Your outfit is ready, the candle scents meticulously planned out, each friend carefully assigned a dish they can't mess up. Friendsgiving: the Thanksgiving celebration with your chosen, motley crew family. Select a few cocktails you can easily make ahead of time, or have a beautifully set cocktail table for your friends to choose their own adventures - with or without spirits! You're sure to find a cocktail that won't break the bank and will leave you and your friends thankful for each other.
Apple Cider Moscow Mule
Mules are easy to make, especially if you're hosting a crowd or making them up for a big group. The apple cider makes this Moscow mule the perfect crisp drink while you mingle and laugh with friends. These taste like you'll be posting several #tbt pictures as the night goes on.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces apple cider
- 2 ounces vodka
- ½ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Apple slice, cinnamon stick, and star anise for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug or rocks glass, add ice, apple cider, vodka, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with apple slice, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
Cider Sangria
Spiced white wine punch for Friendsgiving creates the perfect friendship vibe. So whip up a pitcher of cider sangria to keep on the table when your crew finally sits down to dinner - or quickly serve up a drink as your guests arrive. This serves approximately eight drinks.
Ingredients
- 750mL pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc
- 3 cups apple cider
- 2 cups ginger ale
- 2 ounces cinnamon liqueur
- 3 apples, cubed
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, add ice, cubed apples, pinot grigio, apple cider, ginger ale, and cinnamon liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Serve in rocks glasses over fresh ice.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Salted Caramel White Russian
Sweeten the Friendsgiving festivities with a creamy White Russian classic cocktail with just enough of a twist to make your usually nervous friends tempted to give it a try.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces salted caramel vodka
- 1 ounce coffee liqueur
- 2 ounces cream
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, salted caramel vodka, and coffee liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with cream.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig.
Cranberry Margarita
Tap into the flavors of the season with a tart and colorful margarita made with seasonal favorite cranberries.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and salt for rim
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Cranberries and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with cranberries and mint sprig.
Pumpkin Martini
At Friendsgiving, there are no rules. But if there were, there's no reason to play by the rules when it comes to your cocktail game; serve up a martini cocktail that'll taste like dessert before you even get to the main meal. Real friends let friends have their dessert before dinner.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and brown sugar for rim
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- ¾ ounce pumpkin puree
- ¾ ounce Irish cream
- 1-2 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Ice
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the brown sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, pumpkin puree, Irish cream, and cinnamon bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
Autumn Old-Fashioned
Use a homemade apple-infused whiskey for an outstanding old-fashioned that'll prove you're the master of this drink among your friends.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces apple-infused whiskey
- ½ ounce spiced pear liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 3-4 dashes orange bitters
- 2-3 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Orange peel and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, apple whiskey, spiced pear liqueur, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange peel and cherry.
Maple Bourbon Sour
Skip the regular simple syrup in a whiskey sour and use maple syrup instead for this Friendsgiving cocktail surprise. And use the good stuff.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce maple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Bitter droplets for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to the shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with bitter droplets.
Harvest Punch
A harvest punch is the perfect thing to serve at Friendsgiving, especially when you've been trying to figure out how to use the last of the apple cider.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- 2 ounces apple cider
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- ½ ounce ginger liqueur
- Ice
- Orange slice and lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, spiced rum, apple cider, cranberry juice, and ginger liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange and lime slices.
Quick Mulled Wine
Don't stress if you forgot to start simmering your mulled wine earlier. This comes together in all of fifteen minutes and makes approximately six servings. Perfect for a cozy gathering with your BFFs.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, add merlot, applejack, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange.
- Bring the mixture to barely a simmer, and allow to warm for approximately five minutes. Do not allow to boil.
- Strain out herbs.
- Ladle into mugs.
- Garnish with orange wedge, star anise, and cinnamon stick.
Sparkling Pear Cocktail
Complement your apple cocktails with a crisp and bubbly pear drink. Better yet, see which drink gets the most likes on Instagram.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces pear vodka
- 1 ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- 2 ounces club soda
- 1 ounce prosecco
- Pear slice and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, pear vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Add club soda and prosecco.
- Garnish with pear slice and thyme sprig.
Pomegranate Gimlet
Serve these gimlets down (in a non-stemmed glass); after all, someone will inevitably break a martini glass when you're playing games.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce pomegranate juice
- ½ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
Apple Pie Mimosa
A three-ingredient flavorful mimosa? What more could you ever need for your Friendsgiving gathering? This cocktail is even better if you're collectively prepping food that morning together.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces apple cider
- ¾ ounce vanilla vodka
- Prosecco to top off
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a Champagne flute or coupe.
