5 of Our Favorite Easy Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

Thanksgiving is a time to cherish with your loved ones. This special day is all about gratefulness and love. There will certainly be lots of time spent in the kitchen preparing a traditional American feast. So why waste any time toiling over complicated cocktail recipes? We've compiled a list of Five Easy Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes. They’ll fast-track you to the dinner table, delicious beverage in hand!

Cranberry Sauce Gin and Tonic

Cranberry Sauce Gin and Tonic

Everyone loves a twist on a classic Thanksgiving favorite (especially when it is in cocktail form). Town & Country has jazzed up cranberry sauce by melding it with another traditional favorite: a gin and tonic. This refreshing beverage is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Its refreshingly sweet taste and its low-maintenance prep time will satisfy everyone. 

Ingredients:

  • 2-ounce Botanist gin
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • ½ ounce lemon juice
  • 1 heaping bar spoon of cranberry sauce
  • Tonic water
  • Lemon wheel


Directions: 

In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and cranberry sauce.
Shake with ice for about ten seconds, then strain into a tall glass with ice. Stir in tonic water and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Apple Jack Sazerac

Apple Jack Sazerac

Are there any two flavors more autumnal than apple and maple? Our second cocktail combines these two superstar tastes in one simple cocktail. This drink is small in size. But what it lacks in stature, it certainly makes up for in flavor! This beverage is perfect for the friends and family in your life who take cocktail drinking seriously. Whip up this simple recipe from Esquire for an after-dinner beverage that will pair well with dessert. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces apple brandy (like Applejack)
  • ¼ ounce maple syrup
  • 3 dashes of Peychaud's bitters

Directions:

Stir ingredients with ice, then strain into an old-fashioned glass. Serve up and garnish with a lemon twist.

Pomegranate Mimosa

 Pomengrate Mimosa

Mimosas are not just for brunch anymore! This unique and delicious twist on a classic Mimosa from A Couple Cooks adds a bit of sparkle to your Thanksgiving Day. This drink is a fantastic aperitif, but can really be enjoyed throughout the entire day. This sweet and effervescent cocktail has the perfect amount of tartness from the pomegranate. It will beautifully complement your decadent holiday meal. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) 100% pomegranate juice (bottled or fresh squeezed)
  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Aperol (or orange juice)
  • 4 ounces (½ cup) sparkling wine, like Prosecco or Champagne
  • For the garnish: orange slice, fresh rosemary spring

Directions: 

Add the pomegranate juice and Aperol to a champagne flute.
Tilt the champagne flute and pour in the Champagne or Prosecco. Garnish with an orange slice or rosemary sprig.

Nespresso White Russian

Nespresso White Russian

Dreading the tryptophan-induced coma that often follows Thanksgiving Dinner? Our fourth cocktail is the perfect antidote. Add a little pep to your step with this Nespresso White Russian! The recipe from Brit.co recommends Nespresso brewed coffee, but we think any kind of espresso or cold brew will do. This sweet and creamy drink will satisfy your sweet tooth while gearing you up for the after-dinner family game night!


Ingredients:

  • 1 ⅓ ounces coffee
  • ice
  • 1-ounce vodka
  • 1 teaspoon sugar cane syrup
  • 1-ounce heavy cream

Directions:

In a cocktail glass, brew a Nespresso capsule over ice.
Add vodka and sugar cane syrup.
Pour in heavy cream while stirring.

Slow Cooker Pear Cider

Slow Cooker Pear Cider

Is there anything more convenient than a slow cooker? What about a slow cooker cocktail? This recipe may seem a bit more complicated than the others on this list. But the set-it-and-forget-it nature of this beverage is what sets it apart. It’s perfect for whipping up Thanksgiving morning or the night before. The warm and cozy flavors of this pear cider from Country Living will have you ready to snuggle up after turkey dinner! Plus, it’s non-alcoholic, so everyone can enjoy it together.

Ingredients:

  • 8 medium pears, assorted types
  • 1 orange, peel, and pith removed
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 2-star anise
  • 2-3 slices fresh ginger
  • 1 whole nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons whole cloves
  • 6 cups filtered water
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup

Directions: 

  • Cut the pears and oranges into quarters (pear seeds, peels, and stems are okay). Place the fruit in the bottom of your slow cooker Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger slices, nutmeg, and cloves.
  • Fill the top of the slow cooker with water, leaving about an ¼ to ½ inch of space at the top. Cook on high heat for 3-4 hours or on low heat for 6-8 hours.
  • An hour before the cider is done cooking, use a potato masher to mash the fruit once it is softened—Cook for an additional hour.
  • Strain the pear cider through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean pitcher or pot. (Press on the solids to get all of the juice out of the fruit.) Stir in the maple syrup until it is dissolved and serve hot.

We hope that you truly savor your time spent with loved ones this holiday season. Thanksgiving is a beautiful time of year to reflect on the many things in your life to be grateful for. We hope we've helped you find a wonderful beverage to imbibe this Thanksgiving. All these options are simple and delicious, and allow more time spent with loved ones. If you enjoyed this article, we recommend following our Instagram and Facebook for more content just like this!