50 Festive Cocktails for Your Thanksgiving Celebration

You’ll find all your favorite fall flavors, including apple, cranberry, ginger and more.

August 29, 2022

By: Food Network Kitchen

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Raise a Glass

Whether you’re hosting a small dinner or an all-out, friends-and-family feast, you’re going to need a few fall cocktails to sip on throughout the day. That’s where these recipes come in. We’ve rounded up options for every holiday hosting situation. You’ll find fizzy mixed drinks to pair with appetizers, classic cocktails to serve alongside your turkey and cozy sips that are right at home with whatever Thanksgiving desserts you’ve got planned. With so many delicious options, where do you start? We recommend this cider-based cocktail that’s boosted with brandy, cinnamon sticks and clove-studded orange wedges. Served warm with a generous dollop of whipped cream it’s a welcome addition to any Turkey Day get-together.

Get the Recipe: Apple Toddy

The Maple Perfect Manhattan

A slight twist on the traditional Manhattan, Jeff Mauro's cocktail calls for a spoonful of maple syrup to sweeten the mix of rye whiskey and dry vermouth.

Get the Recipe: The Maple Perfect Manhattan

Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

This fall-inspired fizz combines Champagne with sweetened cranberry juice and lime wedges for a refreshingly fruity Thanksgiving sipper.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Hot Mulled Cider

Ina serves her warming mulled cider in clear mugs with cinnamon sticks for garnish. In just twenty minutes, you can prepare twelve servings of this classic autumnal beverage.

Get the Recipe: Hot Mulled Cider

Spiced Cabernet

Spruce up a simple Cabernet by warming it with cinnamon, cloves and navel orange slices. Served hot by the mugful, it's a soothing substitute for a standard glass of wine.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Cabernet

Sidecar Martini

Giada's riff on a sidecar cocktail adds sunny limoncello to the shaker, sweet-and-sour mix and a lime zest and sugar-dipped rim.

Get the Recipe: Side Car Martini

Concord Grape Royal

For his intensely flavored royal, Alton makes a thick purple syrup of Concord grape juice, rosemary and balsamic vinegar. Topped with rose champagne and orange bitters, it's a complex cocktail that pairs well with savory Thanksgiving dishes.

Get the Recipe: Concord Grape Royal

Ginger Cranberry Cocktail

Homemade ginger syrup adds a spicy edge to this ruby-hued sipper that can be made with either vodka or gin. Crushed frozen cranberries keep the cocktail nicely tart and chilled.

Get the Recipe: Ginger Cranberry Cocktail (Frozen Vodka or Gin)

Spiked Apple Cider Cocktails

Garnished with Granny Smith apple skewers, this cider-based drink gains depth from dark rum and cinnamon Schnapps for an adult twist on a seasonal treat.

Get the Recipe: Spiked Apple Cider Cocktails

Spiced Bourbon, Beer and Maple Martinis

Chilled bourbon and dark beer get the sweet and spicy treatment with the addition of pure maple syrup and dried red chiles. Freshly grated nutmeg adds a hint of fall flavor atop each martini.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Bourbon, Beer and Maple Martinis

Alton's 5-Star Hot Toddy

A slow cooker simplifies the quintessential hot toddy made with lemon, sugar and Scotch.

Get the Recipe: Hot Toddy

Thanksgiving's a Breeze Seabreezes

Simple and satisfying, this fruity pitcher of orange juice, cranberry juice and vodka comes together quickly for a last-minute turkey day tipple.

Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving's a Breeze Seabreezes

Gingersnap Cocktail

Rachael uses ginger liqueur, freshly grated ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg to reimagine the spicy autumn cookie in cocktail form.

Get the Recipe: Ginger Snap

Alton's Mulled Wine

Brewed in a coffee percolator, Alton's mulled wine is deeply spiced and aromatic. He adds allspice berries, black peppercorns, star anise and cinnamon sticks to this honey-sweetened sipper.

Get the Recipe: Mulled Wine

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Crushed graham crackers rim the glass of this martini that tastes just like the star of your dessert spread: pumpkin pie.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Martini

Sunny's Fruity Limoncello Spritzer

A final splash of club soda adds sparkle to this shaken spritzer of limoncello, whiskey and orange juice that mimics the shades of a fall sunset.

Get the Recipe: Sunny's Fruity Limoncello Spritzer

Classic Pisco Sour

The base of this frothy sour is Pisco, a traditional South American grape brandy that blends beautifully with lime juice and angostura bitters.

