CHRISTMAS MARTINIS
So I’m a beer drinker by nature, but when it comes to festive drinks for the holiday season, nothing looks more Christmasy than sugar-rimmed martini glasses. While a variety of recipes can be used to create that red and green color, two simple crowd favorites that I love is a tasty twist on the classic French Martini and the ever popular Appletini. Both of these recipes call for vodka which, as an aside, I learned is not a true martini. Martini purists believe gin makes a martini whereas vodka makes a cocktail.
But, if you've ever watched a James Bond movie, Double-0-7 himself, has always preferred his martinis to be made with vodka along with his trademark "shaken not stirred". That said, it appears that James has joined Team Debbie in his movie Skyfall....he ditches his martinis and switches to beer!
Now that you have an anecdote to go along with these recipes, let me just say that they are an incredibly easy way to look like you spent hours on every detail without breaking the bank. They only require a few ingredients each so you can have your "martini taste" on a "beer budget"!
You can buy fancy toothpicks at the grocery or wine store. I buy mine through Amazon because I can buy more for le$$. But, only when I can get free shipping. If you would like to purchase fancy toothpicks through Amazon please click below...
Frilled Toothpicks Party Accessory
NOTE:If you are interested in purchasing the glasses shown in the picture, I bought them at TJMaxx during the Christmas season one year. Although they usually carry Spode each year, they do not always carry the Spode Christmas martini glasses. If you can't find them at your local TJMaxx or department store, Amazon does carry them. Please click below for more information...
Spode Christmas Tree Martini Glasses (4)
STEP 1:Pour 3 tablespoons corn syrup onto dessert size plate.
STEP 2:Place rim of glass upside down into corn syrup. (I bought these martini glasses at TJMaxx.)
STEP 3:Sprinkle white sugar onto a 2nd dessert plate that is separate from the corn syrup dessert plate. I use Wilton's White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles because it is larger, more coarse and looks fancier than regular sugar. Some grocery stores may carry it. I bought my bottle at Michael's in the Wilton's aisle. Then sprinkle green sugar sprinkles on top of white sugar sprinkles and mix together. I use the green sugar sprinkles from the grocery store baking aisle that you would use to decorate tops of sugar cookies.
STEP 4:Then place syrupy rim of glass upside down into sugar mixture.
STEP 1:Using a martini shaker filled with ice, add 1 oz. Chambord, 1 oz. Vanilla Vodka, 2 oz. Cran-Raspberry Juice & 1 oz. Pineapple Juice. Shake vigorously.
STEP 2:Using the strainer at the top of martini shaker, pour into sugar rimmed glass and garnish with raspberry filled toothpick.
STEP 1:Pour 3 tablespoons corn syrup onto dessert plate and place raspberry in syrup and roll and coat thoroughly.
STEP 2:Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Wilton's White Sparkling Sprinkles onto 2nd dessert plate and place syrup coated raspberry in sugar sprinkles and roll and coat thoroughly.
STEP 3:Place coated raspberry on fancy toothpick. I use 2 raspberries per toothpick, leaving a space between them so the space balances comfortably on the rim of the glass.
STEP 1:Using a martini shaker fill with ice, add 2 oz. Sour Apple Schnapps, 2 oz. Vodka & 2 oz. Apple Juice and shake vigorously.
STEP 2:Using the strainer at the top of martini shaker, pour into sugar rimmed glass and garnish with sour apple candy cane balanced on rim of glass.
OPTIONAL:For Christmasy green color, add 2 drops Green Food Color otherwise it will be lime green in color.
