Tis the season for festive cocktails!

The temperatures are dropping in Central Texas and the holidays are just around the corner {literally}. Warm yourself, your spouse and your friends up with the holiday spirit(s).

Morning Glory

One part champagne, one part cranberry juice. Easy peasy. A perfect brunch or stocking opening cocktail that feels fancy and festive.

S’more Martini

I discovered these when working as a fundraiser and planning S’more Soiree for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas. Be warned – it is a strong drink. If it is too strong for your tastes, you can mellow it out by adding chocolate milk.

2 oz. marshmallow vodka
1 oz. chocolate liqueur
1 oz. creme de cacao
2 oz. cream or half & half
marshmellow Fluff
graham cracker
chocolate syrup

Mix the liquids in a martini shaker. Prep your glass by rimming it with Fluff, then dipping the rim into crushed graham cracker and finally, drizzling a little chocolate syrup inside. Add your delicious booze concoction and bottoms up. (Thanks Hungry Couple for freshening up my memory of the recipe.)

Hot Cinnamon Cider

I’m a little famous for this one. It goes down far, far too smoothly on a cold night. Pace yourself or you’ll be quite surprised by the effects. 

12 oz frozen cranberry juice
12 oz frozen apple juice
6 oz frozen lemonade
9 cups of water
5 sticks of cinnamon
6 whole cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
whiskey to taste
sugar (optional)

Mix it all together and heat on the stove. It usually takes 35-40 minutes to get piping hot. As hardcore as my sweet tooth is, I never need to add sugar but I keep some on hand just in case a batch calls for a little something.

Cheers y’all!