This jolly holiday drink is perfect for your next Christmas party. Not only is this a serious crowd pleaser, but it’s super simple to make too.

If I’m throwing a holiday party, then you know I love to make a batch of fun drinks!

While I love my cranberry aperol spritz cocktail and winter spiced old fashioned, I really wanted to make a festive cosmopolitan!

I absolutely love a classic cosmopolitan cocktail but I knew I needed to make a holiday version. Enter this Christmas cosmopolitan which has all of the same ingredients as the classic cocktail but with a homemade cranberry-rosemary simple syrup to add a festive flavour.

Grab your cocktail shaker and make this divine Christmas cocktail to get in the holiday spirit!

why you’ll love this christmas cosmopolitan cocktail

• It’s easy to make this festive drink!
• This lovely cocktail is a delicious balance of sweet, tart and sour ingredients.
• You can make the cranberry-rosemary syrup a month ahead of time.
• This recipe can be easily multiplied so you can make a large batch for holiday parties.
• Make this holiday drink even more festive with a sparkling sprig of rosemary.

Ingredients Needed to make a Christmas cosmopolitan recipe

Cranberries: you’ll need fresh cranberries to create the cranberry-rosemary simple syrup

Rosemary: you’ll want fresh sprigs of rosemary for the cranberry and rosemary simple syrup, but I recommend having a few extra to garnish your christmas drink.

Sugar: granulated sugar is used to create the cranberry-rosemary simple syrup.

Cranberry Juice: you can’t have a cosmopolitan without cranberry juice! Because of the simple syrup, I recommend using unsweetened / 100% cranberry juice if you can.

Lime Juice: if you can, try to use fresh lime juice. I promise it makes all the difference!

Cointreau: this is my favorite to use in cosmopolitans! Cointreau is a type of triple sec, an orange liqueur, with a slightly sweet and slightly bitter taste.

Vodka: you’ll also need vodka to make a cosmopolitan, so use your favorite vodka.

How to make this christmas cosmopolitan cocktail

Step 1: Make the simple syrup: In a small pot bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring so the sugar dissolves. Once boiling, turn to medium low and keep at a simmer, add the cranberries and rosemary sprigs and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until cranberries just start to burst. Remove from the heat and let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain the mixture to remove the cranberries and rosemary. Set aside to cool.

Step 2: To make a Christmas cosmopolitan: To a cocktail shaker add the cranberry-rosemary simple syrup, vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice, lime juice and a handful of ice cubes. Shake well for about 20 seconds. Pour into your choice of two glasses (martini glass or coupe) and garnish with a plain or sugared rosemary sprig and/or cranberries.

Expert Tips for making this holiday season cosmopolitan recipe

• I love garnishing this cocktail with sugared rosemary for a festive twist! Dip a sprig of fresh rosemary in the simple syrup or just in water, roll in white sugar, then let it dry before adding it as a garnish.

• You can garnish the rim of the glass instead of using a rosemary garnish. Simple use some of the simple syrup around the rim of the glass and then press into white sugar for a pretty, sugared rim.

• Cosmopolitans are usually served in martini glasses but you can also serve it in a coupe!

Common questions

Can I make this cocktail ahead of time?
You can make the simple syrup ahead of time! Once it cools, store in the fridge for up to 1 month. If making a pitcher of Christmas cosmopolitans, mix the ingredients together including the simple syrup and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. If desired, shake each Christmas cosmopolitan cocktail over ice before serving which makes the cosmopolitan more refreshing to drink.

What vodka is best for a cosmopolitan?
I like to use a plain vodka in this recipe but to add a bit more of a citrus flair, you could use a flavored vodka like citrus vodka.

How do I make a big batch for a crowd?

If you want to make a larger batch when you’re entertaining, follow this recipe that serves about 6-8 and mix all of the ingredients in a pitcher and stir well.

• 1 1/2 cups vodka
• 1 1/4 cups pure cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup cointreau
• 3/4 cup cranberry-rosemary simple syrup
• 1/4 cup lime juice

When ready to serve, set out chilled martini glasses (if desired) or shake each serving in a martini shaker and then pour into martini or coupe glasses to serve!

