Cool cocktails you can stir up to kick off the festivities and wind things down.

Berry vodka soda 

Serves 4  
Total time 20 min  

Ingredients

For the berry compote  

Frozen mixed berries 2 cups 
Sugar 1 tbsp 
Lemon juice 2 tbsp  

For the soda  

Vodka 3/4 cup 
Cranberry juice 2 cups 
Ice 2 cups 
Soda water 750ml
Rosemary sprigs to serve 

Method

For the berry compote  

1. Place the frozen berries, sugar and lemon juice in a pot over medium heat.
2. Stir constantly to break up the berries. Bring to a simmer and continue to stir for 10-15 minutes until reduced.
3. Remove from heat and cool.

For the soda  

1. Put two tablespoons of the berry compote into each glass.
2. Add the vodka and cranberry juice to a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake until cold. 3. Strain into four glasses until half full. Fill the remainder of the glasses with soda water and a few blocks of ice. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary. 

Top tip
Spoon any leftover berry compote into an ice tray, fill it up with water and freeze it to make berry-flavoured ice cubes for your next summer drink.  

Peach and mango punch 

Serves 8-10
Total time 10 min  

Ingredients

Fresh peaches or nectarines 2 
Ice 6 cups 
Mango fruit juice 2L 
White wine or soda water 750ml 
Fresh mint sprigs to serve  

 Method

1. Thinly slice the peaches or nectarines and place them in a large clear bowl.
2. Add the ice. Then add the juice and the wine or soda water and stir.
3. Pluck a few leaves from some mint sprigs and scatter them over the top before serving. 

Top Tip
Soda water is a great filler in non-alcoholic cocktails. It adds a good foundation and, better still, it takes on the flavour of the main ingredient.  

Chocolate martini 

Serves 4
Total time 45 min + 2 hr refrigeration  

Ingredients

Dark chocolate, chopped 150g 
Baileys Irish Cream liqueur 3 cups 
Chocolate liqueur 1 cup  

Method

1. Place 4 martini glasses in the freezer.
2. Carefully melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in a microwave.
3. Remove the glasses from the freezer.
4. Using a spoon, spread a layer of chocolate in the shape of a half-moon on the inside of each glass.
5. Combine the liqueurs in a cocktail shaker or screw-top jar filled with about 1 cup of ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled.
6. Strain the martini into the prepared glasses.
7. Serve your martinis with a few gingerbread stars (perfect for dipping) dusted lightly with icing sugar. 

Recipe & styling: Sjaan Van Der Ploeg  

Photography: Zhann Solomons 

The post Cheers to the holidays with these festive cocktail recipes appeared first on MyKitchen.