Festive and Delicious Friendsgiving Drink Ideas to Enjoy with Friends
This article is all about Friendsgiving drink ideas.
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If you’re in charge of throwing Friendsgiving dinner this year, you’ve probably already put a lot of thought into the menu, from the entrees to the side dishes to the desserts.
However, if you really want to take the Friendsgiving festivities to the next level, you need to make sure that the drinks you serve are just as impressive as the food.
Instead of boring beer, soda, or water, go the extra mile and ply your guests with some delicious Friendsgiving drink ideas that pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving meal.
We’ve rounded up 12 delicious and easy Friendsgiving drink ideas that are sure to please your guests.
We’ve included some delectable fall-themed cocktails, ciders, and punches, plus some non-alcoholic options for your friends who are underage or just prefer not to drink.
Here are 12 Delicious Friendsgiving Drink Ideas to Enjoy with Friends
DELICIOUS FRIENDSGIVING DRINK IDEAS
1. CARAMEL APPLE WHISKEY SOUR
This delicious autumnal twist on a traditional whiskey sour is certain to satisfy your Friendsgiving guests.
A normal whiskey sour is made with whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar, and served on the rocks (with ice).
This caramel apple whiskey sour also incorporates apple juice into the cocktail itself, adding a hint of sweetness and fall flavor.
Finally, the rim of the glass is dipped in luscious caramel sauce and icing sugar, giving you all the gooey sweet flavor of a caramel apple!
2. HONEY BUZZ COCKTAIL
This honey buzz cocktail is some of the best alcohol for Friendsgiving, since it can be made in big batches, perfect for a large gathering of friends!
First, you’ll dissolve a cup of honey in half a cup of hot water, creating a sweet honey syrup that pairs deliciously with the rest of the ingredients.
Then, you’ll finish it off with gin, grapefruit juice, and cinnamon-clove-flavored Angostura bitters, creating a fall-themed cocktail that’s sure to please.
To make each cocktail look extra fancy, garnish each glass with a little sliver of grapefruit!
3. CRAN-RASPBERRY MARTINI
If you’re not much of a mixologist, making martinis for Friendsgiving might seem a little intimidating.
However, this cran-raspberry martini is super delicious and deceptively easy, despite packing a powerful punch.
All you need is vodka, cranberry juice, and Chambord, which is a raspberry-flavored liqueur.
Shake your cocktail ingredients together with ice, strain the mixture into a martini glass, and garnish with some fresh cranberries or raspberries!
4. THANKSGIVING SANGRIA
Sangria is another easy and effective alcohol option for a large group gathering, like Friendsgiving.
To make this festive, Thanksgiving-themed version of sangria, you’ll first need to steep pomegranate juice, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, and fresh ginger in a saucepan to create a sweet spiced syrup.
Then, you’ll combine the syrup with red wine, spiced rum, sparkling cider, and pomegranate seeds.
Finally, add in some thinly sliced pear to the sangria pitcher or punch bowl for some extra fruity flavor. A cute pitcher will also add to your Friendsgiving decor.
5. HARD CIDER SANGRIA
If red wine isn’t your thing, this hard cider sangria is a great Friendsgiving drink idea!
This fruity and delicious sangria is full of fresh apple flavor, and as an added bonus, is super easy to make in large batches.
All you need is apple juice, lemon juice, apple brandy, hard sparkling cider, and ice!
Finally, garnish your sangria pitcher or punch bowl with plenty of thinly sliced apples and oranges.
6. APPLE CIDER MIMOSAS
You probably already know that mimosas are an iconic brunch cocktail made using orange juice and champagne.
But, you might not have known that you can make a few tweaks to adapt them into a delicious Friendsgiving cocktail – an apple cider mimosa!
This autumnal version swaps out the orange juice used in a classic mimosa for apple cider, infusing the drink with fall flavor.
For a final festive touch, dip the rim of each mimosa glass in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon!
7. MULLED WINE
Mulled wine is another classic fall and winter drink that’s sure to warm you and your guests right up!
To make it, you’ll need to warm a fruity red wine (like Merlot, Zinfandel, or Grenache) in a pot with brandy, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise.
Then, to give the mulled wine a little extra sweetness, you’ll add in some freshly sliced oranges and a little bit of honey or maple syrup.
Finally, you’ll garnish with whole cranberries, additional orange slices, and/or additional cinnamon sticks!
