Winter Cocktails that Are Sure to Warm Your Spirits

The weather outside may be frightful but the drinks they're serving inside are SO delightful! The chilly winter weather is the perfect excuse to meet up with your girlfriends for a night of gossip and cocktails. But not all winter cocktails are mixed alike and there's much more out there then just Hot Buttered Rum and Spiked Apple Cider. I love to entertain especially during the holidays so I am always looking for new cocktails to serve at my gatherings and pass on to my friends and family. Last year I discovers several recipes that I absolutely love and plan to offer my guests year after year. They're perfect for entertaining a yummy way to warm up.

The Frostini

Imagine it's a chilly winter night and you're in the mood for something inviting, smooth and creamy with the tastes of the season. The Frostini is an excellent Martini option. Made with cream and coffee liqueurs and a little peppermint schnapps, I can't think of anything better to warm you up and chill you out at the same time. I love this yummy drink, it makes me think of a grown up version chocolate milk. I tried my first Frostini at a friends Christmas party last year but tweaked the recipe slightly for my own version.

The Ingredients:

* 1 shot of Cream Liqueur - I like Starbucks but there are others on the market.
* 1 shot of Coffee Liqueur - Again, I like Starbucks but any brand will do
* 1/4 shot of Peppermint Schnapps
* fresh mint sprig for garnish

How to make it:

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail (martini) shaker with ice.

2. This drink is shaken not stirred so shake well!

3. Strain into a frozen martini glass

4. Finish it off with a sprig of mint right on top.

5. Drink and Enjoy!

The Vanilla Vixen

When life hands you vanilla, make a cocktail! The Vanilla Vixen is an interesting mix of flavors.The fruitiness of citrus, melon and lime are pleasantly off-set by the musky vanilla of vodka. I like this cocktail because it shows that flavors you may not normally pair together can work to create a spectacular mix that's light and refreshing your guests will certainly savor this tempting libation. This drink has just the right amount of sweetness, it's one of those cocktails that goes down quick and smooth so make sure to keep a count of how many you've had. You wouldn't want to wake up the next day and hear all about you're wild night.

The Ingredients:

I use these specific brands but you can use any brand you like.

* 1 oz SKYY Vanilla vodka
* 2 oz SKYY Citrus vodka
* 1 oz Midori melon liqueur
* 1/2 oz lime juice

How to make it:

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a martini shaker with ice.

2. Shake, Shake, Shake!!!

3. Strain into an old-fashioned glass with ice. But skip the ice if you're using a martini glass.

4. You can also garnish the rim with a little sugar if you like. This dresses your cocktail up and gives it something extra.

This drink can also be made using a homemade vanilla sugar and regular vodka but I choose to do it this way since I'm a busy mom who has little time for making things from scratch.

Marilyn Monroe Champagne Cocktail

My final pick for my favorite winter cocktail is an oldie but a goodie. You can't think of the holiday season and not think of Champagne. But I've discovered a better way to toast to good cheer. With a Marilyn Monroe Champagne Cocktail! Marilyn Monroe was famous for her love of the bubbly beverage. She once even bathed in it, and many of her movies featured her drinking and enjoying a sparkling glass. So it should come as no surprise that a Champagne cocktail recipe was named after her. I feel glamorous every time I take a sip, it's really the perfect holiday cocktail as far as I'm concerned and a creative new way to serve champagne to your guests. My friends couldn't get enough of them last year on New Years Eve. They were the "toast" of the evening.

The Ingredients:

* 1 Flute of Champagne (don't fill it to the top, leave enough room for the shot of brandy)
* A dash of grenadine (Grenadine is a thick, sweet syrup made from ... pomegranates that gives the drink a red color )
* A shot of apple brandy (you can mix regular brandy with apple juice and get the same effect)

How it's made:

1. Pour the shot of brandy into the bottom of the champagne flute

2. Add in a dash of grenadine.

3. Pour on the Champagne and enjoy the luxurious life!

So there you have it, my top 3 picks for the best winter cocktails. Sure they might not be warm to the touch but they're guaranteed to warm your spirits. Cheers!