This Christmas Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe brings a festive twist to the classic Cosmopolitan cocktail. This traditional cranberry cocktail is made with vodka and Cointreau, but what gives it the holiday vibe is Knudson’s juice blend of cranberry, orange, and cinnamon, plus an added squeeze of fresh orange juice.

Two Cosmos in glasses sitting on the counter with two oranges in the background.

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What is a Christmas Cosmopolitan?

A classic Cosmo is made with vodka, unsweetened cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. The Christmas version of this cocktail keeps the familiar base, but it will put everyone in the holiday spirit with its festive vibe.

A bottle of Knudsen cranberry, orange, and cinnamon juice.

The blend of Knudson’s cranberry, orange, and cinnamon is what gives this delicious drink the festive twist, along with a squeeze of fresh orange juice instead of the traditional lime juice.

Serve this drink with a rosemary sprig and a cinnamon stick, and voilà, let the holiday celebrations begin. It would also be festive to add a few cranberries for garnish.

Ingredients for the drink sitting on the counter.

Ingredients Needed for the Holiday Cocktail

Plain Vodka

Triple Sec or Cointreau
Knudsen Organic Cranberry Orange Cinnamon
Fresh-squeezed orange juice
Cinnamon sticks, fresh sprigs of rosemary, or fresh cranberries for a festive garnish
Ice

Equipment Needed

Cocktail shaker

Cosmo glasses

Pouring the mix into a martini glass with the ingredients sitting in the background.

How to Make the Cosmo

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add the vodka, cranberry blend, Cointreau, and fresh orange juice.
Shake well until the shaker feels cold to the touch.
Strain into a martini glass.
Add the cranberries, cinnamon stick, or rosemary garnish and serve immediately.

One cocktail sitting on a cocktail napkin and the Knudsen juice in the background.

Note: I got my cute glasses with the gold trim at HomeGoods, and the gorgeous holiday napkins are from Atelier Saucier.

Make-Ahead Christmas Cocktail

If you are hosting a party or holiday gathering, this is a great cocktail to prep ahead of time. It’s easy to prepare and allows you time to enjoy the holiday get-together without having to play bartender all night.

Mix everything except the ice and store it in the refrigerator.
When guests arrive, shake individual servings with ice and strain into glasses.
If serving a large crowd, make a big batch of the recipe in a pitcher and keep it chilled.

Cosmopolitan Recipe Variations

Bubbly Christmas Cosmopolitan: Top with a splash of sparkling wine just before serving.
Sparkling Christmas Cosmopolitan: Sprinkle in some edible glitter just before serving.
Mocktail Version: Just leave out the alcohol and add sparkling water.

Two Cosmos sitting on the counter with oranges and Knudsen juice in the background.

Substitutions or Modifications

There aren’t a lot of substitutions for this festive cocktail since the juice is already infused with orange and cinnamon. However, there are a few substitutions and modifications if you can’t find the Knudsen Organic Cranberry Orange Cinnamon.

Substitute plain cranberry juice or pomegranate juice for the Knudsen juice, and add a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Substitute white cranberry juice for the Knudsen juice, and add a sprinkle of cinnamon for a winter white cosmopolitan.
Add a splash of simple syrup for a sweeter version.

Note: I found the Knudsen Organic Cranberry Orange Cinnamon juice at my local grocery store. If you’re having a hard time finding it, just plug in your zip code under the find in store to see what grocery stores carry Knudsen products in your area.

One cosmo sitting on a cocktail napkin with a sprig of rosemary and a cinnamon stick.

How to Enjoy Christmas Cosmos

This Christmas Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe is super simple to make and a great drink to serve at any holiday gathering. Whether you are hosting a festive party, a family get-together, or just want to sip on a Christmas cocktail, this recipe is the perfect addition to your collection.

If you are a Cosmo conisuer and like citrus in your coctkails, you might also like this Gin and Elderflower Cocktail, becuase it is a huge hit around the holidays.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Cheers!

xoxo,
Molly