Perfect food pairings for your christmas cosmopolitan

These Christmas Cosmopolitans are a delicious cocktail when paired with these holiday appetizers –

Easy Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie (holiday appetizer)

Puff Pastry Baked Gruyere with Fig Jam & Rosemary

Easy Roasted Boursin Stuffed Dates with Pistachios

Pair these lighter main dishes with your Christmas Cosmopolitans –

Christmas salmon

Easy One Pot Lemon Orzo Shrimp (30 minute recipe!)

One Pot Marry Me Butter Beans (30 minute recipe!)

How to store

You can store the simple syrup in the fridge for up to 1 month. If making a pitcher of Christmas cosmopolitans, mix the ingredients together including the simple syrup and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Highly recommend shaking each serving of the cocktail over ice before pouring into a martini glass or coupe if the cocktail mixture has been chilling in the fridge for a few days.

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Easy and Festive Christmas Cosmopolitan Cocktail

This Christmas Cosmopolitan is a festive twist on a classic cosmo. With a cranberry-rosemary simple syrup, it's perfect for the holidays!

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword cosmopolitan, holiday cocktail

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 2 cocktails

Author Jess

Ingredients

For the cranberry-rosemary simple syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 cup fresh (or frozen then thawed) cranberries

For two Christmas cosmopolitan cocktails

• 3 oz vodka
• 2 1/2 oz pure cranberry juice
• 1 oz cointreau
• 1 1/2 oz cranberry-rosemary simple syrup
• 1/2 oz lime juice

To make a pitcher of Christmas cosmopolitans

• 1 1/2 cups vodka
• 1 1/4 cups pure cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup cointreau (or substitute with triple sec)
• 3/4 cup cranberry-rosemary simple syrup
• 1/4 cup lime juice

Garnish

• fresh rosemary sprigs or sugared rosemary sprigs

Instructions

Make the cranberry-rosemary simple syrup

• In a small pot bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring so the sugar dissolves. Once boiling, turn to medium low and keep at a simmer, add the cranberries and rosemary sprigs and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until cranberries just start to burst. Remove from the heat and let it steep for 20 minutes. Strain the mixture to remove the cranberries and rosemary. Set aside to cool.

To make two Christmas cosmopolitan cocktails

• To a cocktail shaker add the cranberry-rosemary simple syrup, vodka, cointreau, cranberry juice, lime juice and a handful of ice cubes. Shake well for about 20 seconds. Pour into your choice of two glasses (martini glass or coupe) and garnish with a plain or sugared rosemary sprig and/or cranberries.

To make a pitcher of Christmas cosmopolitans

• If you want to make a larger batch when you’re entertaining, follow this recipe that serves about 6-8 and mix all of the ingredients in a pitcher and stir well.

  1 1/2 cups vodka

  1 1/4 cups pure cranberry juice

  1/2 cup cointreau

  3/4 cup cranberry-rosemary simple syrup

  1/4 cup lime juice

  When ready to serve, set out chilled martini glasses (if desired) or shake each serving in a martini shaker and then pour into martini or coupe glasses to serve!

How to make sugared rosemary for a garnish

• Dip a sprig of fresh rosemary in the simple syrup or just in water, roll in white sugar, then let it dry before adding it as a garnish.

Notes

• Serving in chilled glasses makes a big difference!
• When making a pitcher for a crowd, it makes a huge difference to shake each serving over ice in a cocktail shaker before serving.

The post Easy and Festive Christmas Cosmopolitan Cocktail appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

And I’ve got you covered with all the recipes to make in December.

From holiday baking to cocktails and menus for small gatherings, let’s chat what’s in season this month!I can hardly believe it’s December already; how about you?

I just finished making my holiday baking list so here’s some sweets inspiration for you:

Holiday treats to bake in December

Nanaimo Bars

Soft Pecan Cookies with Maple Glaze

Lemon Squares

Shortbread Cookies with Lemon Icing

Chocolate Pretzel Bars

No Bake Gingerbread Mini Cheesecakes

And if you’re sharing your holiday baking this year, here’s how to make a holiday cookie box which makes a great gift!

Between desserts and cocktails, we’re enjoying many meals with family and friends. I love to keep things as simple as possible with the menus so we can enjoy each other’s company. So, I’ve curated a few menus for you to use for simple holiday dinners including Christmas!

