’s for all the creamy drink lovers in the crowd. Featuring vodka, Baileys, half & half, and gingerbread-flavored syrup, it’s like a warm hug in a glass. Better yet, you get the same sweet and spicy goodness of a gingerbread cookie without mixing, chilling, rolling, cutting, and baking. That said, how cute would this look with a mini gingerbread cookie on the rim?
9. Peppermint Martini
If you’re not a fan of cranberries and don’t care for gingerbread, maybe this impossibly refreshing peppermint martini is more your speed? After all, we can’t have a list of holiday drinks without peppermint, right? And between the minty vodka and crème de menthe, this is one cool customer. A bit of vanilla vodka rounds out the flavors just right. Garnish with crushed peppermints, and enjoy!
10. White Christmas Martini
You might not be dreaming of a white Christmas just yet, but you’ll dream about this drink for days. Not only is it striking with its blizzard-like appearance, but the flavors are divine. It’s creamy, chocolatey, and insanely indulgent. Trust me, this will be a hit at your next holiday gathering.
11. Sugar Cookie Martini
A martini that tastes like a sugar cookie? Sign me up! This delicious dessert cocktail will shatter your senses and confuse your tongue. Seriously, every sip tricks your brain into thinking you just ate a cookie. A really strong, boozy cookie. How’s it possible? With a blend of Amaretto, Irish cream, vanilla vodka, and milk. Garnish the rim of the glass with real cookie crumbs, and it’s game over.
12. Vodka Eggnog Cocktail
Eggnog is ‘love it or hate it’ for most people. But I’m definitely on the love it side of things. So this cocktail is a dream for me and others who count down to ‘nog season. And it is so much better than simple spiked eggnog, too. It only requires three ingredients, plus a sprinkle of cinnamon for garnish. Just blend eggnog with Amaretto and vodka, and you’ll fall in love at first sip.
13. Grinch Martini
Have you been feeling a little grumpy lately? Well, this delicious martini should sweeten you right up. You may even find your heart grows three sizes after just one glass. With flavors like vanilla, mint, and white chocolate, how can you resist? You’ll need crème de menthe, vodka, and Godiva white chocolate liqueur. Add a few drops of green food coloring to create the grinchy green color. Or leave it out if you prefer – it’s scrumptious either way.
14. Christmas Moscow Mule
If you’ve never tried a Moscow Mule, now’s the time. It’s a classic vodka cocktail with spice and citrus notes, and it’s incredibly fresh. It’s also possible to jazz it up with fun flavors. And this version just got holi-dazzled! This is basically a regular Moscow Mule – vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer – plus cranberry juice. Garnish with rosemary and cranberries to make it extra festive! It’s best served in a copper mug but will be tasty in any old glass.
15. Best Pomegranate Martini
The vibrant hue of this deliciously tart martini screams Christmas. Oh, and it’s pretty darn delicious too. Filled with fabulous fruity flavors, you’ll need orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. It’s tart and sweet in all the right ways. Serve it with a twist of orange and a sugared rim.
16. Christmas White Russian
If you love cream-based cocktails, you’re in for a treat. This Christmassy White Russian is like a grown-up milkshake. It’s incredibly creamy and utterly scrumptious. Of course, a regular White Russian is pretty creamy. After all, it’s made with coffee liqueur, vodka, and cream. So, what makes this one so Christmassy? Eggnog! It brings plenty of creamy goodness and a beautiful hit of nutmeg and cinnamon to boot. Yum!
17. Pomegranate Vodka Gimlet
This fun take on the classic Gimlet adds a bit of holiday glamor to an otherwise traditional drink. The OG recipe calls for either gin or vodka with lime juice. Sometimes there’s a splash of club soda to brighten it up, too. It’s very simple, but still much loved around the world. But why not jazz it up for the holidays? You’ll only need simple syrup and pomegranate juice, along with the usual vodka and lime juice. It’s a bit sweeter overall and a whole lot prettier.
18. Pear Martini with Elderflower Liqueur
I love most of the drinks on this list, but this one might just be my favorite. Pear and elderflower are such a fantastic pairing. They’re both light and sweet, with floral and citrusy notes, and the pear is super fruity. It’s sort of difficult to put into words how delicious this combo is. You just have to try it! Grab some pear vodka, elderflower liqueur, a splash of lemon juice, and simple syrup, give it a shake and garnish with a fresh slice of pear. Delish!
19. Orange Cranberry Vodka Christmas Eve Cocktail
Cranberries and oranges are an iconic Christmas flavor duo. And for good reason! They bring a burst of summery brightness to dreary winters. And the sweet and sour flavors complement each other beautifully. So, this delightful cocktail tastes a bit like sunshine with plenty of festive fun to keep you coming back for more. Just mix orange and cranberry juices with mandarin and raspberry vodka. And that’s it!
20. Butterscotch Martini
If brown butter and caramelized sugar sound heavenly to you, consider these butterscotch martinis the pearly gates. Personally, I think butterscotch is a completely underrated holiday flavor. And this delicious martini recipe is here to prove just how yummy it is! Featuring vanilla vodka, butterscotch Schnapps, cream soda, and a little Sprite, each golden sip is incredibly rich and caramelly, with notes of silky butter. The Sprite adds a pop of citrus while also ensuring it’s balanced and bubbly. What more could you ask for in a Christmas cocktail?
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