A CUP OF CHEER

Holiday sips leave body and spirits toasty warm

By Megan Myers and Jessica Piña

When you’re getting ready for a holiday dinner, don’t forget the drinks! Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering with family or a small outdoor get-together with friends, these drinks will make you the life of the party.

We all deserve a little comfort and a little celebration, and the drinks we’re preparing this season will give you both.

Inspired by our grandmothers’ pecan pies in the winter and Texas sheet cakes in the summer, the Texas Pecan Hot Chocolate marries a cold weather classic with a Texan tradition. It’s perfect for the kids’ table — or, if your party has a more grown-up vibe, sneak some pecan whiskey into the batch. Don’t let the pecan simple syrup scare you — a small pot and 15 minutes are all you need to whip up your own flavored syrup.

Texas Pecan Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

(for simple syrup)

1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1 cup pecans

(for hot chocolate)

¼ cup pecan simple syrup ½ cup instant dry milk ½ cup cocoa powder ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips 4 pinches salt Hot water Directions: Mix instant dry milk, cocoa powder, chocolate chips and salt in a medium bowl. Divide mixture evenly into four mugs. Add the pecan simple syrup to each mug to taste — we recommend starting with a few tablespoons. Pour 6-8 ounces of hot water in each mug and mix until dissolved. Garnish with whipped cream and chopped pecans.

Jolly Mimosas

Ingredients:

8 cups spiced apple cider 2 cups cranberry pomegranate juice 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice 2 cups spiced rum 4-5 cinnamon sticks 1 bottle sparkling wine

Directions: Combine all ingredients except for the sparkling wine in a large bowl. Chill mixture for at least an hour before serving. To serve, fill each glass ¾ full with juice mixture and top with sparkling wine. Can be served on ice if desired. Garnish with sliced fruit and whole cranberries.

How to make pecan simple syrupBring a cup of water to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Add pecans and sugar. Simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer pecans to a cooling rack. Set syrup aside to cool.

The excitement of the holiday season is the basis for the Jolly Mimosa. This punch hosts a hearty serving of fruit and a deep rum base. Add a little bit of bubbly, and you’ve given this drink a holiday sparkle.

Even if you’re not attending or throwing many parties this year, you can mix up a big batch to store in a pitcher and drink it from Christmas all the way to New Year’s. (In fact, the punch tastes even better after an overnight in the fridge!) You can serve this punch in any glass your heart desires — we love it in a mason jar for casual occasions and in a champagne flute for an elevated affair.

Our favorite part of making a drink is always the garnish. It’s fun to make a great tasting drink, but a well-decorated one takes it to the next level!

For the hot chocolate, we recommend whipped cream with some of the pecans from your simple syrup. Try chocolate or caramel syrup to give it some holiday ribbons. For the punch, stick with a cinnamon stick and the fruits from the recipe — an orange wheel, lime wedge and cranberry floaters were our favorites.

Whether your gatherings this holiday season call for hot or cold, festive or cozy, these drinks are sure to please all who get to enjoy them!