Get the Recipe: Classic Pisco Sour

Bourbon Negroni

The classic Campari-based Negroni gets a sophisticated update with fig- and pear-infused bourbon and a sweet hint of vanilla bean.

Get the Recipe: Bourbon Negroni

Frosty the Caramel Apple Pie

Enhance this apple cider and butterscotch Schnapps cocktail with a classic fall garnish: an apple slice.

Get the Recipe: Frosty the Caramel Apple Pie

Hoppin' Hot Scotch

Turn basic hot chocolate into an adults-only drink with a splash of butterscotch Schnapps and amaretto.

Get the Recipe: Hoppin' Hot Scotch

Chai Yai Yai

Brew a bag of your favorite chai tea, then add bourbon, amaretto and Grand Marnier to turn it into a celebratory drink.

Get the Recipe: Chai Yai Yai

Mulled Red Wine Sangria

Bobby spikes Spanish red wine with orange juice and brandy and serves it warm with citrus slices for a steamy, autumn-inspired spin on sangria.

Get the Recipe: Mulled Red Wine Sangria

Sparkling Cranberry Quencher

Seltzer adds sparkle to this sweet-tart blend of vanilla vodka and red cranberry juice.

Get the Recipe: Sparkling Cranberry Quencher

Toasted Cider

Sandra's apple and pumpkin-flavored cider complements a Thanksgiving meal, with or without alcohol. Serve hot in heatproof mugs with a shot of spiced rum, if desired.

Get the Recipe: Toasted Cider

Honey Punch

The honey really shines through in this refreshing vodka cocktail and compliments the sweet apricot nectar and the subtle lemony notes.

Get the Recipe: Honey Punch

American Pie Cocktail

Guy's whiskey cocktail tastes just like fresh apple pie with sweet cranberries thanks to the apple liquor and cranberry juice.

Get the Recipe: American Pie Cocktail

Concord and Cranberry Kir Royale

A simple, homemade cranberry syrup (infused with a touch of orange) gives these sparkling wine-based cocktails they’re pretty color and fall flavor.

Get the Recipe: Concord and Cranberry Kir Royale

Peartini

It's easy to forget pears around Thanksgiving with all the hype surrounding apples and pumpkins, but here, the sweet fall fruit takes center stage. Pour the frosty pear and vodka mixture into a chilled martini glasses and garnish with fresh pear slices.

Get the Recipe: Peartini

Apple Cider Shandy

Combine your favorite lager with sparkling apple cider for a refreshing beverage that's ready in a snap.

Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Shandy

Harvest Margarita

This seasonal margarita is refreshing and simple to make. Mix it and put it in pitchers before your guests arrive so you don't have to worry about being on drink duty the whole evening.

Get the Recipe: Harvest Margarita

Sunny's Chai Tea

With black tea bags on hand, Sunny demonstrates how to make those Thanksgiving specialty spices stretch even further. Black peppercorns, leftover cloves for your ham and pumpkin pie spice come together to make the perfect spice blend for warm chai tea.

Get the Recipe: Sunny's Chai Tea

Orange-Spice Cocoa

This Thanksgiving, bring together dinner guests of all ages with this decadent cocoa recipe from Food Network Kitchen. Kids and adults alike will adore this warm chocolate drink with a touch of citrus flavor.

Get the Recipe: Orange-Spice Cocoa

Sage Limeade

Use leftover sage sprigs from your turkey or gratin seasoning to flavor this four-ingredient lemon-lime refresher.

Get the Recipe: Sage Limeade

Spiked Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce out of the can gets a lot more exciting when it's spiked. Add a shot of vodka to jellied cranberry sauce, let it set in the can and serve by the slice.

Get the Recipe: Spiked Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Mulled Apple Cider Cocktail

Cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon transform a simple sparkling wine cocktail into a celebration of fall flavors and spice.

Get the Recipe: Mulled Apple Cider Cocktail

Ginger Rum Shandies

"This drink is a guaranteed hit — the sweetness of the ginger and the warmth of the rum make it perfect for the holiday season," Chuck Hughes says.

Get the Recipe: Ginger Rum Shandies

Maple-Bourbon Coolers

Sweetened with maple syrup and topped off with sparkling wine, this cocktail will make a bourbon fan out of anyone.

Get the Recipe: Bourbon Coolers

Whiskey-Cranberry Slushes

Make a grown-up slush with whiskey, cranberry and pomegranate juices. Add fresh diced cranberries for over-the-top flavor and texture.

