Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 29 Cocktail and Spiked Punch Recipes Perfect for Any and Every Party Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, Wednesday, or laundry day—no matter what you're celebrating with friends and family, we have an easy recipe to suit. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 23, 2024 Close Photo: Stephen DeVries For many of us, tending the bar at our own home party is intimidating, especially when juggling other hosting duties. That inspired us to compile this list of super-simple cocktail recipes, many of which you can make ahead. Whether you're grilling outdoors with friends, lounging poolside, or celebrating holidays with family, you'll want to keep a pitcher or punch bowl of these cocktails within reach. From the classic crowd-pleasing Bloody Mary to a minty Moscow mule punch to grapefruit kombucha margaritas, guests will rate these colorful sips almost as wow-worthy as their host. 01 of 29 Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita Stephen DeVries This easy recipe transforms a standard kombucha into a delectable margarita. You'll love the tartness that grapefruit juice brings, but feel free to mix and match with other citruses, too. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 29 Cucumber Spritzer Victor Protasio Cucumber and mint make the best combo in this refreshing spritzer. This cocktail recipe makes eight servings, enough for a whole table. If someone at your party doesn't drink, just add 1 ounce of gin to each glass instead of mixing it into the pitcher. Garnish the drink with fresh mint leaves and thinly sliced cucumber before serving. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 29 Spiked Hot Apple Cider Caitlin Bensel If you're hosting a holiday happy hour or dinner party, warmly welcome your guests (literally!) with this decadent spiked cider. Molasses adds a deep, rich flavor and color, and spices add a lovely dimension that puts guests in a holiday mood. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 29 Bekaa Highball Jen Causey Pick up some cotton candy grapes on your next grocery store trip to make this 5-minute champagne cocktail. From Chez Zou, a cocktail lounge in New York City, this refreshing beverage mixes champagne, tonic water, white grape juice, apple brandy, and Lillet Blanc. Swap champagne for a different dry sparkling wine like Italian Prosecco if you desire. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 29 White Negroni Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler I’m dreaming of a white… negroni. No seriously, this cocktail is so good you’ll want to make it year round—and why not? It’s refreshing and elegant, but don’t be fooled: It'll knock your socks off! GET THE RECIPE 06 of 29 Spiced Apple Kombucha Cocktail Stephen DeVries Wow your guests with this cocktail that combines kombucha, spiced rum, and classic winter spices. Make it a few days ahead to let the flavors really come together. At party time, serve in a highball glass with ice and an apple-slice garnish. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 29 Campari Soda With Orange Greg DuPree Fancy some Campari? The iconic Italian red bitter at the heart of this cocktail is rounded out with orange juice and soda water. Top with a strip of orange zest and you have a bright, refreshing sweet-bitter balance that hits all the right notes. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 29 Red Sangria With Blackberries Maura McEvoy What’s more crowd-pleasing than a red wine sangria? This fruity version delights with a splash of brandy, a trickle of sugar, and a glug of club soda. Allow the fruit and wine to macerate for at least an hour in the fridge before serving to eager guests. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 29 Fall Cider Sangria Emma Darvick If you want to serve a cocktail that tastes like fall but is also refreshing, this apple-forward sangria recipe is a must. The best part? You can make it up to two days in advance, which is perfect for party planning. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 29 Minty Moscow Mule Punch J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Who knew a Moscow mule could be so refreshing? This combination of vodka, ginger beer, and a homemade ginger-mint simple syrup is sure to be a hit. To make hosting easier, serve these mules in a punch bowl so guests can help themselves. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 29 Bloody Mary Getty Images Without the vodka, you can prep this crowd-pleaser and refrigerate it the day before. Just before the party begins, stir in the spirit, pour into frosted glasses, add garnishes, and let the brunch begin. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 29 Sweet-and-Spicy Mulled Wine Greg DuPree There is nothing quite as comforting as drinking mulled wine on a chilly winter night. This mixture of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise is sure to awaken your senses and warm your soul. