From the viral caramel apple sangria to cranberry jello shots, here are four Thanksgiving cocktails you must try this season.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner—are you ready? If you’re already stressing over family gatherings and perfecting Tini’s famous mac and cheese, we have one less thing to worry about: your cocktail menu.
We all know emotions can run high as holiday gatherings approach. For some reason, family members always seem a little extra—or come armed with more personal questions than usual. So why not have a little liquid courage on hand to help navigate the annual “¿Y el novio/a?” or “¿Cuándo se casan?” interrogations?
To help you celebrate Thanksgiving—or Friendsgiving—in style, here are four must-try cocktail recipes that showcase classic holiday flavors like caramel, cranberry, pumpkin, and apple.
Caramel Apple Sangria
You can whip up the perfect caramel apple sangria with diced apples, your favorite white wine, caramel vodka, apple cider, and cinnamon sticks. Want to make it even more festive? Add a honey and brown sugar rim—though that part’s totally optional!
The best thing about this sangria? It’s incredibly easy to make. And let’s be real, no one needs complicated recipes during the holidays.
Pumpkin Pie Jello Shots
Calling all pumpkin lovers! Combine orange jello, boiling water, pumpkin purée, vanilla vodka, heavy cream, and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice, and you’ve got yourself a jello shot that’s basically pie in a cup.
Caramel Apple Spritz
If you’re a spritz enthusiast, why not put a festive twist on it with caramel apple flavors? Mix vanilla vodka, apple cider, and caramel syrup, then top it off with champagne. Garnish with an apple slice and, for an extra touch, try a caramel and cinnamon sugar rim like this TikTok creator does.
Thanksgiving Margarita
Margaritas aren’t just for summer! This Thanksgiving-inspired version combines lime juice, agave syrup, pumpkin purée, allspice dram liqueur, amaretto liqueur, and tequila. Finish it with a cinnamon salt rim, as recommended by this TikTok creator, who credits the original recipe to Naren Young.
Cranberry Jello Shots
Here’s another jello shot recipe for all the jello fans out there. This one features cranberry jello, boiling water, and vodka. To make it festive, top it with sugared cranberries and a sprig of rosemary, as seen on TikTok.
All of these cocktail recipes sound delicious, don’t they? Which one will you try first?