The holidays are right around the corner and let’s be real….the holidays are better with some fun drinks at your table! Bryan and I pulled together 4 of our favorite fun, easy and delicious recipes into one blog post for you all so that you have a resource when Thanksgiving rolls around. Also, if you are like me, pregnant or not a drinker, we added in a way to make it a mocktail at the bottom of each recipe.
(Note, these are not our recipes but just some that we love and find fun – all resources linked!).
Cheers!
1). Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
A perfect drink for before Thanksgiving dinner/during appetizers, or a boozy brunch! Super easy, festive looking, and delicious!
- 1 ounce of Cranberry juice
- 1 lime wedge
- Champagne or Sparkling Wine
- Frozen Cranberries
In a chilled champagne flute add cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime. Top off the glass with champagne and garnish with 3 or 4 cranberries.
*Substitute champagne with sparkling cider or a flavored sparkling water for a non-alcoholic option.

2). Gin, Apple Cider, and Ginger Beer
This drink is so good, especially if you’re a gin drinker! Perfect for happy hour or during a football game!
- 1.5 ounces of gin
- .75 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon juice
- .75 ounces of apple juice or cider
- Ginger Beer (chilled)
Combine gin, lemon juice and apple cider in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and pour into an ice filled, chilled glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with an apple slice and fresh grated nutmeg.
3). Ginger Apple Moscow Mule
A fall twist on a classic vodka cocktail. Could be a fun happy hour drink anytime!
- 2 ounces of vodka
- juice of 1/2 a lime
- 1/3 cup of apple cider
- 1 tablespoon apple butter
- 1-2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
- Ginger Beer
- Pomegranate arils and cinnamon sticks
Fill cocktail glass with ice. Combine vodka, lime juice, apple cider, apple butter, and ginger in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice. Strain into glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with apple slices, pomegranate arils and cinnamon sticks.
*Substitute sparkling water for vodka for non-alcoholic option.
4). Hot Spiced Apple Cider
Perfect for after dinner or on a cold day!
- 4 cups apple cider
- 4 whole black peppercorns
- 6 or 7 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole dried cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 navel orange
- Bourbon
- 1 red apple
In a medium saucepan, add the cider, peppercorns, 1 cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise. Cut a large peel from the orange (1 inch by 4 inches) and add it to the pan. Bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain into a large glass and discard the solids. Pour hot cider into 4 mugs. Add 2 Tbsp of bourbon to each mug. To each mug, add a slice of orange, a slice of apple, and a cinnamon stick to stir.
Do you have a go-to cocktail that you love to drink on the holidays? Share it with us in the comments! We LOVE new ideas and then I’ll have a great list to try next year when I’m a new mom of 2!