Here are recipes made for sharing this holiday season

Simple Christmas Dinner Ideas

Festive Market Cheeseboard

One Pot Sausage and Tomato Pasta

Winter Oven Baked Risotto with Mushrooms & Kale

Decadent Hot Chocolate Bar

Don’t forget something to cheers with!

Here are a few of my favourite holiday cocktails

Winter Spiced Old Fashioned

Cranberry Rosé Fizz

Easy Mulled Wine

Spiced Winter Punch | The Perfect Cocktail for the Holidays

Citrus Vodka Crush

And, if you’re planning for a small New Year’s Eve at home, check out my New Year’s Eve Party Menu! You’ll find small sweet and savoury bites to share plus a Ginger Honey Sparkler mocktail that can easily be made into something to cheers with by adding some bubbly of your choice!

Looking for more Wintery meal inspiration?? Get on the list to get a copy of my cookbook with cozy meals and drinks for the season!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post What’s In Season – Holiday Recipes to Make in December appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Just one pot, a few classic mulled wine ingredients and my secret ingredient, cranberry juice.

The cranberry juice balances all of the other spiced ingredients beautifully for a warming cup of comfort. Save this recipe for nights at home around the Christmas tree.

I first tried mulled wine on a trip to Europe so you may have heard it referred to as ‘glogg’ in Sweden or ‘gluehwein’ in German.

Mulled wine is so festive for the Christmas season and it’s easy to make. With a bottle of red wine, a couple of fresh ingredients and some key whole spices, you can make this in no time! Picture sitting around the Christmas tree with a warm, cozy drink – it’s pretty perfect if you ask me.

What makes this mulled wine recipe just a tad different is I’ve added cranberry juice! It melds so well with the wine and spices too. So what other ingredients are in this mulled wine recipe?

Mulled Wine Recipe Ingredients

Red Wine: Opt for a fruity, full-bodied red wine like a Zinfandel or Merlot. Tasting notes on the bottle help too so look for descriptions like ‘jammy,’ ‘notes of vanilla,’ or ‘bold.’

Cranberry Juice: I like to use pure cranberry juice (vs. cranberry cocktail) because the pure juice has more of a tart flavour. If you use a ‘cranberry cocktail’ you may want to cut back on the maple syrup a bit.

Fresh Orange Slices: A classic ingredient that adds a bit of a citrus punch.

Whole Spices: The mixture of whole spices is key to mulled wine – cinnamon sticks, star anise & cloves. And, whole spices last quite a while in the pantry so if you invest in some now you can most likely use them for years to come.

Maple Syrup: Maple syrup helps to add just a touch of sweetness to balance our the tartness of the cranberry juice and wine once heated. You can try using honey instead if you prefer.

Garnish: Dressing up a warmed cup this drink is the perfect finishing touch. I love to use cranberries, rosemary and cinnamon sticks. You can even add an orange slice in too.

Don’t want to worry about straining out all of the spices once the wine is done cooking? You can wrap all of the spices in cheesecloth and tie with some butchers twine to keep them all together. Simply add to the pot while making the mulled wine and then remove when done.

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Easy Mulled Wine

This easy mulled wine recipe is on my holiday absolute-must list. Don't miss out on this recipe for any winter gatherings or parties.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword holiday cocktail, mulled wine

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6 drinks

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 1 bottle red wine (zinfandel or merlot)
• 1 cup pure cranberry juice any cranberry juice will work but if you use a 'cranberry cocktail' lower the amount of maple syrup you use
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 inch piece ginger, sliced
• 1 orange, sliced
• 3 whole cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 3 whole cloves try 1/4 tsp ground cloves if you don't have whole
• Garnishes: cranberries, rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks, orange slices from the pot of mulled wine
• Optional: 1/3 cup bourbon, 2-3 cardamom pods

Instructions

• Pour wine, cranberry juice and maple syrup into a medium pot and stir to mix. Add bourbon if using.
• Slice ginger and orange and add to pot. Measure spices and add to pot.
• Once all ingredients are in the pot, bring to a simmer over medium heat (look for small bubbles starting to rise to the surface - should take about 5 minutes). Then reduce to medium low and cook for 10 minutes.
• Serve warm with garnishes.