- In chilled glass, add apple cider and vanilla vodka.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with apple slice.
Bourbon Caramel Apple
Serve a cocktail and a dessert all in one -- and you don't even need to worry about your lactose intolerant friends with a dessert cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce butterscotch liqueur
- ½ ounce apple liqueur
- Ice
- Apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, butterscotch liqueur, and apple liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with apple slice and cinnamon stick.
Tom and Jerry Cocktail
The Tom and Jerry may look like eggnog, but it tastes like the creamiest, most decadent warm cocktail ever. Once your friends have had one taste, they'll ask for it year after year.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce dark rum
- ¾ ounce cognac
- 1½ heaping tablespoons Tom and Jerry batter mix
- Hot water
- Warm milk, dairy or non-dairy, to top off
- Grated nutmeg for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After the mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, add rum, cognac, and Tom and Jerry batter mix.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with warm milk.
Hot Toddy
Keep your kettle going on the stovetop with a hot toddy drink to warm your friends up as they chill out.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey
- ¾ ounce honey
- ½ ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ ounce freshly-squeezed orange juice
- Hot water to top off
- Orange slice, whole cloves, and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After the mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In the mug, combine the whiskey, honey, lemon juice, and orange juice.
- Top off with hot water.
- Stir to carefully and combine well.
- To prepare garnish, pierce orange wheel with cloves.
- Garnish with pierced lemon wheel with cloves and cinnamon stick.
Chocolate Martini Pudding Shot
Serve your chocolate pudding shots up in a martini glass for a twist on what is a classic pudding shot. This will make roughly ten servings, depending on the martini glass size.
Ingredients
- 1 package chocolate instant pudding mix
- 1 cup milk
- ¾ cup chocolate vodka
- ¼ cup Irish cream
- 2 ounces coffee liqueur
- 8 ounces whipped cream
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix, milk, Irish cream, coffee liqueur, and vodka.
- Whisk the ingredients until thickened and chill for about five minutes.
- Once chilled, fold in the whipped cream and chill mix for approximately one hour.
- Just prior to serving, spoon into martini glasses.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Apple Cider Margarita
Just because it's fall with chilly weather and crunchy leaves doesn't mean your parties can't have margaritas. The smokey mezcal in this recipe only makes it even more of an appropriate choice for Friendsgiving.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and cinnamon sugar for rim
- 1½ ounces mezcal
- 2 ounces apple cider
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- ½ ounce agave
- Ice
- Apple cubes and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
- With the cinnamon sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, mezcal, apple cider, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with apple cubes and cinnamon stick.
Irish Coffee
Wind down after a night of catching up, eating, and games with an Irish coffee. Or, if you know the night needs a good drink to kick it off, there's no better bookend cocktail than an Irish coffee.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Irish whiskey
- 1 ounce Irish cream
- ½ ounce crème de cacao
- Hot coffee to top off
- Whipped cream and grated cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In warm mug, add Irish whiskey, Irish cream, and crème de cacao.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with hot coffee.
- Garnish with whipped cream and grated cinnamon.
Friendsgiving Mocktails
You don't have to be boozy to have a good time with pals on Friendsgiving. Don't forget to have a drink or two on hand for those driving or who simply don't want a boozy drink. These mocktails are still so very 'gram-worthy.
Mocktail Harvest Mule
A mocktail mule is super easy to make, and since it looks exactly like a cocktail, it will still make the occasion feel special.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce apple cider
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Cranberries, lime wedge, and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or copper mug, add cranberry juice, apple cider, and lime juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with cranberries, lime wedge, and cinnamon stick.
Friendsgiving Punch
Have a punch on hand that can be made boozy with individual servings (just pour a shot of your favorite spirit into the glass), but it leads with the nonalcoholic option. It's a perfect punch for hydrating between football games or as a break from drinks at Friendsgiving.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cherry juice
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce white grape juice
- Ice
- Lemon-lime soda to top off
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, cherry juice, cranberry juice, and white grape juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish with cherry.
