10+ Thanksgiving Recipes Drinks to Delight Your Guests
When it comes to Thanksgiving, the food is often the star of the show, but drinks can add a special touch to your celebration. Choosing the right beverages can elevate your festive gathering and create lasting memories with family and friends. From warm, comforting flavors to refreshing cocktails, there are countless options to explore.
As you prepare for this holiday, consider how drinks can complement your menu. Whether you prefer classic recipes or innovative mixes, the right drink can bring everyone together and enhance the festive atmosphere.
Get ready to discover delicious Thanksgiving drink recipes that will delight your guests.
1) Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail
A Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail is a festive drink perfect for Thanksgiving. It combines the tartness of pomegranate juice with the sparkling touch of champagne. This cocktail looks beautiful and tastes refreshing.
To make it, you can put pomegranate seeds in the bottom of a champagne glass. Then, fill the glass halfway with pomegranate juice and top it off with chilled champagne.
For extra flavor, you might add a splash of orange liqueur or sweet lime juice. Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds for a lovely touch.
Ingredients
- 1 oz. (30 ml) pomegranate juice
- ½ oz. (15 ml) orange liqueur (optional)
- 3 oz. (90 ml) champagne
- Pomegranate seeds for garnish
Cooking Instructions
- Place pomegranate seeds in the bottom of your glass.
- Pour in the pomegranate juice.
- Add the orange liqueur if using.
- Top with chilled champagne.
- Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds. Enjoy!
2) Maple Perfect Manhattan
The Maple Perfect Manhattan is a delightful twist on the classic cocktail. It combines the warmth of whiskey with the sweetness of maple syrup. This drink is perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings.
To make a Maple Perfect Manhattan, you’ll need both sweet and dry vermouth. This balance adds depth to the flavor of the drink. You can use rye whiskey or bourbon, depending on your preference.
Top it off with a dash of bitters for a hint of spice. Garnish with a cherry for a touch of elegance.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey or bourbon
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce dry vermouth
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Luxardo cherries for garnish
Cooking Instructions
- In a mixing glass, combine the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and maple syrup.
- Add 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Fill the glass with ice and stir well until chilled.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with a Luxardo cherry. Enjoy!
3) Hot Mulled Cider
Hot mulled cider is a warm, comforting drink perfect for Thanksgiving. It fills your home with cozy scents of spices and creates a festive ambiance. You can make it easily on the stove or in a slow cooker.
To prepare, start with fresh apple cider. Add spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice. You might also want to include orange slices for a citrusy twist. If you enjoy a little kick, consider adding bourbon or rum.
Simmer the mixture gently until fragrant. This usually takes about 30 minutes on the stove. If you use a slow cooker, let it warm on low for about 4 hours.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon (3.8 liters) apple cider
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon allspice berries
- Orange slices
- Optional: bourbon or rum
Cooking Instructions
- In a pot or slow cooker, combine the apple cider and spices.
- Add the orange slices.
- Heat on low, simmering for 30 minutes (stove) or 4 hours (slow cooker).
- Serve warm and enjoy!
4) Thanksgiving Punch with Apple Cider and Fireball
Thanksgiving Punch is a fun and tasty drink to serve at your holiday gathering. This recipe combines the warm flavors of apple cider and Fireball whiskey for a delightful mix.
You’ll need apple cider, Fireball whiskey, cranberry juice, and ginger beer. Each ingredient adds its own unique flavor, making the punch feel festive.
To start, mix the apple cider and cranberry juice in a large bowl. Then, add Fireball whiskey to give it a spicy kick. Finally, top it off with ginger beer for some fizz.
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 cup Fireball whiskey
- 2 cups ginger beer
Cooking Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine apple cider and cranberry juice.
- Stir in Fireball whiskey.
- Slowly add ginger beer and mix gently.
- Serve over ice and enjoy!
5) Kir Royale Cocktail
The Kir Royale is a classy and simple cocktail perfect for Thanksgiving celebrations. This drink features champagne and a splash of liqueur, making it festive and fun.
To make a Kir Royale, you just combine crème de cassis or Chambord with chilled champagne. This mix gives you a sweet and bubbly treat that your guests will love.