Notes

• Any cranberry juice will work but if you use a 'cranberry cocktail' lower the amount of maple syrup you use
• Need a non-alcoholic version? Try making this recipe by replacing the wine with cranberry juice too.

This easy mulled wine recipe is perfect for a cozy night in or holiday party.

How to enjoy this cozy recipe

• Serve the drink in mugs; simply ladle into mugs and then garnish
• Enjoy mulled wine on a cozy afternoon, by itself after dinner or before dinner with appetizers. Try with my Festive Market Cheeseboard or Pecan Brie Bites.

Need a non-alcoholic version? Try making this recipe by replacing the wine with pure cranberry juice or even a tart cherry juice.

If you love the sound of this recipe, download my free e-Cookbook for a Mulled Apple Cider version that’s super cozy too!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Easy Mulled Wine appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

I LOVE when all of the different citrus varieties arrive at winter time, so I knew I had to create a festive vodka cocktail with them.

Pairing the citrus juice with the spicy & citrus notes of Northern Keep Vodka and fizzy ginger soda, it’s a sip you’ll come back to! Let’s cheers to the season with this Citrus Vodka Crush friends!

I’m taking my cocktail game up a notch by making my own citrus juice as the base for this Citrus Vodka Crush; if you have the time, it’s a game-changer!

By combining a variety of oranges and tangerines, you get a super fresh citrus juice made for cocktails. Plus, the colour is just so lovely.

Creating cocktails is one of my favourite things to do in the kitchen. I especially love to mix fresh fruit flavours with local spirits like Northern Keep Vodka which is made right here in Alberta! They use Canadian grains of rye and winter wheat to craft their vodka which gives it hints of citrus and a light spiciness. And, because the vodka is distilled five times you get a very smooth vodka that pairs perfectly with fresh fruits like the citrus in this cocktail.

How to make a fresh citrus vodka cocktail

Fresh citrus: Use a variety of citrus like blood oranges, tangerines, cara cara or navel oranges or grapefruits to mix up the citrus juice.

Vodka: Use a smooth vodka with hints of citrus to mix with the fresh citrus juice in this cocktail.

Ginger soda or ginger beer: The ginger soda or beer rounds out the bright, fresh flavours of this cocktail.

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Citrus Vodka Cocktail

With fresh citrus juice, ginger beer & vodka, this Citrus Vodka Crush cocktail is a bright, colourful drink to sip on during the holidays.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword citrus cocktail, holiday cocktail, vodka cocktail

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Jess

Equipment

• blender

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Northern Keep Vodka
• 4 oz citrus juice
• 2 oz ginger soda or ginger beer
• ice
• garnish with extra citrus slices & mint

Citrus Juice

• 2 blood oranges
• 2 cara cara or navel oranges
• 2 tangerines or 1 large grapefruit
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2-1 tbsp honey

Instructions

• To make the citrus juice: Add peeled pieces of fruit and water to a blender and blend on high for 1 minute.  Taste and add ½-1tbsp honey if too tart, blend again and then strain into a container for use in cocktails.
• To make one cocktail: In a cocktail glass stir together vodka and citrus juice. Then, add crushed ice or ice cubes followed by a top up with the ginger soda or ginger beer. Garnish with citrus and mint. Cheers!

I seriously cannot get enough of the fresh citrus juice in this vodka cocktail! It complements the vodka and ginger soda just so perfectly.

If you’re short on time feel free to sub-in a fresh store-bought citrus juice. Whichever way you make it, this cocktail is so worth making anytime of year.

If you’re looking for more holiday cocktail inspiration, check out my other creations in partnership with Northern Keep Vodka. Try the Apple Ginger Cranberry Punch or the Pomegranate-Rosemary Vodka Sparkler!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

Disclaimer: Thank you to Northern Keep Vodka for sponsoring this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that I support. All opinions are my own.

The post Citrus Vodka Crush appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

A festive, non-alcoholic drink you can enjoy all season long.

And, the True Büch Vanilla Chai Kombucha brings it up a notch with its cinnamon spice that’s perfect for the Winter season!

I love a good Winter cocktail and this drink is no exception.

