Holiday Appetizers and Cocktails

Every inch of your house is sporting your holiday spirit. Now it’s time to add appetizers and cocktails.

We’re here to help you expand your holiday cheer with treats that will leave your guests hoping you’re their hostess with the mostest every year.

We sampled the first concoction and hope you’ll love our other option, too. This drink did not disappoint, and with the addition of our beautiful Tapers, it doesn’t photograph half bad, either.

Cheers!

Cranberry Mule:

Sugared Cranberries (for garnishing)

• 12 oz. fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup simple syrup
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Cranberry Mule

• 2 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice (you don’t want to use cranberry cocktail)
• 3 oz. ginger beer
• 1 1/2 oz. spiced rum
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• Ice, for serving

Instructions

Make the Sugared Cranberries

1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire cooling rack on top of the lined baking sheet, and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, measure in the simple syrup.
3. Toss the cranberries in the simple syrup, removing them with a slotted spoon, then place on the wire cooling rack.
4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until the berries are sticky.
5. When the berries are sticky, measure the sugar into a large bowl.
6. Toss the cranberries in the sugar until coated, then transfer back to the wire cooling rack.
7. Coat all the cranberries, then refrigerate for an additional hour before using.

Make the Cranberry Mules

1. Place a handful of ice in a copper mug.
2. Combine the cranberry juice, ginger beer, rum and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
3. Shake until combined, then pour over ice.
4. Serve with sugared cranberries as garnish, and enjoy immediately.

Berry Merry Christmas Cocktail:

Ingredients:

• 1 shot vodka
• 1 shot Chambord
• ½ shot Limoncello
• ¼ shot Grenadine
• Club soda*

Instructions:

1. Combine vodka, Chambord, Limoncello, Grenadine and 1 shot of club soda in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into chilled martini glass.

*If you'd like to have this drink in a tall glass on the rock, just shake the booze together in a shaker, pour over a glass filled with ice and top off with club soda.

Holiday Appetizers

Now to the next portion, which all of you foodies will enjoy. We handpicked some appetizers that not only taste good but look pretty.

Christmas Wreath Fruit Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 bag of sugar cookie mix (like Betty Crocker) or 1 tube of refrigerated dough - whichever you prefer.
• 1 (8 oz) pkg PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 teaspoons of lemon or lime juice
• Various washed fruit of your liking - I used raspberries, blackberries, blueberries & strawberries
• Fresh mint for wreath garnish

Instructions

1. Grease your pizza pan and the sides of a small bowl.
2. Preheat your oven - per cookie mix.
3. If you're making your sugar cookie crust from a bag - prepare as per directions on the back of the bag.
4. Spread your cookie mixture evenly on your pizza pan. I used a cookie mix, and the cookie crust baked perfectly to the end of the pizza pan.
5. In a mixing bowl, mix your soften cream cheese, sugar, milk & lime juice together with a hand mixer.
6. Once your cookie crust has cooled completely, spread your cream cheese mixture on top of your crust.
7. Arrange your fruit on top of your cream cheese mixture.
8. Add your fresh mint for garnish.

Festive Cheese Wedges:

Ingredients:

Cheese wedges

Herbs and chili flakes

Savory stars

Instructions: