'Tis the Season for Sweet Cocktails

Tom and Jerry — Photo:
Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele

The line between sweet and saccharine is a fine one, especially when it comes to cocktails. As the weather gets colder, we're especially prone to adding a splash of orgeat, amaro, or Cognac to many of our favorite drinks, and find that as long as (some) caution is exercised, the result is absolutely delicious. Join us by making a few mugs of boozy hot chocolate, a toddy that's anything but ho-hum and traditional, or a creamy, unexpected absinthe milkshake. Here are 13 of our favorite sweet cocktails to make when we're craving a little something extra to end the night in style.

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Little Lebowski

Expect Eggnog, amaro, coffee liqueur, and lots more cold weather deliciousness ahead.

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02 of 14

Rockin' Around

Rockinâ Around Cocktail — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon

While a drink flavored with strawberry liqueur (which we swap for easier-to-find raspberry liqueur) and lime might not feel like an immediate choice for the holiday season, we guarantee one sip of the Rockin’ Around cocktail will change your mind.

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Mudslide

Created in the 1970s at Grand Cayman's Wreck Bar at Rum Point, this potent blend of vodka, Kahlúa, and Baileys Original Irish Cream might taste like a milkshake, but it can't be ordered virgin because all you'd get is a cup of crushed ice! The trio of alcohol blends into a smooth and velvety cocktail just sweet and chocolaty enough without being cloying. A generous drizzle of chocolate syrup and a bright red maraschino cherry with a dusting of ground cinnamon top off each glass.

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04 of 14

Naughty List

The Naughty List is a boozy hot chocolate that we can’t wait to make as soon as the temperatures drop. At the Dead Rabbit, you'll find this cocktail garnished with grated nutmeg — we opted for sprinkles for an extra pop of color.

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05 of 14

Tom and Jerry

Boozy, creamy, and comforting, you'll never regret making a batch of Tom and Jerry cocktails.

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06 of 14

Overstory Toddy

This soul-soothing tea-based cocktail is light on the booze and packed with smoky sweetness. Benedictine and vanilla syrup make for a truly silky mouthfeel, while the acidity and brightness of verjus cuts through the sweetness. A backbone of Irish whiskey keeps things serious.

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