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Surprise your guests with a drink inspired by perhaps the most controversial Christmas treat: Fruitcake. This Brandy Christmas cocktail recipe, however, will not be controversial. It will be a hit among all. The warmth of Brandy blended with Cherry, Orgeat, Tangerine and Lime Juices make for a festive and delightful Fruitcake cocktail. It’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole night.

fruitcake brandy christmas cocktail recipe

The Fruitcake. A holiday dessert that dates back to the Middle Ages…it became the gift to give and get…and then re-gift again (and again). The butt of many jokes from Johnny Carson to Jay Leno. A truly undesirable gift in many circles, and a beloved Christmas tradition in others. Either you love it or you hate it.

The good news is this Christmas cocktail recipe is a crowd-pleaser and will be enjoyed by all. You won’t find anyone re-gifting it either. Pair it with some Fruitcake, or don’t. Either way, you’ll be ready to sign up for the Fruitcake of the Month club after a couple of these.

Why you’ll love this Christmas Cocktail recipe:

This Brandy Christmas Cocktail is fruity and sweet with a hint of nuttiness and spice. It makes a great holiday party punch or festive pre-dinner drink that will impress your guests so much they’ll be Fruitcake (cocktail) converts.

Ingredients needed for a Fruitcake of the Month Club Brandy Christmas Cocktail:

Brandy. Pick your favorite.
Cherry Brandy. Not to be confused with Kirsch.
Tangerine Juice. Freshly squeezed. You can also use Clementines or Oranges if you can’t find Tangerines.
Lime Juice. For the best flavor, this should be freshly squeezed, but in a pinch, you can use concentrated lime juice. I stand behind Nellie & Joe’s Key West Lime Juice as a substitute.
Orgeat. I recommend BG Reynold’s Orgeat, but if you are on a budget Fee’s Orgeat works great too.
Aromatic Bitters. Angostura or Fee’s Aromatic Bitters will work great for this recipe.
Cocktail Cherries. A mix of red and green maraschino cherries will give it the fruitcake look.
Lemon. A fresh wedge for garnish.

Tools you will need:

Measuring Jigger. These are my favorite, I have been using them for years!
Boston Shaker
Your favorite Holiday glass.

How to make this Brandy Christmas Cocktail:

Combine all the ingredients in your shaker.
Shake vigorously with cubed ice and pour into your glass. Top off with more ice if needed.
Add several cherries to float in the drink and garnish with cherries and the lemon wedge on top.
Add 2-3 dashes of Bitters.
Cheers!

How to serve a Christmas Cocktail:

Glassware with flair. A fun and festive seasonal glass will bring holiday joy to your guests and will add to the Christmas spirit. Now is the time to check out thrift stores and antique stores for deals on vintage sets.

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Easy Snacks. Don’t let guests get woozy with hunger…a large supply of peanuts, Chex Mix, or Christmas Caramel Popcorn will do the trick.

Cue the Music. A little Bing Crosby goes a long way at a Christmas party.

Settle in. If it’s just the two of you imbibing, make sure there’s a toasty fire and Christmas Vacation on speed click. You’ll both be the jolliest bunch of a-holes this side of the nuthouse.

How to make this for a crowd:

This makes a great Christmas party punch. For a standard punch bowl you will need:

1 bottle of Brandy
6 oz. of Cherry Brandy
18 oz. of Tangerine Juice
6 oz. of Lime Juice
6 oz. of Orgeat
6 cups of ice or more to fill the bowl.

Add all of your ingredients to the punch bowl and stir to combine. Add red and green cherries and lemon wheels for garnish. Serves 12+ guests.

When to enjoy a Brandy Christmas Cocktail:

Anytime is a good time to enjoy a fun holiday cocktail, but this is especially great as a:

Office Holiday Party drink
Christmas movie watching drink
Christmas gift wrapping drink
Tree tinseling drink
Writing your annual Holiday letter drink
Cookie baking marathon drink