Fizzy, Fruity and Festive: Cocktail Recipes to Shake Up the Holiday Season

Planning on entertaining friends and loved ones at your apartment this holiday season? Consider serving a "signature cocktail" during your event. Here are a few festive, fizzy, and/or fruity cocktail recipes to try (they're even delicious without the alcohol!). Remember to drink responsibly!

Cinnamon Pear Mimosas [reciperunner.com]
Hosting a holiday brunch? This sweet and fizzy drink makes the perfect accompaniment to eggs Benedict or French toast casserole. Simply steep cinnamon sticks in unsweetened pear juice, pour the juice into a champagne flute, then top off the glass with a little prosecco. Add a slice of pear for garnish.

Amaretto-Cranberry Kiss [epicurious.com]
The cranberry-red hue of this cocktail is as festive as the holiday season! It's easy to make, too: Combine cranberry juice cocktail, vodka, amaretto, and orange juice, then store the mixture in a pitcher for up to one day. A garnish of orange segments add a little more color.

Ultimate Winter Holiday Sangria [www.joyfulhealthyeats.com]
Who says sangria is just for the summer? This recipe reinvents the warm-weather beverage into a spirited (pun intended!) drink for the holiday season. To make it, mix agave nectar, Grand Marnier, brandy, red wine, and ginger ale in a pitcher. Then comes the fun stuff: slices of citrus and pear, plus a handful of pomegranate seeds. Cheers!