10 Fall Drink Recipes to Elevate Your Friendsgiving

You’ve cooked the turkey, prepared the sides, baked the pie, and invited all of your closest friends to your annual Friendsgiving. But you forgot one thing — the drinks! If you’re in need of some spectacular Friendsgiving drink ideas, then check out these fun fall drink recipes to impress your friends and elevate your Friendsgiving.

1. Cranberry-Pomegranate Mimosa

Kick off a lovely Friendsgiving with a champagne toast! After all, is there anything more festive than bubbles? Almond-crusted goat cheese or baked brie with crackers would be a delicious pairing. And you can never go wrong with a decked-out charcuterie board for guests to graze on before the big meal.

Serves 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

• 4 oz prosecco
• 2 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• Fresh cranberries or pomegranate seeds

Pour the apple juice and cranberry juice into a champagne flute. Top it with prosecco. Drop in a few fresh cranberries or pomegranate seeds for a pretty and extra-festive touch.

2. Spiced Pear Spritz

A pear cocktail? Really? Oh yes! This spritz has a lovely balance of crisp lightness and warm spice, and also best poured as you pass the apps. Try bacon-wrapped figs or crostini topped with prosciutto, goat cheese, and fig jam. Those bites look fancy but are super simple to make!

Serves 4
Prep Time: 35 minutes

• 8 oz Prosecco, chilled
• 4 oz Aperol
• 2 oz pear syrup
• Pear Syrup:
• ¾ c water
• ¾ c honey
• 1 Anjou pear (can also use Bartlett or Bosc)
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick

Slice the pear. In a saucepan, combine half of the sliced pears, honey, water, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the honey is dissolved, then turn the heat to low and cook for about 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Strain the mixture into a container to remove the cloves, cinnamon sticks, and larger pear pieces, then refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. You can easily make this the day before so it’s ready to mix at cocktail hour.

Add a slice or two of pear to each champagne flute. When the pear syrup is chilled, pour 2-3 ounces into each flute. Top each with 1 ounce Aperol and 2 ounces Prosecco.

3. Blood Orange Margarita

If you’re a sucker for a good marg but feel like it’s just a summertime drink, think again! The blood orange in this margarita makes it totally season-appropriate. Push traditional boundaries by serving these with seasonal Mexican delicacies like pumpkin empanadas, roasted squash blossoms, or calabaza en tacha — candied pumpkin.

Serves 2-3
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes

• 4 oz fresh blood orange juice
• 4 oz Blanco tequila
• 2 oz triple sec
• 2 oz lime juice
• 2 oz simple syrup
• 1 T coarse salt
• 1 T orange or lime zest
• Blood orange wheel to garnish
• Rosemary sprig to garnish
• Ice

To make the salt rim, combine salt with the zest of a lime, blood orange, or your preferred citrus. Pour it onto a small plate. Wet the rim of 2 to 3 glasses with the citrus juice, then dip it into salt, turning the glass to cover the rim.

Combine the blood orange juice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake to mix and chill the ingredients. Pour it into the salted glass — over ice if preferred. Add a blood orange wheel and a sprig of rosemary to garnish.

4. Sage G+T

Nothing says autumn like fresh sage! And this favorite fall herb is the perfect addition to a classic gin and tonic, as it plays well with the juniper notes of a good gin. Trade in the lime garnish for lemon and you’re all set. This cocktail will go best with savory dishes but can be served before, during, or after the meal.

Serves 2
Prep Time: 25-30 minutes

• 2 oz gin
• 3 oz tonic water
• 1 oz sage simple syrup
• 1 lemon
• Sage Simple Syrup:
• 4 fresh sage leaves
• ½ c water
• ½ c sugar

To make sage simple syrup, combine water, sugar, and sage leaves in a saucepan. Heat until simmering and the sugar has dissolved. Remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Remove the sage leaves. Transfer the syrup to the refrigerator and chill for about 15 minutes. Make it ahead of time to reduce stress on Friendsgiving day.

To serve the cocktail, fill rocks glasses with ice. Pour 1 ounce of sage simple syrup and 2 ounces of gin into each glass, then top with 3 ounces of tonic. Give it a quick stir. Add a lemon wedge and start sipping!

5. Rosemary Greyhound

Vodka drinkers, this is for you! Some homemade spicy herb-roasted nuts are a tried-and-true party snack and would complement the herb-and-citrus combo of this drink.