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 29 Boozy Apple Cider Slushie J Muckle; Styling: Rebekah Peppler Want to know how to win at any fall or winter holiday? Make these delightful frozen cocktails that taste like nothing your guests have had before. To get super fancy, garnish each drink with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 29 Frozen Cold Brew Coffee Cocktail wmaster890/Getty Images The cold brew trend has transformed coffee from a morning-only necessity to an anytime-of-day refreshment. This recipe for a creamy, boozy rendition—featuring make-ahead coffee ice cubes—is bound to make it a party favorite, too. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 29 Frosé bhofack2 This easy frozen-rosé slushie may just become your guests' new summer cocktail. Refreshing, fruity, and boozy, it transforms strawberries (or any fruit you like, really), wine, grenadine, and a shot of vodka into a pretty, pink, adults-only treat. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 29 Holiday Punch Jennifer Causey Using three kinds of alcohol, this holiday punch does just that! Your guests will appreciate the mix of flavors and elements in this beverage, while also enjoying a nice little buzz. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 29 Classic Margaritas Dana Gallagher Raise a toast with this essential Cinco de Mayo cocktail. Use freshly-squeezed lime juice for maximum bright citrus tang. Salud! GET THE RECIPE 18 of 29 John Collins Wendy Granger Perfect for any occasion, this riff on the classic Tom Collins cocktail gets a dose of whiskey instead of the traditional gin. Pour over a tall glass of ice, garnish with a lemon wedge, and enjoy the party! GET THE RECIPE 19 of 29 Irish Iced Coffee Wendy Granger This refreshing cocktail could not be simpler to make. Mix strong iced coffee with whiskey and heavy cream for a deliciously decadent pick-me-up as well as the perfect St. Patty's Day cocktail. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 29 Classic Amaretto Sour RealSimple.com A cocktail for the classic cocktail lover, this elegant drink is sure to impress your partygoers. Lemon juice adds brightness and just the right amount of sour. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 29 White Sangria Charles Maraia Mix up a pitcher of this fizzy, fruity drink and it’s the star of any outdoor party. To keep the sangria cold without watering it down, add frozen grapes to the pitcher before serving. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 29 White Grapefruit-Ginger Spritz Christopher Testani This punch couldn’t be easier—just combine a chilled ginger syrup with grapefruit juice in a large punch bowl. Top it off with chilled Prosecco, garnish with grapefruit slices and sprigs of thyme, and serve to very happy guests. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 29 Apple Cinnamon-Spiced Cocktail a_namenko Celebrate the harvest—or any random day of the year—with this fun, apple-y drink punched up with vodka and Aperol. Your guests will fall for it! GET THE RECIPE 24 of 29 Tarragon French 75 Cocktail Victor Protasio This version of the classic French 75 cocktail—made with sparkling wine and lemon juice—swaps out the usual gin with warming cognac. Served on the rocks or neat, it makes a perfectly chic fireside refreshment. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 29 Long Island Iced Tea bhofack2 / Getty Images Not for the faint of heart, the Long Island iced tea is so-named for its amber hue and sweet flavor. It contains no actual tea, though it packs a punch with five different types of alcohol. Gin, tequila, rum, vodka, and triple sec combine with lemon juice, simple syrup, and cola for a cocktail that's sure to be popular with your guests. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 29 Spicy Jalapeño-Mint Margaritas Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images Spicy, sweet, and refreshing, this margarita cocktail will have everyone coming back for more. Instead of salt, this margarita calls for a sugar rim to offset the kick of the jalapeños. This cocktail is perfect on its own or can be served with chips and guac, queso, or quesadillas. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 29 Limoncello Spritz Greg DuPree Limoncello—a lemon liqueur from southern Italy—is usually served after dinner as a digestivo. This recipe delivers a bright and tart spritz with a combination of dry sparkling wine and club soda. Add a rosemary sprig to garnish the glass, and you have a delicious after-dinner sipping drink. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 29 Red Wine Spritz Greg DuPree Entertaining? You don't want to put your guests to sleep with regular red wine. So change it up a bit by mixing up this red wine spritz. All you need is sweet vermouth, dry sparkling red wine, and club soda—a combination that could satisfy all palettes. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 29 Martini Jonathan Knowles/Getty Images Whatever the occasion, each celebration (and just your average Tuesday) calls for classic martinis. Vodka (or gin) and vermouth combine for a simple but satisfying concoction that you can spice up to be as dry or dirty as you desire. Add some orange bitters and a lemon twist to make a classic martini, or change it up with a garnish of your choice. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit