Entertain your guests on Christmas Eve with these delicious drinks!
Holiday Citrus Punch
INGREDIENTS
2 cups bottled pear nectar
4 cups orange juice
2 cups chilled club soda
1 cup light rum (if desired)
Orange slices (for garnish)
DIRECTIONS:
STEP 1
Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large pitcher or punch bowl; pour 2 cups bottled pear nectar and 4 cups orange juice (from blood oranges or regular juice oranges) through sieve into pitcher. Before serving, stir in 2 cups chilled club soda and, if desired, 1 cup light rum. Pour into glasses over ice; garnish with orange slices.
Christmas Punch
INGREDIENTS
2 cups chilled pomegranate juice
1 cup chilled cranberry juice
8 ounces (1 cup) vodka
8 ounces (1 cup) Cointreau or other orange-flavored liqueur
1 cup chilled club soda
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 6 lemons)
1/2 cup Simple Syrup
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Combine pomegranate and cranberry juice, vodka, Cointreau, club soda, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a punch bowl. Fill glasses with cranberries frozen in ice cubes, and serve. Garnish with lemon slices if desired.
Tea Punch
INGREDIENTS
3 oranges, sliced
8 cups hot weak green tea
4 cups dark rum, chilled
Juice of 3 lemons, chilled
8 cups white wine, chilled
2 cups brandy, chilled
Ice
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Place orange slices in a large container and pour tea over oranges. Bring to room temperature and transfer to refrigerator to chill. Just before serving, transfer to a punch bowl and add rum, lemon juice, wine, and brandy; add ice and serve immediately.
Christmas Rum Punch
INGREDIENTS
Lime slices, for ice and garnish
Apple wedges, for ice and for garnish
Cranberries, for ice
3/4 cup Citrus-Ginger Sugar
2 1/4 cups freshly squeezed lime juice
3 3/4 cups dark rum
2 1/4 cups Grand Marnier
1 1/2 cups Amaretto
3 3/4 cups apple juice, preferably organic
3 1/2 cups sparkling water
Orange slices, for garnish
Freshly grated cinnamon, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Fill a 2-cup container with water and add lime slices, apple wedges, and cranberries; cover and transfer to a freezer. Freeze until solid.
STEP 2
In a large punch bowl, mix together sugar and lime juice until dissolved. Add rum, Grand Marnier, Amaretto, and apple juice. Transfer to refrigerator until ready to serve.
STEP 3
Add ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with lime slices, orange slices, apple wedges, and cinnamon; serve.
Classic Eggnog
INGREDIENTS
6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup superfine sugar
2 cups whole milk
3 cups heavy cream, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup bourbon, preferably Maker's Mark
1/4 cup dark rum, preferably Mount Gay
1/4 cup Cognac, preferably Remy Martin Grand Cru
Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling
COOK'S NOTE
The egg yolks and whites in this recipe are not cooked. This dish should not be prepared for pregnant women, the elderly, or anyone whose health is compromised.
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Beat yolks in a very large bowl until thick and pale. Slowly beat in sugar. Whisk in milk and 2 cups cream. Mix in bourbon, rum, and Cognac. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
STEP 2
Just before serving, beat whites until stiff peaks form. Fold whites into eggnog. Whisk remaining 1 cup cream until stiff peaks form, and fold into eggnog. (Alternatively, you can fold half the whipped cream into eggnog, and top with remaining half.) Sprinkle with nutmeg.