Ginger Snap Cocktails are a must-have during the holiday season. A delicious cookie in a cup, this easy and festive drink recipe is full of the warm and spicy, winter flavours we look forward to all year long.

What is a Ginger Snap Cocktail?

When I think of the classic, full-of-Grandma's-love gingersnaps, I get hit with a wave of nostalgia. The smell of freshly-baked cookies, sneaking small bites of dough, and kids placing little balls of soon-to-be cookies onto a baking sheet. Now, as an all-grown-up adult, I have turned one of my favorite childhood cookie recipes into a delicious holiday cocktail (or mocktail)!

Simple, spicy, and full of winter comfort, these easy gingersnap cookie cocktails stir up all best winter flavours -- ginger, molasses, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. This drink -- made alcoholic or not -- really does taste just like the classic gingersnaps we all love. Each delightfully delicious sip feels like a warm cozy winter treat.

The Perfect Holiday Cocktail

This Ginger Snap Cocktail is definitely a winter drink and is absolutely perfect around the holidays. If you're planning a safe, socially-distanced holiday gathering, Ginger Snaps make for a lovely "welcome" drink. Keeping things simple at home? They are also absolutely delightful for sipping by a toasty fire on Christmas Eve.

Fair warning, this is a very sweet cocktail -- you could even serve this drink as a dessert. Contrast the sweetness of this delicious holiday drink by serving alongside some spiced nuts or my Spiced Lemon Roasted Chickpeas. A fruit platter or Holiday Charcuterie Board both make for another perfect pairing, as do pastries, cookies, and other sweet treats.

Want to learn more about pairing cocktails and food? Check out this guide from epicurious: Dare to Pair Cocktails and Food.

Here's What You Need to Make this Recipe

Vodka vs. Rum

A dark rum seemed, at first, to be the obvious choice for this drink. However, because rum has a very distinct taste of its own, it detracted from the overall goal of the recipe, which was, again, to recreate the classic gingersnap cookie. When I did some research, I saw a few recipes that were called "Ginger Snap" cocktails, but, other than the ginger, there really was no cookie connection. I went back to the drawing board and decided that, since I planned to use molasses in the cocktail recipe, dark rum wasn't quite the right choice. I ended up using vodka as the spirit for my Ginger Snap Cocktails because its more neutral flavour allows the gingersnap flavours to be the star of the show.

Equipment

Ok, so technically you can mix your cocktail ingredients in any number of ways. That being said, investing in a cocktail shaker really is worth it -- no other mixology method really integrates the flavours and ingredients as well. Personally, I thought a cocktail shaker was just another unnecessary kitchen tool for the longest time, but (aside from it being fun to shake) I soon realized that my shaken drinks just tasted better. They're more fully combined and, if you're shaking with ice, are perfectly cool when poured into your favorite cocktail glass.

Ingredients

Ginger Snap Simple Syrup

Sugar
Water
Fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
Cinnamon stick
Cloves
Star anise

Ginger Snap Cocktail

Sugar
Cinnamon
Ginger snap simple syrup
Molasses
Vodka
Club soda

How to Make This Recipe, Step By Step

Ginger Snap Simple Syrup

In a sauce pan, combine sugar, water, ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, strain, and allow to cool completely

Ginger Snap Cocktail

On a plate, combine sugar and cinnamon
Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with water, then invert the glass in the sugar cinnamon mixture to coat the rim
In a cocktail shaker, add simple syrup, molasses, vodka, and ice. Shake until combined.
Pour into the cocktail glass, then top up with club soda
Garnish with fresh ginger slices

Tips, Tricks, and Variations for this Holiday Cocktail

Make your own Ginger Snap Simple Syrup

Simple syrup is the base of this cocktail, as well as many others. Simple syrup really is simple: just equal parts water and sugar, along with any flavour components (like ginger snap), simmered until thickened into a syrup. Ginger snap simple syrup will keep in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container. The syrup is versatile and you can use it for more than just cocktails. Drown your pancakes or waffles in it, drizzle on ice cream or pound cake, or just stir it into your coffee or tea -- the possibilities are endless.

No Alcohol Required

This Ginger Snap Cocktail makes for a delicious mocktail! Just leave out the vodka for a festive and delicious, non-alcoholic drink that kids and non-imbibers can enjoy, too.

Don't Forget the Presentation

Part of the fun with cocktails is the pretty glasses, the garnishes and the flavour combos. I rimmed the cocktail glasses with cinnamon sugar and garnished with ginger slices for an even more festive touch. Remember, the mocktail should look just as great! It's always fun to include children so they, too, can have a special drink on a special occasion.

Want more festive cocktails? Try my Ginger Blueberry Martini, Spiked Iced Tea Rum Cocktail or my Prosecco Margarita Cocktail. If you love the cozy ginger cookie vibe, you might also want to check out this Gingerbread Old Fashioned. Or stay warm with a delicious RumChata Hot Chocolate.

Recipe

Comments

5 from 13 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Ginger Snap Cocktail

What is a Ginger Snap Cocktail?

The Perfect Holiday Cocktail