With hints of vanilla and chai, cardamom and ginger, True Büch’s Vanilla Chai Kombucha is the perfect base for this drink! I added warming flavours like cinnamon sticks and mixed in fruits of the season like oranges and pears too.

This punch is not only a feast for the eyes but the tastebuds too! I might even say it’s like Christmas in a cup.

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Winter Spiced Kombucha Punch

This Winter Spiced Kombucha Punch is full of seasonal flavours like vanilla and chai paired with fresh fruits! It’s a festive, non-alcoholic drink you can enjoy all season long.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword kombucha, kombucha cocktail, mocktail, non-alcoholic

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Author Jess

Equipment

• large pitcher

Ingredients

• 4 355mL bottles of Vanilla Chai True Büch Kombucha
• 1 pear, chopped or sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1/2 orange, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Sugared Rosemary Garnish

• 4-6 rosemary stems (cut to fit nicely as a glass garnish)
• sugar
• water

Instructions

• In a large pitcher mix together kombucha, pear slices, cranberries, orange slices and cinnamon sticks. Let sit for a half hour before serving.
• To make the garnish, rinse rosemary sprigs in water, shake to get excess water off and then roll through the sugar to coat – do this for each piece of rosemary and then set aside.
• Want to make this a cocktail? Add a splash of prosecco or champagne to each glass.

I really enjoy using True Büch Kombucha for non-alcoholic drinks like this punch because it brings a wealth of flavour AND it’s chocked full of many probiotics and enzymes that are good for your digestive system.

You might remember I used True Büch’s Ginger Kombucha in my Kombucha Cranberry Bourbon Smash too.

I created this drink so that everyone can enjoy a festive sip during the holiday season.

Cook’s Tip: Use frozen cranberries in this punch to keep it cool!

But, if you want to add more of a sparkle to this punch you can top with some champagne or prosecco to make it a cocktail!

So, let’s cheers to the season friends!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

DISCLAIMER: THANK YOU TO TRUE BÜCH KOMBUCHA FOR SPONSORING THIS POST.  THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BRANDS THAT I SUPPORT. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

The post Winter Spiced Kombucha Punch appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Using some of my favourite flavours of the season like cranberries and True Büch ginger kombucha, this bourbon cocktail is a lovely combination of Fall flavours.

I love a Fall cocktail and this one doesn’t disappoint!

True Büch Kombucha has become one of my favourite ingredients to use in cocktails.

So, what is kombucha? It’s a ‘bubbly fermented tea elixir’ that is full of many probiotics and enzymes that are good for your digestive system. And, kombucha is one of my go-to drinks!

You might remember I first used True Büch Kombucha in my summery Berry Rhubarb Kombucha Sangria. It’s one of my favourite local sips and I love to support Calgary businesses so we partnered on this new seasonal cocktail too!

In this Fall cocktail I use their Ginger flavour which brings all of the ingredients together plus a sparkling fizz.

The cranberries are smashed with honey for the perfect tart and sweet flavour combination. Then we shake it up with bourbon, one of my favourite spirits.

I used my favourite Bulleit Bourbon because of it’s notes of vanilla, apple and sweet spice. Those bourbon flavours complement the ingredients perfectly and make it a very smooth sip.

Topping the cocktail with the ginger kombucha and a sprig of thyme for that lovely festive touch.

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Kombucha Cranberry Bourbon Smash

This cranberry bourbon cocktail with ginger kombucha and a touch of honey is the ideal Fall cocktail. A bit sweet and a bit tart, all of the flavours come together for a refreshing sip that’s perfect for Fall & Winter gatherings!

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword bourbon cocktail

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 10-12 frozen cranberries Just defrost the frozen cranberries first by rinsing under cold water until defrosted.
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 oz bourbon
• 4 oz ginger kombucha
• splash of cranberry juice
• thyme sprigs for garnish

Instructions

• In a mason jar or cocktail shaker, add the cranberries and honey. Smash together with a muddler, wooden spoon or fork until the cranberries release their juices.
• Add bourbon and shake well a couple of times until combined.
• Pour into a glass and top with ginger kombucha and a splash of cranberry juice for that rosy colour.
• Garnish with thyme sprig and enjoy!

