Hug in a Cup

Holiday Party Drinks

After I decided what cookies I would bake (KISSES Candy Cane Blossoms) for the holiday cookie exchange I was hosting, the next BIG thing I had to figure out was the beverages. With a diverse age range, what are a few drinks to serve? The three I came up with were a Christmas punch, Shirley Temple, and a hot chocolate bar. Of course, we had other beverages available, but these were the top three that the guests enjoyed. 

1. Christmas punch (adjust for preference on strength)

   • 1 cup light rum (optional)

   • 1 cup cranberry juice

   • 1 cup ginger ale

   • 1 cup sparkling water

   • 1/4 cup simple syrup

   • 1/4 cup grenadine

   • dash of apple pie spice

   • dash of nutmeg

   • dash of fresh grated ginger

   • 2 TBSP fresh pomegranate seeds

   Mix all ingredients in a serving pitcher.

2. Shirley Temple

   • 48 ounces Sprite

   • 4 -6 ounces Grenadine

   • Maraschino cherries (optional - you can add a little of the maraschino cherry juice from the jar)

   • Ice (optional)

   Mix all ingredients in a serving pitcher.

3. Hot Chocolate Bar

   • Base options: water, whole milk, skim milk, and almond milk

   • Powder options: Sillycow Farms Hot Chocolate Mix

     • Chocolate Peppermint Twist

     • Marshmallow Swirl

     • Chocolate Truffle

   • Toppings

     • Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

     • Andes Creme De Menthe Baking Chips

     • Jet-Puffed Bits Vanilla Marshmallows

     • Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows

     • Hershey’s Candy Cane KISSES

     • Candy Canes

     • Ghirardelli Squares

     • Ghirardelli Mini Chocolate Chips

     • Whipped Cream