Serves 2
Prep Time: 25-30

• 6 oz grapefruit juice
• 4 oz vodka
• 2 oz rosemary-infused simple syrup
• Rosemary Simple Syrup:
• 4 fresh rosemary sprigs
• ½ c water
• ½ c sugar
• Rosemary sprig to garnish
• Grapefruit wheel to garnish

To make rosemary simple syrup, combine water, sugar, and rosemary sprigs in a saucepan. Heat it until it’s simmering and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let it cool completely. Remove rosemary sprigs.

6. Maple Old Fashioned

You can’t go wrong with this classic cocktail—especially when it’s dressed up with a little fall flair. Let your guests munch on homemade Chex mix while sipping what will no doubt end up on everyone’s list of best autumn cocktail recipes!

Serves 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes

• ½ oz maple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 2 oz bourbon
• Orange peel
• Ice

In an old-fashioned glass, add maple syrup, bourbon, and bitters, and stir to combine. Add ice and stir until the cocktail is cool. Squeeze an orange peel to release the oils and add the peel to glass.

7. Mulled Wine

Mulled wine might remind you of sangria, but this warm brew dates back to the Dark Ages! Fit for the kings and queens of Medieval Times, mulled wine will make your guests feel like royalty. Offer this one with dinner if you like—it’s not far off from that bottle of red wine you probably planned to serve. And like any good red wine, it pairs well with a cheeseboard.

Serves 6
Prep Time: 30-35 minutes

• 1 bottle red wine, such as Beaujolais or Merlot
• ¼ c brandy
• ¼ c maple syrup
• 2 oranges
• 2 star anise pods
• 6 whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks

Add the wine, brandy, maple syrup, orange wheels, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon sticks to a large saucepan. Heat the mixture over high heat and bring it to just below a simmer being careful not to let it boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture warm for at least 20 minutes to ensure the flavors infuse. Strain out orange slices and spices, and pour the mulled wine into mugs. Garnish with a star anise pod, cinnamon stick, and/or fresh orange wheel.

8. Pumpkin Spice White Russian

A boozy twist on your typical PSL, this drink can be served hot or iced. Put on your best fall sweater and be sure to take a group selfie for this one. Serve with other fall favorites like pecan pie or pumpkin bread.

Serves 3-4
Prep Time: 20-25 minutes

• 1 c fresh-brewed coffee
• ½ c vodka
• ½ c coffee liqueur
• ¼ c pumpkin spice creamer
• Whipped cream
• Cinnamon

Brew coffee and pour it into a saucepan over low heat. Add vodka and coffee liqueur and stir until fully incorporated. Pour creamer slowly in a thin stream, stirring constantly to prevent curdling. When all the cream is added, continue stirring until fully incorporated. Increase the heat to medium and heat the mixture until it’s just below simmering. Ladle it into heat-proof glasses, top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with cinnamon.

For an Iced Pumpkin Spice White Russian, simply chill freshly brewed coffee beforehand or use cold brew. Combine all the ingredients and pour over ice. Whipped cream and cinnamon topping are highly encouraged.

9. Spiked Cider

Spike cider is one of the simplest but yummiest fall cocktail recipes you can make and a must on your list of Friendsgiving drink recipes! If you’re hosting any kiddos or know some of your guests will pass on the booze, you can easily make a non-alcoholic batch and add 1 oz spiced rum to individual mugs to please everyone. Serve as a nightcap with pumpkin pie or molasses cookies.

Serves 6
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes

• 8 c apple cider
• 2 c spiced rum
• 1 apple, sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick + more to garnish

Combine the apple cider, spiced rum, and cinnamon stick in a large saucepan or crockpot and heat until just below simmering. In the meantime, quarter the apple and cut it into thin slices. Ladle the cider into mugs and garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. Easy as pumpkin pie!

10. Hazelnut Hot Cocoa

Take your cocoa game to the next level! Your guests won’t be able to resist this decadent drink. Serve it after dinner with a lighter dessert like shortbread cookies or cinnamon pecan bars — or as dessert itself!

Serves 4-6
Prep Time: 25-30 minutes

• 3 c milk
• 1 c heavy cream
• ¼ c cocoa powder
• 1 c hazelnut spread
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon (+ more to sprinkle on top)
• ¼ c hazelnut liqueur (optional)
• Whipped cream

Slowly heat the milk, cream, cocoa powder, and hazelnut spread over a double boiler, stirring to combine. When all the ingredients are incorporated, add the vanilla extract and cinnamon and stir. Serve it with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Make it spiked by adding ¼ c hazelnut liqueur.

Share Your Fall Cocktails at Your Next Painting Event

Are your Friendsgiving drinks the best fall cocktails you’ve ever made? Why wait until next year to share them again? Get the gang together for a painting event at Painting with a Twist for a sip and paint session, or have everyone over again for a Twist at Home event!