Notes

**If you don't have fresh cranberries, you can use frozen. Just defrost the frozen cranberries first by rinsing under cold water until defrosted.

If you’ve been wanting to try a bourbon cocktail but have been unsure, I think this is the one for you! The honey adds a warming sweetness to the cocktail and the ginger kombucha keeps it nice and refreshing. It might just be Fall cocktail perfection in my books!

Cheers to the season friends!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

Disclaimer: Thank you to True Büch Kombucha for sponsoring this post.  Thank you for supporting the brands that I support. All opinions are my own.

The post Kombucha Cranberry Bourbon Smash appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

A combination of sweet and tart plus a little sparkle, this cocktail has all of my favourite holiday flavours.

I love creating cocktails for the holiday season. This Cranberry Rosé Fizz is perfect to make for your guests at Christmas or to celebrate the New Year!

This cocktail starts with making an easy cranberry jam; these flavours are the tart base.

Then we add in rosé, gin and top with ginger-ale and garnish with sugared rosemary for a finishing touch! I like to use a more fruit-forward rosé to balance the tartness of the cranberry jam; one of my favourites is XOXO Wines Rosé (this is not sponsored, I just like their Rosé a lot!)

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Cranberry Rosé Fizz

This Cranberry Rosé Fizz is the perfect cocktail for the holidays and to celebrate the New Year! A combination of tart and sweet, this Cranberry Rosé Fizz is garnished with sugared rosemary for a lovely sparkling touch.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword holiday cocktail

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cocktail

Author Jess

Ingredients

Cranberry Jam

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/8 tsp cardamom
• 1 cup cranberries

Sugared Rosemary Garnish

• 4-6 rosemary stems (cut to fit nicely as a glass garnish)
• sugar
• water

Cranberry Rosé Fizz (makes 1)

• 1 tbsp cranberry jam
• 1 ounce gin
• 4 ounces rosé One of my favourite rosés to use is XOXO Wines Rosé
• 2-4 ounces ginger-ale
• ice cubes

Instructions

Cranberry Jam

• To make the cranberry jam, add the sugar, water, cardamom and cranberries to a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat and when the cranberries start to pop, turn the heat to medium. Let simmer for 5 minutes and then remove from the heat to cool.

Sugared Rosemary

• Rinse your rosemary in water, shake to get excess water off and then roll through the sugar to coat – do this for each piece of rosemary and then set aside.
  

To make one Cranberry Rosé Fizz cocktail

• To a glass, add 1 heaping tablespoon of the cranberry jam. Then add the gin and rosé and stir a couple of times. Lastly, add in a couple ounces of ginger-ale, ice cubes and garnish with sugared rosemary. Enjoy!

The best part about this Cranberry Rosé Fizz is that you can make everything ahead of time. And then when you’re ready, simply mix up a cocktail for your guests and yourself!

And if you are looking for a bit more New Year’s Eve inspiration, check out my Sparkling New Year’s Eve Party Menu too.

Cheers to a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year friends!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Cranberry Rosé Fizz appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

Since I was little I have always felt a sense of joy around the holiday season; there was always something sort of magical about this time of year.

So, let’s dig into all of the deliciousness of the season with my Monthly Favourites including which recipes to make in December!

I had A LOT of client work in November and not much downtime, so I’m really excited for a slower holiday season.

We did get away for a little long weekend in mid-November, heading to BC for a little mountain downtime which was the perfect re-charge before finishing up many projects the rest of the month.

During the last week of November we got our Christmas tree up and decorated. I bought alllll of the butter at the grocery store to start my Christmas baking and I’ve watched my favourite holiday movies about 8x each, haha.  Some of my favourites are Elf, The Holiday, Love Actually and Home Alone which I like to watch whilst baking!

Stay tuned to the blog during December as I have a few more treats up my sleeve plus my baking list for the season and perfect shareable recipes for entertaining!

And, I’m planning all of the delicious dishes to make the rest of this month too! Here are some of my favourite recipes to make in December:

Prosciutto Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

Cranberry-Pear Chia Seed Jam

Kale, Apple & Cheddar Salad with Spicy Chickpeas

Baked Pears with Cardamom Cream

Baked Parsnip Fries with Garlic Yogurt Dip

Lemon Squares

PLUS, if you need holiday appetizer inspo, check out this awesome round-up of 20 appetizer recipes from Food Bloggers of Canada which includes my New Year’s Eve Party menu!

