How to Make a Fresh, Fruity and Festive Cocktail
This fun, fruit-filled cocktail will pack a punch on the Christmas table, and look suitably festive to boot
If you’re hosting Christmas lunch this year, a colourful cocktail with all the bells and whistles might just be the secret ingredient your table is looking for. A little planning and forethought goes a long way, and if your drink complements your table decor, even better! Take a look at my simple recipe that’s a refreshing mocktail for kids and non-drinkers, but which can easily be turned into an alcoholic spritzer with some spirits.
Style a fresh and fruity Christmas table to match
Style a fresh and fruity Christmas table to match
This drink is a fruity take on a Shirley Temple and fruit punch – I call it Christmas Kiss! It’s a refreshing cocktail with a crimson red blush, and a wonderful way of incorporating some seasonal, festive fruit into your Aussie summer menu. I used fruits that complemented the rest of my Christmas table, which added cohesion and also meant less prep.
What you’ll need
- A jug, carafe or glass, depending on the quantity being made
- Ice
- Red cordial or grenadine
- Cranberry juice
- Dry ginger ale
- Vodka or rum (optional)
- Fresh lime juice
- Oranges (cut into slices)
- Cherries
- Fresh mint leaves
- Straws
A note on glassware
For easy serving, make this drink ahead of time in a large chilled carafe or jug. Make sure the vessel is ice cold (store in fridge before). Use a traditional high-ball glass to serve; I recommend this shape as it has enough room to hold the fruit and drink and isn’t easily toppled over.
Polo stemless flutes: Salt & Pepper
For easy serving, make this drink ahead of time in a large chilled carafe or jug. Make sure the vessel is ice cold (store in fridge before). Use a traditional high-ball glass to serve; I recommend this shape as it has enough room to hold the fruit and drink and isn’t easily toppled over.
Polo stemless flutes: Salt & Pepper
Step 1: Fill your glass or jug with ice
Step 2: Mix the drinks
Add a splash of red cordial or grenadine to your glass or jug with an equal measure of cranberry juice. Squeeze in some fresh lime and top with ginger ale. For an alcoholic version add a shot of vodka or rum.
Step 3: Pour in the fruit
Add a few orange slices and cherries. Cherries are so fun to work with: they dance in the bubbles of the ginger ale and taste delicious after soaking up the drink.
Step 4: Add mint
For that lovely summery flavour, add mint leaves. Here I have used fresh mint from my garden (or readily available at your local grocer or market), and have placed individual leaves in the drink for flavour and decoration.
Step 2: Mix the drinks
Add a splash of red cordial or grenadine to your glass or jug with an equal measure of cranberry juice. Squeeze in some fresh lime and top with ginger ale. For an alcoholic version add a shot of vodka or rum.
Step 3: Pour in the fruit
Add a few orange slices and cherries. Cherries are so fun to work with: they dance in the bubbles of the ginger ale and taste delicious after soaking up the drink.
Step 4: Add mint
For that lovely summery flavour, add mint leaves. Here I have used fresh mint from my garden (or readily available at your local grocer or market), and have placed individual leaves in the drink for flavour and decoration.
Step 5: Garnish
Go the extra mile and garnish your cocktails so they are as interesting to look at as they are to drink. It might take a few extra minutes and a little more planning, but your guests will thank you for it. I love fresh sprigs of mint atop the carafe and glass to contrast with the festive red of the cranberry juice.
Cut a slice of orange with a small slit to help it sit on the glass rim. Finish with a decorative straw and a few more dancing cherries.
Go the extra mile and garnish your cocktails so they are as interesting to look at as they are to drink. It might take a few extra minutes and a little more planning, but your guests will thank you for it. I love fresh sprigs of mint atop the carafe and glass to contrast with the festive red of the cranberry juice.
Cut a slice of orange with a small slit to help it sit on the glass rim. Finish with a decorative straw and a few more dancing cherries.
Step 6: Serve
You can serve your drinks on a tray, or leave them on a bar cart for guests to pick up and drink. Add some wedges of fresh lime on the side for guests who want a little extra zing.
Cheers!
You can serve your drinks on a tray, or leave them on a bar cart for guests to pick up and drink. Add some wedges of fresh lime on the side for guests who want a little extra zing.
Cheers!
TELL US
Do you have any fun and festive cocktail recipes? Share them in the Comments, we’d love to hear them.
MORE
Read more fun Christmas decorating stories
Do you have any fun and festive cocktail recipes? Share them in the Comments, we’d love to hear them.
MORE
Read more fun Christmas decorating stories