7+ best sparkling holiday drink recipes

Spice up your Christmas parties with these holiday-inspired seltzer-based drink ideas! 

It feels like goodies and temptation are around every corner during the holiday season. But we believe this time of year also brings out some of the best flavours, ideas, and company for sparkling holiday drinks. So what will you be drinking this holiday season? 

We asked our team at Seltza for a few quintessential holiday drink ideas that you can make at home using just a few simple ingredients and fresh seltzer water. All together, we collected a few fizzy cocktail recipes, a couple mocktails, and some great ideas to mix up drinks for the kids, too! 

Feel free to customize these drinks to your liking. Enjoy!

Alcoholic holiday seltzer drinks

Warning – these delicious bubbly drinks can be quite addicting! Always drink responsibly while enjoying these boozy beverages at your next holiday party.

Photo & Recipe by The Baker Chick

Cranberry Rosemary Cocktail (serves 10)

Is there a more classic holiday flavour than cranberry? This cocktail everything you need to get in the holiday spirit, with fresh cranberries, rosemary, a shot of vodka, and bubbly.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 3.5 cups water, divided
• 5 cups fresh cranberries
• 2 cups vodka
• 8 oz. freshly carbonated water

Directions

1. Make the rosemary syrup by cooking the sugar, rosemary, and 1 cup of water over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, remove the rosemary sprigs, and allow to cool.
2. Puree cranberries and 2.5 cups water in a blender until smooth. Then strain the pulp and set juice aside.
3. Return pulp to the blender, add vodka and blend for a few minutes. Strain mixture and set the new flavoured vodka aside.
4. To prepare, mix ¼ cup cranberry/vodka juice, 2 tbsp cranberry vodka, and ⅕ tablespoon of the rosemary syrup, and splash with seltzer water.
5. Serve over ice with garnish.

Photo & Recipe by What's Gaby Cooking

Mandarin Spritz (serves 4)

Orange is another quintessential holiday beverage. Don't we all love unwrapping a fresh mandarin orange at Christmas time? Plus, they’re full of vitamins (A, B, and C) and known to bring out your skin’s natural glow.

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh mandarin juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• Handful of mint
• 1.5 cups sparkling water
• 4 oz. of tequila or vodka (optional)

Directions

1. Crush mint in your cup and leave leaves at the bottom.
2. Add juices, ice, alcohol, and top with fresh seltzer water.
3. Garnish with freshly peeled mandarin slices.

Photo & Recipe by Joyful Healthy Eats

Holiday Cranberry Sangria (serves 6-8)

Don’t be scared by the long list of ingredients. When combined, they make a heavenly holiday sangria that the whole (adult) family will be asking for seconds.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp agave nectar
• ¼ cup brandy
• ½ cup cranberry juice
• 1 orange, sliced
• 2 limes, sliced
• ½ cup whole frozen cranberries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 bottle dry red wine
• 1 cup seltzer water

Directions

1. Add all ingredients (except seltzer water) in a large pitcher, stir, and refrigerate for 4 hours or longer).
2. Add the seltzer to the pitcher just before you serve for maximum bubbliness.
3. Serve over ice with rosemary sprigs if desired.

Non-Alcoholic holiday seltzer drinks

Are you the designated driver or having a dry December? These tasty non-alcoholic beverages are for you.

Photo & Recipe by The Busy Baker

Sparkling Winter Berry Holiday Mocktail (serves 8)

Mixed berry drinks are great for a winter beverage. Add the sparkling bubbles, and you’ve got an excellent alcohol-free drink for adults and kids alike.

Ingredients

• 4 cups cranberry juice
• 2 cups apple juice
• ⅓ cup strawberry syrup (or grenadine)
• 4 cups sparkling water
• Assorted fresh or frozen berries

Directions

1. Stir the juices and syrup in a pitcher until combined.
2. Fill your glass with half of the juice mixture, and half sparkling water.
3. Add ice and a few berries for garnish if desired.

Photo & Recipe by Five Heart Home

Cranberry Pomegranate Bellinis (serves 12)

Another classic holiday pairing is cranberry and pomegranate. Pomegranate can help aid in your digestion, which will be much-needed after a big holiday feast!

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsweetened cranberry juice
• ½ cup unsweetened pomegranate juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 3-4 oz seltzer water
• Fresh lime juice

Directions

1. Make a simple syrup by combining the juices and sugar in a pot and heat to boiling, stirring often. Turn to low and simmer for another 5 minutes, then set aside to cool (store in the fridge until needed).
2. To prepare, pour 1 oz of syrup into a champagne flute.
3. Add seltzer water and a wedge squeeze of lime.
4. Garnish with a skewer of cranberries or a slice of lime.

Photo & Recipe by Country Cleaver

Nutella Egg Cream (serves 2)

While not necessarily a holiday-specific beverage, chocolate (aka Nutella) is always in season. This is a great drink for the Nutella lovers in your family, and it’s non-alcoholic too.

Ingredients

• ½ cup Nutella
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup seltzer water

Directions

1. Divide the Nutella and milk into 2 glasses.
2. Whisk or stir until well mixed.
3. Top with freshly carbonated water and serve.

Holiday seltzer drinks for the kids

Include the kids in the festivities with a special treat for their beverage! Why not let them enjoy a kid-friendly carbonated beverage, decorated hot chocolate, or milk and eggnog with the adults?

Photo by Our Wabi Sabi Life

Rudolph Noses Holiday Drink (serves 6)

This is a fun one for the youngsters to try. The name alone is highly likely to get your younger kids giggling!

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp limeade concentrate
• 1 tbsp cranberry juice
• Sparkling water (to taste)
• Fresh cranberries  

Directions

1. In an 8 oz cup, add ice, limeade, and cranberry juice.
2. Fill cup with sparkling water.
3. Skewer a few fresh cranberries (aka “Rudolph noses”) on a toothpick or skewer and add to the cup

Here are some other fun kid-approved ways to dress up drinks for the kids this holiday:

• Add gummies or candy to a sparkling beverage
• Add a stick of rock candy to their drink (the colour will run off into the drink changing its colour)
• Add fresh berries and fruit
• Rim their glasses with coloured sprinkles
• Add whipping cream and crushed candy cane sprinkles to their hot chocolate
• Use a candy cane as a stir stick
• Serve drinks in a fancy cup or plastic wine or champagne cup

Why use freshly carbonated water

As you’re browsing the internet looking for new drink recipes, don’t forget that you can often replace soda or wine with seltzer water. When you make it fresh at home, rather than buying it in bottles and cans, it’ll be bubblier, healthier (less sugar and preservatives), and contribute to a great-tasting holiday beverage. You’re likely already filling up on sugary, high-calorie foods and treats this holiday season – why not cut down on some sugar in your beverages by making your own seltzer water?