You can add a raspberry as a garnish for a touch of color and flavor. It looks beautiful in your glass and adds a festive spirit to your table.
Ingredients
- 1/2 ounce crème de cassis or Chambord
- 6 ounces chilled dry champagne or sparkling wine
- 1 raspberry (optional)
Cooking Instructions
- Pour 1/2 ounce of crème de cassis or Chambord into a champagne flute.
- Slowly top with 6 ounces of chilled champagne or sparkling wine.
- Optionally, add a raspberry on top for garnish.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
6) Perfect Pear Brandy Sidecar
The Perfect Pear Brandy Sidecar is a delightful drink for Thanksgiving. It combines pear brandy with fresh citrus for a tasty and refreshing treat. This cocktail is simple to make and will impress your guests.
To make it, you’ll need a cocktail shaker. Start by pouring in pear brandy, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add ice and shake until the shaker feels cold.
Next, strain the mixture into a chilled glass. For an extra touch, you can rim the glass with sugar. Enjoy this fruity drink as a lovely addition to your Thanksgiving spread.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pear brandy
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Sugar (for rimming)
Cooking Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add pear brandy, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake until the shaker is cold.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Optionally, rim the glass with sugar before pouring.
- Serve and enjoy!
7) Hot Cinnamon Apple Brandy Cider
Hot Cinnamon Apple Brandy Cider is perfect for warming up on chilly Thanksgiving nights. This delightful drink combines the sweet taste of apple cider with warm spices. The touch of apple brandy gives it a festive twist.
You’ll need apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and a few other spices to create this comforting beverage. Heating it on the stove fills your kitchen with a wonderful aroma.
Serve it in mugs and add a cinnamon stick for a nice touch. It’s sure to impress your guests and family.
Ingredients
- 10 oz apple cider
- 3 oz apple brandy
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon sugar (or to taste)
- 1-2 whole cloves
- 1 slice of orange zest
Cooking Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine apple cider, apple brandy, and sugar.
- Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange zest.
- Heat over medium until it reaches 180°F (82°C).
- Stir occasionally and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Pour into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!
8) Cranberry Martini
A Cranberry Martini is a festive drink perfect for Thanksgiving. Its refreshing flavor balances sweetness and tartness. You can impress your guests with a colorful and delicious cocktail.
To prepare, start by gathering your ingredients. You’ll need cranberry juice, vodka, and orange liqueur. Shaking these with ice makes a chilled drink that feels special.
You can also add vermouth for an extra layer of flavor. Garnish with a twist of orange peel to enhance the look.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- 0.5 ounces orange liqueur (like Triple Sec)
- Optional: 0.5 ounces vermouth
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Cooking Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add cranberry juice, vodka, and orange liqueur.
- Optional: Add vermouth.
- Shake well for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel. Enjoy!
9) Autumn Sunshine Cocktail
The Autumn Sunshine Cocktail is a warm and inviting drink perfect for Thanksgiving. This cocktail blends the rich flavors of bourbon with sweet maple syrup and tangy Grand Marnier.
To make it festive, it’s garnished with fresh clementine peel. This drink captures the essence of autumn in every sip.
It’s simple to make and will impress your guests during the holiday.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
- 1/2 oz maple syrup
- Fresh clementine peel for garnish
Cooking Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, Grand Marnier, and maple syrup.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain the mixture into a glass.
- Garnish with fresh clementine peel.
- Enjoy your drink!
10) Bourbon Smash with Maple Syrup
The Bourbon Smash with Maple Syrup is a delightful drink for Thanksgiving. This cocktail combines sweet and tangy flavors for a refreshing treat.
To make it, you’ll need bourbon, fresh fruit, and maple syrup. The ingredients blend together nicely and create a cozy vibe.
Start by muddling your choice of fruit, like oranges or lemons, with maple syrup. Then add bourbon and ice, and shake it up to mix.
Strain the drink into a glass and top it off with ginger beer for some fizz. Your guests will love this easy and tasty cocktail!
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 oz maple syrup
- Ginger beer
- Ice
- Fresh fruit for muddling (like oranges or lemons)
Cooking Instructions
- Muddle fresh fruit with maple syrup in a shaker.
- Then, add bourbon, orange juice, lemon juice, and ice.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Lastly, top with ginger beer and enjoy!