CHRISTMAS MARTINIS

So I’m a beer drinker by nature, but when it comes to festive drinks for the holiday season, nothing looks more Christmasy than sugar-rimmed  martini glasses.    While a variety of recipes can be used to create that red and green color, two simple crowd favorites that I love is a tasty twist on the classic French Martini and the ever popular Appletini.  Both of these recipes call for vodka which, as an aside, I learned is not a true martini.  Martini purists believe gin makes a martini whereas vodka makes a cocktail.

But,  if you've ever watched a James Bond movie, Double-0-7 himself, has always preferred his martinis to be made with vodka along with his trademark "shaken not stirred".  That said, it appears that James has joined Team Debbie in his movie Skyfall....he ditches his martinis and switches to beer!

Now that you have an anecdote to go along with these recipes, let me just say that they are an incredibly easy way to look like you spent hours on every detail without breaking the bank.  They only require a few ingredients each so you can have your "martini taste" on a "beer budget"!


                                                             INGREDIENTS

                                                  Red Raspberry French Martini

                                                            1 oz.Chambord
                                                          1 oz. Vanilla Vodka
                                                    2 oz. Cran-Raspberry Juice

                                                        1 oz. Pineapple Juice
                                                       Raspberries/Toothpicks

                                                            Green Appletini

                                                    2 oz. Sour Apple Schnapps
                                                               2 oz. Vodka
                                                           2 oz. Apple Juice
                                                      Sour Apple Candy Cane
                          Optional:  For Christmasy green color add  2 drops Green Food Color

                                                      SUGARED GLASS RIM

                                                    3 tablespoons Corn Syrup
                                                       Green Sugar Sprinkles
                                          Wilton's White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles

                               INSTRUCTIONS FOR RIMMING GLASS WITH SUGAR

STEP 1: Pour 3 tablespoons corn syrup onto dessert size plate.

STEP 2: Place rim of glass upside down into corn syrup.  (I bought these martini glasses at TJMaxx.)

STEP 3:  Sprinkle white sugar onto a 2nd dessert plate that is separate from the corn syrup dessert plate.  I use Wilton's White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles because it is larger,  more coarse and looks fancier than regular sugar.  Some grocery stores may carry it.  I bought my bottle at Michael's in the Wilton's aisle. Then sprinkle green sugar sprinkles on top of white sugar sprinkles and mix together. I use the green sugar sprinkles from the grocery store baking aisle that you would use to decorate tops of sugar cookies. 

STEP 4:  Then place syrupy rim of glass upside down into sugar mixture.

                           INSTRUCTIONS FOR RED RASPBERRY FRENCH MARTINI

STEP 1:  Using a martini shaker filled with ice, add 1 oz. Chambord, 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka, 2 oz. Cran-Raspberry Juice & 1 oz. Pineapple Juice.  Shake vigorously.

STEP 2:  Using the strainer at the top of martini shaker, pour into sugar rimmed glass and garnish with raspberry filled toothpick.

If you would like to purchase fancy toothpicks from Amazon,  please click below...

Frilled Toothpicks Party Accessory
  
                                   INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUGARED RASPBERRIES

STEP 1:  Pour 3 tablespoons corn syrup onto dessert plate and place raspberry in syrup and roll and coat thoroughly.

STEP 2:  Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Wilton's White Sparkling Sprinkles onto 2nd dessert plate and place syrup coated raspberry in sugar sprinkles and roll and coat thoroughly.

STEP 3:  Place coated raspberry on fancy toothpick.  (You can buy fancy toothpicks at the grocery or wine store.  I buy mine through Amazon because I can buy more for le$$.  But, only when I can get free shipping.)  I use 2 raspberries per toothpick, leaving a space between them so the space balances comfortably on the rim of the glass.

                                         INSTRUCTIONS FOR GREEN APPLETINI

STEP 1:  Using a martini shaker fill with ice, add 2 oz. Sour Apple Schnapps, 2 oz. Vodka &
2 oz. Apple Juice and shake vigorously. 

STEP 2:  Using the strainer at the top of martini shaker, pour into sugar rimmed glass and
garnish with sour apple candy cane balanced on rim of glass.

OPTIONAL:  For Christmasy green color, add 2 drops Green Food Color otherwise it will be lime green in color.

Want more recipe ideas?  Please click below...

Pineapples & Palm Trees

                                                               ~ Cheers ~
                                                               ~ Debbie ~