Holiday Cocktails

A girls night in with holiday cocktails and apps is always one of my absolute favorite parties of the season. Low-stress, intimate and so much fun, it’s a relaxed and no-excuses way to get together with your girlfriends during the most hectic time of the year.

- Table of Contents -

1. Keep Your Holiday Cocktails Party Super Casual
2. Eat, Drink & Be Merry….
3. CLEAN HOLIDAY COCKTAILS
4. Kitchen Favorites
5.  
6. Clean Holiday Appetizer Ideas

View more

Keep Your Holiday Cocktails Party Super Casual

No need for cocktail attire either. The dress code can be anything from jeans with heels and sparkles to nightgowns with fuzzy slippers (because if it’s just the girls, why not!?)

And don’t worry, there is no reason you need to pull the whole thing off all by yourself either…

Easy Holiday Cocktails and Appetizers

Since the main theme is holiday cocktails and apps, setting a fancy table and spending all day in the kitchen will not be necessary. Instead, all you need to do is decide on one or two different main holiday cocktails to serve and one appetizer. Then ask and you will receive….

A Gift Exchange is Always Fun

Ask your girlfriends to each bring one appetizer, one bottle of wine and a White Elephant Gift (for the gift exchange).

You can then assign the remaining items to four good friends:

• Spirited Holiday Cocktail Napkins (these Santa Napkins are so cute!)
• Holiday Paper Plates (trust me, you’ll be happy about these the next morning)
• Votive Candles (candles always make any event seem special)
• Music Play List (because you have to have holiday tunes!)

Eat, Drink & Be Merry….

Whether it’s holiday cocktails, Christmas cookies or appetizers, I still keep them all clean. And yes, a clean cocktail does have alcohol, it just doesn’t have refined sugar. There’s just no reason to serve the girls liquid sugar mixed with alcohol when a clean version tastes every bit as good!

CLEAN HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

These are my three of my favorite clean holiday cocktails and are guest favorites. For your drinks, have one with a berry flavor, something creamy like our spirited eggnog and a lemoney based cocktail.

Cranberry & Pomegranate Red Punch

This Cranberry and Pomegranate Red Punch is absolutely delicious… and healthy.

Spirited Eggnog

Our Spirited Eggnog recipe is rich and decadent (minus the dairy, eggs and sugar) is a whole lot easier and tastier than you might think!

Brandy Lemon Drops

This citrus-based Brandy Lemon Drop is full of flavor and is so tasty. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and a bit of brandy, it’s definitely a perfect holiday cocktail. See recipe below.

Print

Note: All of the recipes for the Holiday Cocktails require a high-speed blender, like our favorite one from Ninja. This Ninja Professional it not pricey at all and during the holiday season, you can typically get it for less than $100.

 

Clean Holiday Appetizer Ideas

If your group of girlfriends are into clean eating then you will definitely be in luck! If not, here are a few easy ideas below…

#1: FESTIVE CHEESE BOARD

One of my favorite no-cook party appetizers is always a Festive Cheese Board (if you don’t already have one, pick up from Twine for less than $20.). I like to include a selection of organic dairy-free nut cheeses from Dr. Cow along with their sprouted sesame crackers, some dried apricots and figs, and fresh grapes and strawberries.

#2: CRUDITE PLATTER

Since I am always looking for ways to sneak in more vegetables, a Crudite Platter is a no-brainer. You can buy the veggies ahead and then all you have to do is make the dip. Green Goddess Dip, Creamy Chipotle Dip, and Honey Mustard Sauce are always good options.

#3: VEGGIE SOUP SHOOTERS

Veggie Soup Shooters served in shot glasses are another favorite and a festive way to eat your vegetables. Pumpkin-Chipotle Soup, Gazpacho with Parsley Pesto, Tomato Soup, and Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup are all good soup recipes for serving in shot glasses.

#4: EASY APPETIZERS

And of course everybody always loves Spiced or Candied Nuts. I have a delicious, Clean Candied Pecan recipe that takes no more than 10-minutes of hands-on cooking time. Crispy Roasted Chickpeas are also always a huge hit and very easy to make.

For whatever reason, I’m big into serving something with artichokes at parties too. You can’t go wrong with Artichoke Brushetta or Artichoke Dip. 

If you want to go with something a bit meatier, either this Smoked Salmon Appetizer or Chicken Zucchini Meatballs would be just the thing!

And finally, don’t forget to raise a glass and toast your girlfriends….the one below is one of my all time favorites:

“Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but you know they’re always there!”

Cheers!!