London Met’s Student Blog will be sharing different Christmas ideas for you to explore, read, eat and wear for the next 12 days to put you in the right mood.
Christmas Drinks
The holidays are the time to eat, drink and be merry, and this Christmas you can impress everyone at the party by making some of these easy and yummy winter cocktails. Chosen from some of the best food and drinks blogs, these drinks will make you the most wanted person throughout the holidays. Cheers!
Slow Cooked Spiced Wine from Well Plated - Spiced wine made in a slow cooker will warm you on the coldest of nights. Red wine is simmered with whole winter spices, apple cider, and brandy for a cosy (and addictive!) winter drink. Inexpensive and easy to make, it’s also an excellent choice for holiday parties.
Ingredients:
1 (750 ml) bottle red wine (choose something fruity but not too sweet. Merlot, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon all work well)
2 cups apple cider
1/4 cup honey
1 orange, zested and juiced
5 whole cloves
4 green cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks
1 whole star anise
1/4 cup brandy
Orange slices, for garnish
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Directions:
Add wine, cider, honey, orange zest, and orange juice to a 3-quart or larger slow cooker. Stir to combine. Add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and star anise. Cook on low until warm, 30 minutes to one hour, depending on your slow cooker. Stir in the brandy.
Ladle into mugs and serve with an orange slice and cinnamon sticks. To keep the wine warm, leave the slow cooker on the “keep warm” setting. If your slow cooker does not have a warm setting, alternate between “low” and “off.”
Raspberry Russian Cocktail from Love and Olive Oil - This Raspberry Russian may just be your new favourite holiday cocktail. A twist on a classic White Russian, with black raspberry liqueur in place of the traditional coffee.
Ingredients for one cocktail:
3 fresh raspberries
Ice cubes
1 ounce heavy cream
1 ounce Chambord
1 ounce vodka
Directions:
Muddle raspberries in the bottom of a glass. Add ice. Pour cream, Chambord, and vodka over ice. Stir well to combine.
Winter Wonderland Cocktail from The Marvellous Misadventures of a Foodie - This all white cocktail will make you reminiscent of a snow. Something fun and cheery, without being over the top with Christmas flavours.
Ingredients for one cocktail:
1 oz. Cream of coconut
1½ oz Vanilla Vodka
1½ oz Creme de Cocoa
Ice
Directions:
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine cream of coconut, vanilla vodka and crème de cocoa. Shake until well chilled and combined. Strain into an ice-filled glass.
Kahlua Hot Chocolate from Damn Delicious - So cosy, so boozy, and so perfect for these chilly nights, and if you’re not fan of Kahlua, you can always substitute it with Baileys.
Incidents for two cocktails:
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
1 ounce Kahlua coffee liqueur/ Baileys
Mini marshmallows, for serving
Salted caramel, for serving
Chocolate syrup, for serving
Directions:
In a medium saucepan, combine milk, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and nutmeg over medium heat until heated through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Kahlua.
Serve immediately, garnished with mini marshmallows, salted caramel and chocolate syrup, if desired.
