Spirits in a snow globe?! Some creative Christmas cocktails you can make at home

MILWAUKEE -- Get ready to pour a glass of holiday cheer. Chef Alisa Malavenda joins Real Milwaukee with some Christmas-themed cocktails.

Winter Wonderland Snow Globe Cocktail

To Make Snow globes-  use various size and height round bottom glasses

Put water in the bottom of the glass about ¼ “ and freeze slightly – anchor rosemary ( as the tree) and the onion snow man , and add more water – freeze over night.

Make the rosemary simple syrup :

Cring ½ sugar, ¾ C water and 1 sprig rosemary to a low simmer over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Let sit 30 minutes, strain and cool. Set aside.

Per cocktail – add to shaker

Pull snow globe glasses out of freezer when ready to serve. Sprinkle with a little edible glitter or disco dust and pour strained cocktail SLOWLY to make a snow globe

Note: You can make this kid friendly by using white covered raisins for the snowman and marshmallow Christmas tree for globe with sprite.

The Red Nosed Reindeer

Mix chocolate liqueur, Kahlua, vodka and half and half in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake. Pour a little chocolate syrup on the bottom of cocktail glass, strain cocktail mixture into glass – garnish with cherry for the red nose on front of the glass and markers or broken pretzels for antlers

Note: You can make this a kids version by using  plain chocolate milk

Frozen-  “Let it Go”

Combine ingredients except seltzer in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake . Place a mound of cotton candy in a martini glass, pour cocktail slowly into glass over cotton candy and watch it melt all your stress away. Top with seltzer for a less sweet version.

For an elegant version of this cocktail, simply pour champagne over the cotton candy.

Note: You can make this kid friendly by  pouring sprite over the cotton candy.

Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe

Run the lime wedge around the cocktail glass and dip into sugar to rim the glass.

Carefully fill the glass with ice and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker , muddle mint, 3 cranberries or pomegranate seeds, agave nectar and lime juice. Fill with ice and add the vodka, give it a shake to mix and then add the ginger beer- stir to mix ( do not shake )

Carefully pour into glass so you don’t melt the sugar rim and garnish with rosemary, mint or thyme- a lime wheel and a few pomegranate seeds or remaining cranberries.

You can replace sprite for vodka and use non alcohol ginger beer for a non alcohol version.

Peppermint Candy Cane Martini

Make a martini or coat a shot glass with crushed peppermint candy cane for a fun holiday shot

The Fruit Cake Cocktail (That You Won’t RE-Gift)

For cocktail:

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a luxardo cherry and orange peel

Hot Buttered Rum Mix

Keep this mix on hand for ice skating  tree trimming , caroling or sitting by the fire on a cold winters night. Also makes a great gift in mason jars.

Using a hand mixer , blend all the ingredients together. Store ingredients in a small mason or tight sealed jar and keep under refrigeration.

To make hot cocktail

In a heat resistant glass or mug put 1.5 -2 oz rum. Add one tablespoon of the mixture. Fill with hot water. Stir until melted and enjoy

Note: Also delicious with Bourbon for a modern twist and use hot apple cider instead of water  for a Hot Bourbon Ball Cocktail

Mixture good for one month in refrigerator ( if it  lasts that long )