I’m really looking forward to being at home this month; enjoying time reading by the Christmas tree; visiting with family and friends; and, cooking at home.

And, if you need any book gift ideas, a couple of my favs from this year are:

Healthyish is one of the only cookbooks I’ve purchased this year and we cook out of it all, the, time! Seriously so many delicious dishes that are simple to make, especially during the week. There is a Spiced Chicken & Chickpea Flatbread with Cucumber-Dill Tzatziki that is so simple for a weeknight dinner, plus a TON of flavour! Then my other favourite recipe in the book is a Single-Serving Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookie; for when you need a cookie, stat!

If you need a few novel ideas, The Little French Bistro and Little Beach Street Bakery  are two really cute books that I absolutely loved. Both books have a foodie-twist, are easy to read and totally heartwarming.

I’d love to know what some of your favourite dishes are to make during the holiday season! Drop me a note below in the comments or visit me over on Instagram.

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

P.S. Thank you to the lovely Janelle Saccucci for the photos of me in this post! We had a great time taking holiday-inspired photos!

The post What’s in Season – Monthly Favourites appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

One of my absolute favourite things to do is have my family and friends over to our house to enjoy great food, drinks and time together.  And here’s the thing, it doesn’t have to be hard!

You can entertain with ease, slow down and enjoy each other’s company AND still have great food and drink without too much stress and work.

So I’ve partnered with one of my favourite local spots, Alforno Bakery & Café, to bring you some easy at-home entertaining tips featuring one of their amazingly delicious cakes and the perfect cocktail to pair with it from yours truly!

Alforno Bakery & Café is not only an amazing place to get your coffee fix, they have a full-service bakery that offers the most amazing treats that you can imagine.  Specifically I am in LOVE with their cake selection! My personal favourite cake is their Caramel Cheesecake; a luscious cheesecake with the perfect graham-cracker crumb bottom, this cake is topped with the most delicious caramel I’ve ever tasted. Alforno has classic cake flavours you can always find in their pastry case, but they also like to switch things up a bit and add new ones frequently. They can also make gluten free and vegan cakes too – cake for everyone!

So head on over to Alforno Bakery & Café to pickup one of their amazing cakes, invite some friends over and enjoy some delicious cake and the company of the people you love! You can pre-order a cake or just pop in and grab one on your way home!

A couple of entertaining tips for when you’re hosting at home to make your soirée simple from beginning to end:

1. Make a plan & do what you can ahead of time! Pickup your cake & cocktail ingredients ahead of time, the day before always works great, and this means less stress for you on party day.

2. Prep your food before guests arrive. If you’ve picked up a cake, display it on the cake platter you’re using before guests arrive and set out all of the plates, utensils & forks you’ll need so everything is ready to go when your guests arrive.

3. Make a signature cocktail like my Pear Cider Sangria (below). You can make a batch of this cocktail ahead of time, store in the fridge and then add the garnishes just before guests arrive. Also, don’t forget to put out all of your glasses too so you’ll be ready to offer guests a drink upon arrival.

4. Décor doesn’t have to be overly complicated, use what you have! Pretty, small gift boxes can be used as décor along with holiday decorations (anything glitter) and floral.

With these tips and my easy cocktail recipe, Pear Cider Sangria, you’ll be all set to host a lovely get together.

Total Time: 5 minutes
Equipment: drink pitcher
Servings: 6-8 (served in champagne flutes)

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups hard pear cider
1/2 cup apricot brandy
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 cup ginger-ale
2 pears, chopped
1/3 cup pomegranate arils

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together in a pitcher.

Pour into glasses and garnish with pears and pomegranate arils per glass.

Then it’s time to cheers!

So now that you know where to go for an amazing array of cakes, the lovely Alforno Bakery & Café, and you have the perfect cocktail to go with your cake, set a date in the calendar to have a bunch of family and friends over!

Using my entertaining tips you can have a lovely get-together with delicious food & drink and the best part, have a ton of quality time with your loved ones.

