3 Thanksgiving Day Drink Recipes for Both Kids & Adults

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year, and not only for the great feasts from the year's harvest, but for the wonderful drinks that always go along with the festivities. Here are a few Thanksgiving day drink recipes and ideas from my family and friends to yours.

Super Cider:

A wonderful, warm and spicy drink to share with the whole family, (except for the kids) on Thanksgiving day. If you want to make it liquor-free omit the alcohol and put the bottles on the side for each guest to add to their liking.

Ingredients:
1 gallon apple cider
1 cup water
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
8 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
fresh ground nutmeg
2 whole oranges
1 lemon
pinch ginger
Red delicious apple studded with cloves thrown in for garnish
butter*
bourbon*
cinnamon schnappes*
apple jack*

*optional.
Directions:

Cut the oranges and lemon into sections or halves, stud them with the cloves, and throw everything into a slow cooker, stir well and warm thoroughly. Serve with a shot of buttered bourbon (just add a shot of bourbon and a pat of butter in your mug topped w/ nutmeg), or if you'd rather have a bite of cinnamon schnapps, or even add a nice bit of Lairds Apple Jack.
A fancy serving suggestion would be to hollow out a large pumpkin and place the punch bowl of super cider inside with beautiful red apples studded with cloves dancing around (like Martha would do), but we usually just have the slow cooker on the counter w/ accoutrements along side for garnish :). This is a classic drink recipe for Thanksgiving Day to warm you inside and out.

Pumpkin Smash Bombs

Definitely NOT for the feint of heart. These Thanksgiving Day drinks will put a whomping on any pumpkin lover. Imbibe with care!

Ingredients:
1 oz. Bols® Pumpkin Smash liqueur
1/2 oz. Frangelico® hazelnut liqueur
1/2 oz. Goldschlager (or Cinnamon Schnapps)
top with Baileys Irish Cream

Directions:

Pour ingredients in order to layer, top with Baileys and down the hatch! Yowsa! You will definitely be a smashed pumpkin after one of these!

Pumpkin Butterbeer (perfect for the kiddies)

This Thanksgiving Day drink recipe will have all the kids behaving for you all day long (of course, after bribing them with the promise of one of these dessert-type drinks).

Ingredients:

2 pints of pumpkin ice cream, softened (if you can't find it in the store here's a great recipe)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup light brown sugar
4teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 bottles (6 cups) sparkling apple cider

Directions:

First take the ice cream out of the freezer, and the butter out of the fridge, and allow to soften (about 1/2 hour). When both are soft, blend butter, sugar, and spices in large bowl and add mixture to softened ice cream and re-freeze. While that is re-freezing, and right before serving, heat the sparkling cider until warm (but still carbonated) for about 3-5 minutes.
To serve: Fill glasses with a scoop of ice cream mixture and top with warmed cider. Yummy!

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to share with loved ones everything we have to be thankful for, especially each other.

Resources and More reading:
Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe-
Where to buy specialty liqueurs online;