On the twelfth drink of Christmas: the festive recipes you need

When the season of pub gardens, summer spritzers, and lager in the sun feels like a distant memory, there are plenty of gloriously festive beverages that can warm you up this winter. The Christmas season boasts a variety of delightfully seasonal cocktails, mocktails and more to keep you and your friends and family perfectly merry throughout the holiday season.

Buck’s fizz:
A Christmas morning classic, there’s no better way to add some sparkle to a festive brunch than with a Buck’s fizz. Still technically packed with all the nutrients you need to work through a stack of roast potatoes later in the day, this simple cocktail is the perfect way to start a gloriously hedonistic holiday. All you need to create this drink is two parts of sparkling wine, and one part of orange juice. Replace the wine with lemonade or soda water to start your morning with some non-alcoholic festive joy.

Sparkling, refreshing, and colourful, this bitter treat is the perfect way to usher your friends and family into a sociable, festive mood

Bailey’s hot chocolate:
If the blast of the oven isn’t enough to warm you up this Christmas, then a Bailey’s hot chocolate is exactly the festive beverage you need. Taking hot chocolate, a childhood winter classic, to the next level, this easy recipe is all the indulgence you could wish for in one mug.

To make this comforting drink, you just need is a cup of hot chocolate, 50ml Bailey’s Original Irish Cream, and any desired toppings. To take this seasonal delight even further, add whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and marshmallows.

Cranberry Aperol spritz:
Whilst there’s no semblance of any Italian sunshine here, this unconventional festive take on a summer classic will bring a bubbly twist and some Mediterranean joviality to any Christmas party. Sparkling, refreshing, and colourful, this bitter treat is the perfect way to usher your friends and family into a sociable, festive mood before you sit down for dinner. The ingredients for a pitcher are: 350ml of Aperol, 350ml of cranberry juice, juice of one orange, a bottle of prosecco, and ice.

Mulled wine:
A necessity for any Christmas market visit, this spiced wine is the perfect treat to warm your hands and steam up your glasses this winter. Mulled wine is a festive essential for anyone looking for a drink that’ll satisfy your sweet cravings this holiday season, as well as being the perfect crowd-pleasing party accompaniment. To make six servings, all you need is a bottle of red wine, two cinnamon sticks, two-star anise, four cloves, two strips of lemon zest, and 4 tbsp caster sugar. To make a non-alcoholic version, swap the red wine for zero alcohol percentage red wine.

Christmas in a cup; eggnog is the sweet, thick, and incredibly rich treat that’ll give your whole household some much-needed warmth this winter

Hot toddy:
A less sweet but still thoroughly warming alternative to mulled wine, the hot toddy originated from India and was quickly adopted as a seasonal favourite across the world. Ideal as a post-dinner drink or to cap off a festive party, this delicious and hydrating slow-sipper treat is incredibly easy to make. A go-to recipe is: one cup of hot water, 50ml whiskey, 2 tsp honey, 2 tsp lemon juice, one lemon round, and one cinnamon stick.

Eggnog:
Christmas in a cup; eggnog is the sweet, thick, and incredibly rich treat that’ll give your whole household some much-needed warmth this winter. Originating in Medieval Britain and incredibly easy to make, this shareable nutmeg-spiced drink is the perfect solution to making any festive party all the merrier. For eight servings you need: three cups of milk, 130g caster sugar, four egg yolks, one vanilla bean pod, 1tsp nutmeg, three cinnamon sticks, and 175ml dark rum (optional).

Milk and cookies shots:
Maybe not a drink that your grandma might have made for you, but certainly one any Christmas party guests will quickly grow nostalgic for. This recipe substitutes a shot glass for cookie dough and is perfectly easy to create. Line a muffin tin with the chocolate-dotted mixture, either made from scratch or shop-bought, before baking. Finish with some milk and Baileys, if you’re seeking a festive buzz. To make this new winter-warming seasonal classic, all you need is cookie dough, 70ml milk, and 3 tbsp Baileys Original Irish Cream (optional).