8. SPIKED PUMPKIN PIE PUNCH
This spiked pumpkin pie punch is the perfect cross between a cocktail and a dessert.
To make this sweet, creamy, and boozy drink, all you need to do is combine cream soda and whipped cream flavored vodka in a punch bowl with ice.
Then, in each of your guests’ glasses, top off the drink with a generous scoop of pumpkin flavored ice cream, creating a boozy take on an ice cream float!
9. PUMPKIN SPICE WHITE RUSSIAN
This pumpkin spice flavored take on a White Russian is another delicious Friendsgiving drink idea that combines the boozy kick of a cocktail with the sweetness of a dessert.
The cocktail itself is made of coffee liqueur, vodka, and a dash of pumpkin pie spice, topped off with heavy cream.
Then, the rim of each glass is dipped in honey and then dusted with gingersnap cookie crumbs, replicating a delicious pumpkin pie crust!
10. HOT MULLED CIDER (NON-ALCOHOLIC)
Hot mulled cider is a warm, sweet, and slightly spiced delight that’s a perfect option to serve to your guests who prefer not to drink.
All you need to do is add non-alcoholic apple cider, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and two sliced oranges into a large saucepan and simmer over low heat for about ten minutes.
Then, ladle the finished concoction into mugs and serve your friends this tasty treat!
11. NON-ALCOHOLIC SANGRIA
If the previous sangria recipes sounded good to you, but you’re looking for a virgin option, this non-alcoholic sangria is the perfect Friendsgiving drink idea!
Instead of red wine and liquor, this virgin sangria is made with black tea, pomegranate juice, orange juice, and a little bit of club soda to make it sparkle.
Then, to give the mixture that classic sangria look and taste, you’ll top it all off with lots of sliced oranges, apples, lemons, and limes, as well as some cinnamon sticks for a little spice!
12. SPARKLING CRANBERRY PUNCH (NON-ALCOHOLIC)
This sparkling cranberry punch is another easy Friendsgiving drink idea that’s alcohol-free and only requires a few ingredients!
For the base of the drink, you’ll combine cranberry juice cocktail, thawed frozen pink lemonade concentrate, and club soda for a beverage that’s light, refreshing, but still full of fall flavor.
Then, to garnish each glass, you’ll top it all off with a lemon wedge and a sprinkle of fresh cranberries!
FAQS
WHAT DRINKS TO BRING TO FRIENDSGIVING?
If you’re in charge of bringing drinks to this year’s Friendsgiving dinner celebration, but aren’t sure what to bring, here are some of our top easy Friendsgiving drink ideas.
If you’re of drinking age, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of champagne or prosecco for a sparkling, celebratory vibe.
Alternatively, you can also bring a six-pack of hard cider, which pairs well with the autumnal theme.
Finally, if you’re underage, have friends who are underage, or just prefer not to drink yourself, you can also bring some sparkling non-alcoholic cider or ginger beer!
WHAT DRINKS GO BEST WITH THANKSGIVING DINNER?
Because Thanksgiving dinner is full of so many different dishes, it can be hard to find a drink that will pair well with everything on the dinner table.
If you’re looking for a good wine to pair with Thanksgiving dinner, we recommend a prosecco or dry rosé, both of which are crowd-pleaser wine varieties that can stand up to all those Thanksgiving flavors.
If you’re more of a beer drinker, we recommend bringing some hard cider, which also pairs well with Thanksgiving flavors!
WHAT TO BRING TO FRIENDSGIVING IF YOU DON’T COOK?
Most Friendsgiving dinners are set up like potlucks, so every guest brings something to the dinner table, making for a fun Friendsgiving table setting and vibe.
However, if you’re not much of a chef and aren’t assigned to bring a home-cooked dish to Friendsgiving, you can’t go wrong with drinks!
If you don’t cook, you can always bring a couple of bottles of wine, a couple of six-packs of beer, or even ingredients for one of these Thanksgiving-themed cocktails or mocktails, so that everyone has a beverage to enjoy along with all that delicious Friendsgiving food!
If you really want to take your Friendsgiving dinner to the next level, you’re going to want to serve your guests some delicious fall-themed drinks. Any one of these delicious Friendsgiving drink ideas is certain to please, no matter whether your friends prefer fruity, spiced, sweet, or even non-alcoholic drinks.
