Warm Winter Cocktails for Holiday Entertaining

The holiday season is here. This means colder days and nights are here to stay. Fireplaces are crackling and woodstoves are burning. Our long evening walks are being replaced with popcorn and a movie or cuddling up with a good book. Soon we'll be sledding and sipping hot cocoa as we celebrate the holidays.

My favorite part of the holidays is entertaining and visiting with family and friends. I always want to welcome them with a warm drink and delicious food. I am good with the food aspect, but I never know what to serve for drinks. A friend of ours who happens to be a bartender gave me some fabulous suggestions. They are recipe ideas for warm winter cocktails. These are perfect for family get togethers, tree decorating parties, gift swapping, Christmas cookie baking, girls' night, couples' night or any time you just want something warm and delicious.

Pick up the ingredients for a few different recipes and you'll be ready to surprise your guests with a fantastic warm winter cocktail. I hope you enjoy these great ideas. Happy Holidays.

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

6-8 oz hot cocoa
1 oz peppermint schnapps

Add peppermint schnapps to piping hot cocoa. Garnish with whipped cream, marshmallows or a candy cane.

Irish Coffee

11/2 oz Irish whiskey
6 oz fresh brewed hot coffee
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1-2 tsp superfine sugar depending on how sweet you prefer it

Dissolve sugar completely in hot black coffee. Add whiskey and pour cream on top - don't stir. Garnish with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa powder.

Hot Buttered Rum

11/2 oz dark rum
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
pat of butter
grated nutmeg
lemon peel
boiling water

Rinse out a large mug with boiling hot water. Add brown sugar, cinnamon stick, lemon peel and cloves. You can poke the cloves into the lemon peel so that they don't float around. Pour a little boiling water into the mug to dissolve the sugar. Now add the rum and fill the mug the rest of the way with the boiling water. Top with a pat of butter of and a sprinkle of grated nutmeg.

Cafe Amaretto

1/2 oz cognac or brandy
1 oz Amaretto
6-8 oz hot fresh brewed coffee
whipped cream

Combine hot coffee with Amaretto and stir. Pour cognac or brandy on top- don't stir. Garnish with whipped cream.

Kahlua Mocha

11/2 oz coffee liqueur (Kahlua)
3-4 oz hot black coffee
3-4 oz hot cocoa
whipped cream and/or mini marshmallows

Combine hot cocoa and hot coffee in large warm mug. Stir in Kahlua and garnish with fresh whipped cream and/or mini marshmallows.

Hot Eggnog

11/2 oz brandy
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon superfine sugar
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of salt

Beat egg and salt, then add sugar. Beat until well-blended. Add piping hot milk and brandy. Serve in a warm mug and garnish with nutmeg.