Kiddie Cosmo
It's an unofficial rule that you should have a drink in hand when you're preparing for a party. This kiddie nonalcoholic cosmo is the perfect solution, and it's even better for when you want to have a drink during Friendsgiving but don't necessarily want an adult beverage.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces white grape juice
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce triple sec -flavored syrup
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white grape juice, lime juice, and triple sec.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Hot Apple Cider
Someone will always be cold while wearing the thickest sweater, while the rest of the party is begging for the windows to be opened a few more inches. Hand your cool friends this cider to keep everyone at your Friendsgiving happy.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces apple cider
- ½ ounce maple syrup
- 1 whole cinnamon stick
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 orange peels
- Apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over low heat, add apple cider, maple syrup, cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange peels.
- Warm for approximately five minutes, not allowing it to boil.
- Remove from heat.
- Ladle warm cider into mug.
- Garnish with apple slice and cinnamon stick.
Friendsgiving Temple
The crushed ice gives the Shirley Temple an adult upgrade, perfect for those who may not yet be of drinking age or who just want a beautiful beverage to sip.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce grenadine
- ½ ounce tart cherry juice
- 1 ounce lemonade
- Crushed ice
- 2 ounces lemon-lime soda
- 2 ounces ginger ale
- Lemon peel and cherries for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add crushed ice, grenadine, cherry juice, and lemonade.
- Top off with lemon-lime soda and ginger ale.
- Garnish with lemon peel and cherries.
A Lighter Side of Friendsgiving Cocktails
If a little tipple will do, then keep the low ABV cocktails flowing to make sure neither you nor any of your friends have to nurse a hangover the next day. Plus, they're perfect for sipping on without feeling like you need a nap halfway through the Friendsgiving party.
Aperol Spritz
No cocktail is more fitting for a before-dinner drink than the Aperol spritz, but it's also great during, after, all-the-time Friendsgiving cocktail. Want it to be less boozy? Use one ounce of prosecco and two ounces of club soda instead.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Aperol
- 2 ounces prosecco
- 1 ounce club soda
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, Aperol, prosecco, and club soda.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Cranberry Campari Highball
Liqueurs are a great way to enjoy a cocktail without all the alcohol in a traditional spirit you get with a full pour of vodka. So, you can offer something sippable with lower alcohol to keep your friends peppy.
Ingredients
- ½ ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce Campari
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Lime wedge and cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice, vodka, Campari, and cranberry juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with lime wedge and cranberries.
Cider Sparkler
This will be the most requested Friendsgiving cocktail year after year. Don't be surprised when you see your friends slugging these next summer, either.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce bourbon
- ½ ounce maple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Thyme sprig and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, maple syrup, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with thyme sprig and lime wheel.
Falling for Punch
Not all punch needs to leave you pink-cheeked. This Friendsgiving punch will be the perfect cocktail to toast to your friendships.
Ingredients
- 1 ounces silver rum or vodka
- 2 ounces apple cider
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce orange juice
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce falernum
- Ice
- Grapefruit slice and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and falernum.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with grapefruit slice and rosemary sprig.
Spiced Hot Chocolate
A little spice flavor takes this hot chocolate cocktail a long way. If you want it to have a stronger kick, add a full ounce of bourbon.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce cinnamon liqueur
- ¼ ounce chili liqueur
- Hot chocolate to top off
- Marshmallows for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In warm mug, add cinnamon liqueur and chili liqueur.
- Top off with hot chocolate.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with marshmallows.
Friendsgiving Cocktails on a Budget
Are you working on a budget? No worries--who isn't these days? Thankfully, that doesn't mean you need to skip the Friendsgiving cocktails. We all need some time to unwind and have a drink with friends. To save money on drinks, avoid using top-shelf liquors. Use Jack Daniels or Knob Creek instead of E.H. Taylor or 1792, and Titos or Smirnoff instead of Grey Goose or Belvedere. A bottle of $10 wine will taste just as delicious in mulled wine as a $25 bottle. Steer away from the $50 bottles of bubbly, as a bottle of $12 prosecco will be perfect. Opt for cocktails that use more mixers than liquor, as mixers are often much, much cheaper than the booze. You can also provide a menu of three or so drinks and let friends know they are welcome to bring whatever they may prefer to drink. It's a win for their tastebuds and your wallet.
Friendsgiving Drink Ideas for a Memorable Gathering
Get your thumbs busy in the group chat with the details for your next Friendsgiving. After finalizing the details, dream of the perfect drinks for your gathering. With something for everyone, there's no better year than this one to have a few Friendsgiving cocktails to make this one the one to remember.
