Christmas Recipes

Easy, few ingredient Christmas Cocktails

Have you ever felt left out of fancy zoom cocktail nights, because the recipes just require so. Many. Ingredients. Yes, us too. So when it comes to cocktails – and many other things with regards to City to Cottage, really, we prefer simplicity. So we thought we’ll list a few simple, quick, easy to access (in terms of ingredients) cocktails so you can start participating to the fun!

Some things would make a great Christmas present as well, such as the homemade rosemary infusion that you can use in many other things too.

1. Rosemary Champagne Cocktail with Blood Orange

We found this recipe on Colleen’s blog, which is most certainly worth a visit. Her purpose is to inspire you to live seasonally, become more self sufficient, and protect your health. This recipe is definitely a winner in our eyes, because of its no-nonsense approach to a drink. It’s easy to swap the champagne out to something sparkly, like Appletizer or Elderflower cordial for example, to make yourself a delicious mocktail, if you prefer to cut back on the alcohol.

Ingredients

  • 1-2 tbsp rosemary syrup – visit her blog to get the recipe on how to do this. Hint: it’s VERY easy.
  • 2 tbsp blood orange juice
  • champagne (or non-alcoholic sparkling beverage of your choice)
  • a rosemary twig and a slice of blood orange for garnish

Put 1-2 tablespoons of the rosemary syrup into each glass (depends on how sweet you want it).

Then add the orange juice and stir a bit to combine.

Fill the glass with champagne or non-alcoholic bubbly.

Garnish with a rosemary sprig and an orange slice and enjoy.

These could make great New Year’s Eve drinks as well, don’t you think?

2. Earl Grey Blackberry Bourbon Cocktail

Rich, warm, but fruity – a great drink to enjoy this winter as it’s warming but reminds you of the longer summer days. The recipe calls for blackberries, which is easy to find in the freezer section this time of year.

  • Start with blackberries (2-3) & sugar syrup (1/2 oz shot)
  • Muddle to get all that delicious blackberry goodness
  • Throw in your Earl Grey tea (1 & 1/2 oz chilled, make it stronger and add a pinch of dried rosemary before you strain it for a subtle yet effective rosemary flavour)
  • Add your favourite bourbon (1 & 1/2 oz)
  • Add some Spiced Pear Liqueur if you have it
  • Throw in a few ice cubes
  • Stir, strain if you’d like, then garnish with a lovely rosemary sprig and a blackberry.

3. Hot Mulled Apple Cider

It’s probably the easiest of all, because all you need to do is throw all the ingredients in one pot, stir and then keep warm! Makes it ideal for a long winter night.

In a large pot, mix the following:

  • 6 cups of organic, unfiltered apple cider
  • 2 cups of good quality whiskey
  • 4-6 orange slices
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tablespoons of mulled wine spice
  • 2-4 whole star anise
  • apple and orange slices, nutmeg and cinnamon sticks for garnish

Boil over medium heat and stir occasionally. You don’t want to go too high on the temperature, as you’d boil away the alcohol.

Once hot, but not boiling, keep warm on the lowest setting.

Serve warm in mugs and garnish with apples, oranges or additional spices.

You can also set up a tray with the cups and some dried orange slices for decoration.

Image and Recipe courtesy of craftginclub.co.uk

4. Spiced Pear Negroni

This Pear Negroni is an elegant, delicately spiced, and perfectly balanced, very grown-up cocktail.

  • 25ml Gin
  • 25ml White vermouth
  • A few drops of vanilla essence, or a pod
  • Cinnamon stick
  • A few cloves
  • Pinch of ground ginger
  • Pear Cider to top up
  • Lemon peel, rosemary or thyme sprig, to garnish

First, infuse the vermouth with spice: add the vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and ginger to the spirit and leave to infuse for at least 30 minutes. The longer you leave it, the more flavour the vermouth will take on! Before using, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer.

Add lots of ice to a glass or tumbler, then add your gin, spice-infused vermouth and pear cider. Stir gently, garnish and serve.

Which one was your favourite? Will you be trying any of the above this winter? Please let us know in the comments and tag us on Instagram with #citytocottage so we can see your creations!

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