If you are looking for creative ways to surprise your guests or family members, you can make your own Christmas liqueur as a good luck charm. Such homemade Christmas drinks can be prepared easily and meaningfully in different flavors. The beginning of December is now the right time to do this, as some of these may take a little more time. Below, discover 5 examples that are sure to give you inspiration.
Use popular ingredients and make your own tempting Christmas liqueur
A homemade Christmas liqueur in a cute little bottle is an additional little gift that is sure to delight any connoisseur. While the tradition has never gone out of style, most people these days give so many gifts that they sometimes get lost in the crowd. The handover of onegood gift idea for Christmas, which is prepared slowly and with love, still has its effect. That is why the recipes listed here can bring good luck to both you and those who drink them. Additionally, each liqueur in this list has its own meaning. So take the opportunity to experiment with flavors, slightly controlling the final percentage of the drink depending on how much spirit you want to add.
The most popular aromas and flavors for Christmas are cream, caramel and cocoa. Using oranges or tangerines is another interesting idea. You can also enhance the taste with coffee beans. If you love coconuts, you can also use them as an ingredient. There are many options through which everyone can create their favorite recipe.
The simplest liqueurs can be made just a few days before Christmas. However, some recipe ideas require more time to achieve the full flavor and aroma, as the orange liqueur recipe shows. The longer tangerine or orange peels are soaked in alcohol, the more intense the aroma and color of the Christmas drink. The same rule applies to many coconut liqueur recipes. Without further ado, here are some of the best DIY suggestions.
Prepare eggnog à la Vov with Zabaglione
Known by many as a regenerating drink between two ski tours, “VOV” is actually a very old recipe. In 1845, pastry chef Gian Battista Pezziol from Padua decided to use the leftovers of previously made nougat to create a refreshing and heartwarming drink. Making such a Christmas liqueur yourself and serving it to your guests means wishing them strength, energy and vitality.
Preparation:
- To prepare it, you can first bring 1 2/3 cups of milk to the boil along with 1 cup of sugar and a cracked vanilla bean.
- Then reduce the heat to a minimum, stir for a few minutes and remove the mixture from the heat.
- Then beat about 90g of egg yolks with another cup of sugar until they become fluffy and fluffy.
- Now filter the warm milk and pour it over the egg mixture.
- First, place the mixture back over the heat in a water bath until the temperature of the milk reaches approximately 90°C. If you don't have a thermometer, it's exactly the moment when you lift the spoon and you notice that it remains covered in cream.
- Then combine Marsala wine and just under 1/2 cup 90 proof alcohol and stir gently.
- Finally, you can pour the liqueur into a previously sterilized 1 liter bottle and close it tightly.
Make your own creamy Christmas liqueur with oranges or tangerines
An orange or tangerine liqueur is considered one of the best drinks that can make anyone happy and is a must for any Christmas party. Such a Christmas liqueur par excellence is therefore suitable for a simple and fragrant way to wish dear friends and relatives good luck for the next year. In addition, a Christmas tangerine or orange liqueur is perfect for consumption straight from the glass, but can also serve as an accompaniment to dishes and desserts.
Preparation:
- To make the creamy tangerine liqueur, first place 2 cups of hard alcohol, 1 3/4 cups of sugar, half a slit vanilla bean and 10 sliced tangerines with skin (brushed and well washed) in a bottle.
- Then close the bottle and store it in a cool place for 2 weeks.
- Start by adding 1 1/4 cups water and 1 1/4 cups milk and let all ingredients steep for another week, shaking the bottle occasionally.
- Then filter the cream through thick gauze and collect everything in a previously sterilized 1 liter bottle, which in turn you can close tightly.
- Let the liqueur sit for a while before drinking.
Mix a delicious chocolate liqueur
Chocolate is always the life of the celebration as well as an indulgent way to give some love to family and friends. A chocolate liqueur is best enjoyed chilled. However, be sure to shake the bottle before serving so that the thick contents mix well.
Preparation:
- First, finely chop about 120 g of chocolate and melt it in a water bath, adding just under 1/2 cup of water.
- Then add 1 3/4 cups sugar, stir and cook over low heat until sugar is also melted.
- Add about a cup of water and heat the mixture for another 3 minutes.
- Open a vanilla bean and add it while stirring.
- Then stir in a cup of high-proof alcohol and let the mixture cool well.
- Filter the liqueur and pour the liquid into a sterilized 1 liter bottle, then close it tightly and let it sit for a day.
Use juniper and make your own Christmas liqueur
In the times of the ancient Greeks, juniper was considered a protective plant that was supposed to protect the house from negative forces. As one of the symbols of the Christmas season, juniper still retains its magical and positive meaning.
Preparation:
- First, place about 100 juniper berries and a little more than a cup of hard alcohol in an airtight jar.
- Then let the whole thing ferment for about 3 weeks.
- Meanwhile, prepare a syrup by boiling 1 1/4 cups water with 1 1/4 cups sugar and allowing it to cool completely.
- You can then filter the liquid with the juniper, add the syrup, pour it into a previously sterilized 1 liter bottle, close it tightly and let it rest before enjoying.
Prepare cream liqueur for Christmas with coconut
Last but not least, for guests who don't like eggnog, this recipe is a nice alternative to try. It adds a little flavor to the popular liqueur with a delicious white chocolate liqueur and the fruity notes that come from the well-known Southern Comfort orange liqueur. These additions take away some of the typical flavor of eggnog and make it a very accessible drink, and not just at Christmas.
You can also make your own Christmas liqueur using flavors such as chocolate or gingerbread. However, the coconut liqueur recipe is an interesting option that might surprise your guests. Here is the list of ingredients you need:
- 200 g grated coconut
- Vodka, 500 ml, of your choice
- 500 ml each condensed milk, sweetened and unsweetened
Preparation:
The liqueur can be prepared relatively quickly, but tastes best after a week of aging in a cool place.
- First put the coconut flakes in a jar or glass bottle and then pour 500 ml of alcohol over it.
- After that, seal the jar and keep it in a dark place for 1 week or 2 weeks for better taste.
- The shreds absorb the alcohol and then need to be strained through cheesecloth. Split them to squeeze as much liquid out of them as possible.
- First, in a separate bowl, mix the sweetened and unsweetened milk and gradually pour the sifted liqueur while stirring the liquid.
- Finally, mix everything thoroughly and pour the liquid into a bottle that you can store in the refrigerator.
