8 unique festive dessert cocktails to try this Christmas

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to celebrate and take the edge off this Christmas than with a festive dessert cocktail?

Food is such a crucial part of the Christmas holidays. From succulent turkey to crisp roast potatoes, all slathered in gravy and cranberries, there’s so much to enjoy around the dinner table. And then, of course, there are the winter desserts.

Christmas pudding, mince pies, cheesecake, and more, there are plenty of Christmas sweet treats to choose from – so much so that picking just one doesn’t seem fair. But if you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to puddings this year, then we might have the solution for you.

We’ve pulled together a list of 8 exquisitely tempting festive-themed dessert cocktails for you to try in the run-up to the big day, all of which you can mix at home in your kitchen with minimal cocktail-making experience.

So grab the brandy, prepare the ice cubes, and get ready to turn your favourite Christmas desserts into cocktails.

1. Aromatic Christmas pudding cocktail

Let’s start with the classic Christmas dessert. Although it’s not everyone’s favourite, the distinctive flavours of a Christmas pudding are what make it so unique. And when turned into a cocktail, they create a drink that’s bursting with an unbeatable mix of spices.

Ingredients:

• 50ml of apple brandy
• 25ml of cognac, infused with cinnamon and vanilla pods
• Ginger beer
• A dash of mulled wine syrup
• Ice cubes
• 1 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• A handful of redcurrants
• 1 slice of dried orange crisp
• 1 dried vanilla pod

Instructions:

1. Take your cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice cubes. Pour in the brandy and cognac, seal the shaker, and shake well for 30 seconds.
2. Take your cocktail glass and fill it to the top with ice cubes before pouring the mix into it through a strainer.
3. Finally, top up your glass with ginger beer, add a dash of the mulled wine syrup, and garnish with the star anise, cinnamon stick, redcurrants, dried orange, and vanilla pod. Leave it to infuse for a minute and enjoy!

2.Mince pie martini

Another classic Christmas dessert, and a favourite of many, this mince pie martini combines the best of both treats to bring you a deliciously sweet cocktail.

Ingredients (for the cocktail):

• 100ml of gin
• 100ml of sweet red vermouth
• 20ml of dark rum

Ingredients (for the mincemeat syrup):

• 110g of golden caster sugar
• 50g of mincemeat

Ingredients (for the garnish):

• 4tbsp of caster sugar
• 4tsp of mixed spice

Instructions:

1. First, begin by making the mincemeat syrup. Fill a pan with 100ml of water, the caster sugar, and mincemeat, and bring it to boil. Once boiled, leave the mix to cool before straining it through a sieve laced with muslin, then place the syrup to one side.
2. Next, mix the garnish caster sugar and mixed spice into a glass and use it to dampen the rims of your martini glasses.
3. Finally, take your mincemeat mixture and dollop it into your shaker. Add the gin, sweet vermouth, dark rum, ice cubes, and 80ml of your strained mincemeat syrup, and shake the mixture thoroughly.
4. Once shaken, strain the mixture into your martini glass.

3. Snowball dessert cocktail

If you’re looking for a festive cocktail with more of a tropical zing, this snowball dessert-inspired cocktail is made using coconut rum and vanilla vodka to recreate the dessert’s true flavour.

Ingredients:

• 30ml of vanilla vodka
• 60ml of coconut rum
• 15ml of cream of coconut
• A sprinkling of granulated sugar or shredded sweetened coconut for the rim

Instructions:

1. Coat the rim of your cocktail glass with sugar or shredded coconut.
2. Mix the vodka, rum, and cream of coconut in your shaker and shake until the mix becomes frothy.
3. Pour the mix into your glass and relax.

4. Christmas cheesecake martini

Who doesn’t love a good cheesecake? Made to recreate this most decadent of desserts, this cheesecake martini has been tested to make sure it tastes just like the real thing.

