If you are looking for a new signature cocktail for your Christmas gathering, try out one of Chef Aarika’s favorite libations!

WHITE CHRISTMAS MARGARITA WITH SUGARED CRANBERRY GARNISH

Sugar Coated Cranberries
1 small bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
½ cup sugar
2 Tbsp agave

Toss the cranberries in a bowl and coat with the agave. In a separate bowl, add the sugar and then the cranberries. Skewer onto toothpicks or small bamboo skewers. if needed. Serve immediately with White Christmas Margarita.

White Christmas Margarita
Yields 2

4oz silver tequila
2 oz triple sec
2 oz white cranberry juice
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp agave nectar
¼ cup coconut cream
Ice

In a shaker, add all of the ingredients listed except the ice. Shake thoroughly, then add the desired amount of ice to the glass and 2 cubes to the shaker. Shake until the cubes begin to dissolve. Pour and garnish with sugared cranberries.

NAUGHTY GINGERBREAD COCKTAIL WITH PEPPERMINT CANDY GARNISH
Yields 2

2 oz vodka
4 oz domine du canton (ginger liqueur)
6 oz eggnog
1 tsp molasses
Nutmeg and cinnamon for garnish
1 bag of peppermint candies

Combine all ingredients into a shaker. Shake with cubes until a nice froth forms. Strain over ice into prepared glass. Grate nutmeg and cinnamon over top. Garnish with peppermint candy garnish.

*To create the candy tree, simply lay peppermint candies inside a Christmas tree cookie cutter and bake at 350 degrees until candies melt slightly and fuse together.

CHERRY ALMOND CREAM COCKTAIL WITH A CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRY GARNISH

Chocolate Dipped Cherry Garnish
3 oz. fresh or frozen dark sweet cherries
4 oz. cherry liqueur
3 oz. marzipan (almond paste)
Coating chocolate

Soak the cherries in the alcohol overnight. Strain the cherries and pat dry with a towel. Pull a dime-sized piece of marzipan off the log and gently wrap it around each cherry. Melt chocolate and dip each cherry into chocolate. Place onto a parchment-lined sheet tray and allow chocolate to harden.

Cherry Almond Cream Cocktail
Yields 2 cocktails

4 oz cherry brandy
4 oz amaretto
8 oz half and half
2 tsp almond extract
Chocolate cherries for garnish

Add the liqueurs to a shaker filled with ice. Add the almond extract and shake. Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with half-and-half. Stir to mix; then garnish with a chocolate cherry.