Get the Recipe: Whiskey-Cranberry Slushes

Pear Cocktail

"During the fall, there is nothing better than a ripe pear," Spike Mendelsohn says. "This cocktail highlights the pear's great flavors, and the bacon makes the drink absolutely delicious."

Aperol Sparkler

"It's unique, refreshing, inexpensive to make and the kind of thing you can drink throughout the day," Anne Burrell says.

Get the Recipe: Aperol Sparkler

Sparkling Ginger Cider

Made with fresh ginger and mint, this sparkling cocktail is a crowd-pleaser. Spike it with brandy and hard cider; for the kids, substitute ginger ale.

Get the Recipe: Sparkling Ginger Cider

Flor Delice

Garnish this dry manzanilla sherry and tequila cocktail with a marasca cherry instead of a fluorescent-red maraschino.

Get the Recipe: Flor Delice

Spicy Holiday Lemonade

"During a time of year when everything is heavy and done to excess, I always find success when I bring out a summery lemonade, in holiday form," says Alex Guarnaschelli.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Holiday Lemonade

Cranberry-Walnut Martini

"This cocktail sings Thanksgiving," Beau MacMillan says. "It has both sweet and savory elements, and it complements all the seasonal ingredients that symbolize the holiday."

Get the Recipe: Cranberry-Walnut Martini

Marmalade Cocktails

Gin and dry vermouth balance out sweet orange marmalade in this festive cocktail that's perfect paired with a waffle brunch.

Get the Recipe: Marmalade Cocktails

Rooster Apple Sour

The key to this seasonal drink is homemade apple jam: Simmer honeycrisp apples and cinnamon sticks until soft. Don't forget to drop in a dried apple slice as a finishing touch.

Get the Recipe: Rooster Apple Sour

Spanish Cranberry Sparkling Martini

Bobby's homemade cranberry vodka takes center stage in this autumnal sparkling cocktail. He starts by preparing a cranberry-flavored simple syrup, then adds vodka. It's best to prepare the mixture a few days in advance—the longer it sits, the more the cranberry flavor will come through.

Get the Recipe: Spanish Cranberry Sparkling Martini

Dolan's Delicious Hot Buttered Rum

This rich, warming drink is made with rum, nutmeg, milk, brown sugar and...guessed it...a pat of real butter.

Get the Recipe: Dolan's Delicious Hot Buttered Rum

Rosemary Lemon Spritzer

Fresh, herbal and citrusy, this easy spritzer makes a refreshing start to a Thanksgiving meal.

Get the Recipe: Rosemary Lemon Spritzer

Cider Punch

Served up warm or on the rocks with either brandy or bourbon, this apple cider punch easily allows for personalization.

Get the Recipe: Cider Punch

On Tonight

Thanksgiving

50 Festive Cocktails for Your Thanksgiving Celebration

Related To:

Raise a Glass

The Maple Perfect Manhattan

Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Hot Mulled Cider

Spiced Cabernet

Sidecar Martini

Concord Grape Royal

Ginger Cranberry Cocktail

Spiked Apple Cider Cocktails

Spiced Bourbon, Beer and Maple Martinis

Alton's 5-Star Hot Toddy

Thanksgiving's a Breeze Seabreezes

Gingersnap Cocktail

Alton's Mulled Wine

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Sunny's Fruity Limoncello Spritzer

Classic Pisco Sour

Bourbon Negroni

Frosty the Caramel Apple Pie

Hoppin' Hot Scotch

Chai Yai Yai

Mulled Red Wine Sangria

Sparkling Cranberry Quencher

Toasted Cider

Honey Punch

American Pie Cocktail

Concord and Cranberry Kir Royale

Peartini

Apple Cider Shandy

Harvest Margarita

Sunny's Chai Tea

Orange-Spice Cocoa

Sage Limeade

Spiked Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Mulled Apple Cider Cocktail

Ginger Rum Shandies

Maple-Bourbon Coolers

Whiskey-Cranberry Slushes

Pear Cocktail

Aperol Sparkler

Sparkling Ginger Cider

Flor Delice

Spicy Holiday Lemonade

Cranberry-Walnut Martini

Marmalade Cocktails

Rooster Apple Sour

Spanish Cranberry Sparkling Martini

Dolan's Delicious Hot Buttered Rum

Rosemary Lemon Spritzer

Cider Punch

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