Wassail and Eggnog punch. Spiced wine and buttered rum. The beverages we drink during the holidays range from spiked to spicy and what fun we can have with them! Even beer.
Beer? Yep. Did you know that Belgium’s famous Stella Artois was actually named after the holiday star and was first brewed as a holiday beer as a gift to the people of Leuven, Belgium? “Stella,” meaning star and “Artois” acknowledges Sebastian Artois, the brewery owner. Who knew, right? The beer is a golden lager, in contrast to the popular dark ales of the time. Its brilliant color was said to illuminate holiday celebrations and bring a sort of light to the world.
To help put a little “punch” in your eggnog, I thought I’d share some popular recipes for Christmas time drinks. Cheers!
Wassail
2 large apples, cored and sliced
1 gallon apple cider
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
2 t ground nutmeg
2 cinnamon sticks
6 oz. can frozen lemonade
6 oz. can frozen orange juice
½ cup honey
24 lemon and/or orange slices halved and quartered
Combine all ingredients except lemon and orange slices in large pot. Cover and simmer for one hour until very hot; stir occasionally. Remove apple slices and spices from liquid. Keep liquid hot. When ready to serve, place lemon and orange slices in wassail.
Peppermint Eggnog Punch
1 qt. peppermint ice cream
1 qt. eggnog
4 12-oz. cans chilled ginger ale
1 cup rum (optional)
Candy canes
Reserve 2-3 scoops of ice cream. In large chilled bowl stir in remaining ice cream till softened. Gradually stir in eggnog and rum. Transfer to punch bowl and add ginger ale. Float reserved ice cream scoops on top. Serve immediately with candy cane garnishes.
Spiced Wine
1 750-ml. bottle medium bodied red wine
½ cup sugar
10 whole cloves
6 cinnamon sticks
4 bay leaves
1 orange cut into wedges
Bring first 6 ingredients to boil in medium saucepan over high heat. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes. Pour through fine wire-mesh strainer and serve warm garnished with cinnamon stick.
Christmas Eve Creamy Crockpot Hot Chocolate
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz.)
2 cups milk chocolate chips
6 cups of milk
1 t vanilla extract
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and heat on low.
Santa’s Sleigh Cocktail (courtesy Sandra Lee)
Coarse, white sugar crystals
2 cups eggnog
½ cup brandy
½ cup amaretto liqueur
1 t ground nutmeg
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
4 cinnamon sticks
Combine eggnog, brandy, amaretto, nutmeg and ice cream in blender and process until smooth. Pour mixture into martini glasses rimmed with sugar crystals and garnish with cinnamon stick.
Candy Cane Cocktail
2 oz. strawberry vodka
4 dashes white crème de menthe
2 ½ oz. cranberry juice
Ice cubes
Candy canes
Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker and shake until well combined. Strain into martini glass rimmed with crushed candy cane pieces and garnish with miniature candy cane.
Gingerbread Martini
2 T ginger liqueur
2 T vanilla citrus liqueur
1 ½ T coffee-flavored rum
1 T honey
2 t whipping cream
Combine all in cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Serve in martini glass rimmed with crushed gingersnaps and garnish with vanilla beans.
Caramel Apple Whiskey (courtesy Zoe Report)
7 ½ oz. brown butter Whiskey (heat stick of butter in pan, bring to boil, add to whiskey)
2 ½ oz. Amaro Montenegro liqueur
2 ½ cups cinnamon syrup (bring water and several cinnamon sticks to boil. Simmer 15 minutes)
4 oz. lemon juice
Cinnamon sticks
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice and shake until smooth. Pour into carafe and serve in glasses garnished with cinnamon stick.
Have fun with these and most importantly, drink responsibly.
Beyond Words 