If you host a get-together I’d love to see your photos! Just tag @cookinginmygenes or use #cookinginmygenes on Instagram and we can do a virtual cheers to your party!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

P.S. I’m giving a ‘virtual cheers’ to Terralynn from Alforno Bakery & Café who took the time to take photos of me in my kitchen for this story!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Alforno Bakery & Café for sponsoring this post.  Thank you for supporting the brands that I support. All opinions are my own.

The post Let’s Eat Cake – Easy Entertaining At Home with Alforno Bakery & Café appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

From apple cider and hot toddies to festive bubbly drinks and holiday liqueurs, a seasonal cocktail is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! That is exactly where this Spiced Winter Punch fits in.

Filled with warming flavours of cinnamon and star anise, this punch has everything you’d want in a winter cocktail including prosecco and cranberry juice. Plus, the glasses are rimmed with a combination of brown sugar and cinnamon for that perfect start to a winter cocktail.

You can enjoy this recipe as a Christmas punch to accompany your Christmas morning brunch, or maybe you whip up a batch of this winter punch to bring in the new year with some tasty appetizers! Grab your punch bowl and a ladle, and let’s get to work!

And what better way kick-off the holiday season than to share this Spiced Winter Punch with my food blogging friends! Come on over and cheers with us as we share a variety of cocktails that will suit all of your holiday entertaining needs.

This is a special post with a group of fellow Food Bloggers of Canada members bringing you the Winter Edition of Connecting over Cocktails! Each season a group of us create a seasonal cocktail and not only will I share my recipe with you, I’ll bring you links to all of the wonderful cocktail posts – just scroll to the bottom to see what other inspired cocktails have been created!

Print

Spiced Winter Punch

Filled with warming flavours of cinnamon and star anise, this winter punch has everything you’d want in a holiday cocktail,

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Jess

Ingredients

Punch:

• 1 bottle of prosecco
• 1 1/2 cups ginger-ale
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup spiced rum
• spiced pomegranate simple syrup recipe below
• 1 orange sliced thin
• 1 cup cranberries
• cinnamon sticks for garnish
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• honey

Pomegranate Spiced Simple Syrup:

• zest half orange
• 1 whole star anise
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar

Instructions

• First make the pomegranate spiced simple syrup; in a small pot combine orange zest, star anise, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate juice, water and sugar.
• Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn the heat down so the mixture simmers for 10 minutes.
• While your pomegranate mixture is cooking add your other ingredients in a pitcher: prosecco, ginger-ale, cranberry juice and spiced rum and stir to combine.
• When your pomegranate spiced simple syrup is done, take off of the oven and strain out the spices and orange zest. Set the mixture in the fridge to cool for a few minutes.
• Once your pomegranate spiced simple syrup has cooled for a few minutes in the fridge, add to your punch mixture in your pitcher. Then, add in the orange slices, cranberries and a few (2-3) extra cinnamon sticks.
• Next, add the brown sugar and cinnamon rim to your glasses by mixing brown sugar and cinnamon on a small plate. Then, trace the rim of your glasses with honey (helps the sugar rim to stay longer) and then turn your glass upside down, dipping the glass in the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture firmly.
• Then you are ready to serve! Pour your punch into your glasses, making sure some of the orange and cranberries end up in the glass and garnish with an extra cinnamon stick.

Notes

You can make your pomegranate simple syrup ahead of time and chill until using. Feel free to add a sprig of rosemary for a festive holiday touch! You can also add a few ice cubes if you prefer your drink extra cold. 

I love to enjoy cocktails with family and friends during the holidays. S0, here’s a variety of cocktail recipes from my food blogging friends, something for everyone’s taste this holiday season!

Cheers to Connecting Over Cocktails…

Justine from JustineCelina.com’s Classic Winter Citrus Red Sangria

Bernice from Dish ‘n’ in the Kitchen’s Dirty Chai Eggnog

Amanda from Peppers & Pennies Canadian Hot Chocolate

Samantha from My Kitchen Love’s Easy Bourbon Eggnog

Charlene from Chew Street’s Orange Ginger Punch

I hope you enjoy all of these amazing recipes ready for the winter season!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Spiced Winter Punch | The Perfect Cocktail for the Holidays appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.