Ingredients:

• 2 graham crackers, coarsely crushed
• 60ml of cream cheese
• 60ml of vanilla ice cream
• 45ml of vanilla vodka
• 30ml of syrup
• 15ml of butterscotch schnapps
• A dash of lemon juice
• A pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Take a bit of ice cream and coat the rim of each martini glass to get them wet.
2. Pour the crushed crackers into a bowl, dip each glass into the mix to coat the rim fully, and then place these in the freezer for a few minutes so they set.
3. Meanwhile, take the ice cream and remaining ingredients, and mix everything together with a whisk or using a food processor.
4. Pour your mix into a shaker and top it with ice before shaking vigorously.
5. Take your glasses out of the freezer, pour your cocktail into each, and drink!

5. Sticky toffee pudding martini

Capturing the distinct taste and smell of sticky toffee pudding is no mean feat, but this cocktail pulls it off flawlessly, leaving you with a delicious after-dinner drink that everyone can enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 20ml of Baileys
• 20ml of Drambuie
• 20ml of Disaronno
• 30ml of cream
• 30ml of milk
• Chocolate shavings

Instructions:

1. Add all your liquid ingredients into your cocktail shaker, top it up with ice, and shake the mixture thoroughly.
2. Strain the mixture into your cocktail glass and garnish with the chocolate shavings before enjoying a sip.

6. Apple strudel martini

Rich in flavour, the cinnamon hints of an apple strudel are exactly what you need in a festive drink, hence why we’ve recreated it here.

Ingredients:

• 2tbsp of golden caster sugar
• 200ml of pressed apple juice
• 100ml of cognac
• 50ml of Disaronno
• 50ml of Madeira wine
• 1 cinnamon stick
• A dash of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Start by dipping the rim of your martini glasses into water to dampen, then dip them in caster sugar so each is coated. Place these in the fridge till you’re ready to serve.
2. Fill a pan with your pressed apple juice and the cinnamon stick and warm it. Once brought to the boil, leave it to cool, discarding the cinnamon stick and pouring the mixture into a jug once cold.
3. Lastly, put your cognac, Disaronno, Madeira wine, and lemon juice in your shaker, top it with ice, and shake until the mixture inside is properly chilled. Then strain the mixture into your glass, top it with the spiced apple juice, and serve straight away.

7. Eton mess slushy

Closer to a full pudding than a Christmas drink, this Eton mess slushy can replace any dessert while matching all the hits you want from a cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 125g of fresh raspberries
• 100g of caster sugar
• 350g of fresh strawberries, hulled
• 250ml of Baileys
• 125ml of strawberry liqueur
• 40 pink marshmallows
• 8 mini-meringues
• Mint leaves

Instructions:

1. Take your raspberries and sugar and put them in a pan with 125ml of water. Bring this to the boil and cook for 5 minutes or until reduced and thickened to a raspberry puree.
2. Take this mix off the heat and blend it until smooth, then place it in the fridge until chilled.
3. While the raspberry puree mix is cooling, chill your tall glasses in the freezer. Once chilled, drizzle their insides with 60ml of the raspberry puree and then freeze them again.
4. Next, halve your strawberries and place these, your Baileys, the remaining raspberry puree, and the strawberry liqueur into a blender. Top it with ice and then blend until slushy.
5. Pour the mix into your chilled glasses, top them with marshmallows, meringues, and mint, and treat yourself.

8. Christmas trifle mocktail

Just because you don’t drink, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a festive mocktail. This faux trifle mocktail is sure to hit the sweet tooth of those who try it.

Ingredients:

• Bundaberg Burgundy creaming soda
• 20ml of lime juice
• 30ml of cranberry juice
• 20ml of cream
• Lime wedges

Instructions:

1. Pour the cranberry and lime juice into your shaker and mix well.
2. Pour this blend into your glass and top it up with the creaming soda. Add the cream on top, garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy.

And there you have it; those are eight festive cocktails that you can try in the run-up to Christmas from the warmth of your very own home. And if you like them, don’t forget to write them down so you can make them again next year!

Of course, if you’re after even more recipes, then don’t forget to visit our recipe inspiration page. Packed with Wren recipes, kitchen advice, and other blogs like this one, you’ll be spoilt for choice of what to read next.