Christmas time means lots of chances to eat, drink and be merry with family and friends. We are working our way through a typical Christmas meal and suggesting everything from drinks to desserts. All that planning can be thirsty work – so let’s start with the drinks!
Cool drinks
If you’re looking for something to serve at a BBQ, lunch, or on a hot summer evening, try some of these cool Christmas drinks.
Fruit Salad Punch – You’ll need:
• 1kg can fruit salad in natural juice
• 2 small oranges, thinly sliced
• 2 small lemons, thinly sliced
• 850ml can apricot nectar, chilled
• 2 x 750ml bottles sparkling apple juice, chilled
• Ice cubes, to serve
Place undrained fruit salad, orange, lemon, apricot nectar and rum in a large jug and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavours to develop. Add sparkling apple juice and ice just before serving.
If you want to make it an adult-only drink, add ¾ cup of white rum.
Yule Mule Cocktails – You’ll need:
• 9 limes
• 750ml vodka
• crushed ice
• 3 x 750ml bottles ginger beer, chilled
Juice 6 of the limes. Cut remaining 3 limes into small wedges. Pour vodka and 1 cup lime juice into a carafe or jug. Stir to combine. Half-fill twelve glasses with crushed ice. Pour over 1/3 cup vodka mixture. Top with ginger beer and lime wedges.
Watermelon Cooler – You’ll need:
• 800g seedless watermelon, peeled, chopped
• 1/2 cup chilled apple juice
• 2 tablespoons torn fresh mint leaves
• Ice cubes, to serve
Blend watermelon and apple juice until smooth. Add mint and stir through. Place ice cubes in glasses. Top with watermelon mixture and serve! If you want to make it into a cocktail punch just add ¾ cup of vodka.
Hot drinks
For a more traditional seasonal drink, try out one of these white Christmas treats.
Mulled Wine – You’ll need:
• 10 cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 1 roughly grated nutmeg
• 2 cups water
• roughly grated rind of 1 orange
• 1 apple, roughly chopped (skin on)
• 750ml fruity red wine (e.g. merlot)
Heat cloves, cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, water, orange rind and apple in a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil, and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Add red wine and simmer for another 5 minutes, strain and divide among serving glasses. Serve immediately.
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate – You’ll need:
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon caster sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• whipped cream and cinnamon to decorate
Pour the milk into a saucepan and mix with the hot chocolate powder, white sugar and vanilla extract. Slowly bring to a simmer and heat through until warm. Stir in the ground ginger, top with whipped cream and cinnamon.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate – You’ll need:
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup caster sugar
• 8 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint essence
• mini green marshmallows to serve
Combine cocoa and sugar in a jug. Whisk in milk and peppermint. Transfer mixture to a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly bring to a simmer and heat through until warm. Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows.