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    You are here: Home » Food » How to Host a Holiday Cocktail Party (With Cocktail Party Recipes!)

    How to Host a Holiday Cocktail Party (With Cocktail Party Recipes!)

    December 1, 2021 By Sean Martin Leave a Comment

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    Cocktail Party Pin
    Cocktail Party Pin
    Holiday cocktails roundup pinterest pin

    From hot mulled wine and bubbly spritzers to creamy cheese dips and grilled oysters, we’ve gathered up all our favorite cocktail party essentials. Whether you are hosting a New Year’s bash or simply sipping at home, there is sure to be a drink or a cocktail party appetizer to please everyone.

    Three Ginger Beer cocktails made with pomegranate juice
    These pomegranate spritzers are sure to bring some sparkle to your party

    So you’ve finished binging your favorite 60’s drama (hellooo Mad Men) and now you’re ready to host your very own cocktail party. Hooray! We’ve got you covered from the drinks to the best cocktail party recipe ideas.

    Jump to:
    • Cocktail Party Planning
    • Wine
    • Holiday Cocktail Recipes
    • Cocktail Party Appetizers

    Cocktail Party Planning

    You need to make sure you balance time with guests and time to socialize during the event. So plan your menu with just a couple of each items.

    First things first: booze. So that you actually have time to talk to your guests (and not just be the bartender) we recommend choosing 2-3 cocktails and pre-mixing them in pitchers or carafes. Try picking:

    • 1 drink with a light liquor (gin, vodka, light rum)
    • 1 with a dark liquor (bourbon or whiskey)
    • 1 with bubbles (you can rarely go wrong with bubbles)

    That way everyone will have a drink they can jive with. Plan on serving 1 drink per person per hour. Don’t forget to have a non-alcoholic drink option on hand as well.

    For cocktail appetizers plan a combination of cocktail appetizers you can make in advance and cook during the party. Below we mention portions. That way you can pull some things out of the oven with minimal need to prepare or clean up.

    Wine

    It goes without saying, having a few well curated wines goes a long way. When it comes to ease and accommodating a wide range of palates, keep the budget around $30 (or less) per bottle. It is a special party. And if you are wondering what styles to have: sparkling wine, Chardonnay, and a red Zinfandel are all great options and very versatile with food (not to mention they cater to a wide variety of palates).

    And guess what, we have you covered! You can order and ship your wine right to you if you want a unique, small producer, with sustainable growing and winemaking practices. Head over to the Vindulge Wine Market for options across the price ranges.

    Holiday Cocktail Recipes

    Make a pitcher (or crock pot!) of these festive cocktails so you can spend more time mingling.

    Two Apple Cider Mimosas
    Apple Cider Mimosa Recipe
    Fresh apple cider plus sparkling wine for the perfect apple cider cocktail. This will be your go-to fall cocktail.
    Full Recipe
    Mulled Wine Recipe
    Mulled Wine is a comforting festive drink made from a blend of red wine, spices, and citrus, served warm. This holiday classic recipe is easy to make and is a great cocktail for winter parties.
    Full Recipe
    Ginger Pomegranate Spritz in glass.
    Ginger Pomegranate Cocktail
    Ginger Pomegranate Spritz is a loose take on a classic cocktail. This refreshing drink is made with ginger beer, pomegranate flavored Italian soda, fresh lime, vodka, and some fresh herbs. It's the perfect refreshing holiday cocktail this season.
    Full Recipe
    Pomegranate Mimosa
    Pomegranate Mimosa
    A delicious and festive Pomegranate Mimosa made with sparkling wine, Cointreau, and pomegranate juice. The perfect champagne cocktail recipe for holiday parties!
    Full Recipe
    Spiked Hot Apple Cider
    Bourbon Spiked Hot Apple Cider Recipe
    A soothing and comforting spiked apple cider made with Bourbon. Can be served warm or cold over ice. 
    Full Recipe
    Bourbon Cocktails with Lemon Simple Syrup
    Bourbon Cocktail Recipe with Grilled Lemon Simple Syrup
    Grilled lemons infused into a simple syrup and mixed with bourbon and bitters. A great summer cocktail.
    Full Recipe

    Cocktail Party Appetizers

    On to the food! Like with drinks, the name of the game is to do as much as you can in advance. Dips and nuts can be prepared the day before. Meatballs can be kept warm in a crock pot throughout the party.

    How many appetizers should you make?

    No need to make every recipe on our list. Choose your favorites and try making 3-4 different appetizers with enough for each person to average 12 bites. (Plan on more per person if being served in lieu of a meal.)

    Grilled Shrimp Cocktail served with a Spicy Sriracha Cocktail Sauce
    Grilled Shrimp Cocktail with Sriracha Cocktail Sauce
    Grilled Shrimp Cocktail features a Spicy Sriracha Cocktail Sauce that is easily adaptable. Perfect for cookouts, parties, and holidays!
    Full Recipe
    A platter of jalapeño poppers stuffed with brie cheese and wrapped with prosciutto on a white plate
    Jalapeño Poppers with Brie and Prosciutto
    A cheese board meets jalapeño poppers with creamy brie cheese, savory and salty prosciutto with a touch of cherry jam.
    Full Recipe
    Chestnuts roasting over a grill
    Roasted Chestnuts over Open Fire
    An easy recipe for roasting chestnuts over an open fire of charcoal or embers.
    Full Recipe
    Grilled Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates on a platter
    Grilled Bacon Wrapped Dates with Honey and Goat Cheese
    Stuffed with goat cheese, these dates are then wrapped with bacon and then grilled over direct heat. These dates are finished with a smoked honey glaze and create the very best finger food at any party.
    Full Recipe
    Smoked Meatballs with a Cranberry and Red Wine Sauce
    Smoked Cranberry Meatballs in a Cranberry Red Wine Sauce
    A simple, delicious, and elegant appetizer idea for the holidays. Smoked meatballs made with pork and beef, cooked on the smoker, and then braised in a sweet and savory cranberry wine sauce.
    Full Recipe
    Baked Brie dip with crostini.
    Grilled Baked Brie with Wine and Thyme
    Grilled brie wheel with white wine and thyme served with grilled crostini.
    Full Recipe
    Smoked Salmon Dip with crostini in a cup.
    Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe
    A delicious appetizer recipe for smoked salmon dip made with salmon cooked on a smoker, then mixed into a creamy indulgent dip. This is a great smoked salmon appetizer for any occasion. Includes wine pairings.
    Full Recipe
    Smoked almonds in a dish with sea salt.
    Smoked Almonds
    Roasting almonds using a low and slow method to get an amazing smoky flavor and crunch. We add a touch of extra virgin olive oil and kosher salt to finish.
    Full Recipe
    A serving platter of smoked and stuffed sausage mushrooms.
    Smoked Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe
    An easy and elegant recipe for Smoked Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. Smoked sausage adds incredible flavor to this favorite holiday party appetizer.
    Full Recipe
    Lodge cast iron baking dish with baked goat cheese, mushrooms, and crostini.
    Goat Cheese Dip Recipe with Shiitake Mushrooms
    Goat Cheese Dip with Shiitake Mushrooms combines cream cheese and goat cheese with savory shiitake mushrooms and is baked and finished with spicy pickled peppers, tomatoes, and more mushrooms. Creamy, savory, and delicious!
    Full Recipe
    A sheet pan full of Smoked Candied Nuts
    Smoked Candied Nuts Recipe with Bourbon Glaze
    A slowly smoked mix of pecans, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts finished with a sweet and decadent butter, brown sugar, and bourbon glaze.
    Full Recipe
    A platter of Grilled Oysters
    Grilled Oysters with White Wine Butter Sauce
    How to grill oysters in the half shell with a herb wine butter sauce.
    Full Recipe
    Beef skewers on a cutting board with cranberry relish.
    Wine Marinated Beef Skewers
    Using a red wine marinade and easy dry rub for these delicious grilled steak skewer recipe.
    Full Recipe

    Thank you for being part of our community. If you make any of our dishes we’d love to see them on social media using the hashtag #vindulge and give it a 5 star review.

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link, we may receive a small commission if you purchase through the link. We partner with brands we know and love and use and it helps keep the blog going!


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    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

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