What do elves drink? Why a Naughty Elf Cocktail of course!
Do you ever feel like you need a reward after planning so many creative Elf on the Shelf ideas?
Well, we’ve got something that may help you out – our Naughty Elf Cocktail.
The Naughty Elf Cocktail is perfect to inspire fun Elf on the Shelf shenanigans
Why not give this drink a try?
The Naughty Elf Cocktail is a delicious fruity beverage with spiced rum, pomegranate liqueur and orange liqueur.
Made with some of your favorite flavors like cranberry, orange, grapefruit, and pomegranate, it’s absolutely delicious.
I mean, spiced rum and cranberry… you’ve got me hooked right there.
If you like tiki drinks, this Christmasy cocktail fits right in with the citrus, spiced rum flavors and pomegranate liquor.
If you need another tiki inspired drink to pair with this one at your event, our Christmas Blue Hawaiian is a fun choice.
In fact, your elf may be jealous that you’re the one sipping on a yummy Christmas mixed drink.
So why not kick back and enjoy.
And if you have some friends over to enjoy it with you, have fun.
It may inspire you to come up with a few new hiding places for your Elf.
Why call this drink the naughty elf?
This fun cocktail takes its inspiration from the naughtiest of elves doing crazy things on shelves (and ceiling fans, and cabinets, and even in bathrooms).
Well, first of all, it’s got that gorgeous red color that just screams beautiful red Christmas cocktail right?
And the color is kinda like your ol’ pal’s coat.
You know, that elf that’s always watching to see if you’re naughty or nice? So he can tell Santa….
Narc…
Or the elf that’s staring you down because you forgot to move him, and it’s almost time for the kids to wake up?
Yeah, that’s the one.
If you’re reading this, you know.
And you deserve a treat. And this drink hits the spot.
Ingredients to Make the Naughty Elf Cocktail
- 2 oz Cranberry Juice
- 1 oz Red Grapefruit Juice
- 1 oz Sprite
- 1 oz Pomegranate Liquor
- 1 oz Orange Liquor – orange curacao works well – but be sure to use the clear kind
- 1 oz Spiced Rum
- Optional: Sprinkles for the glass rim
- Optional: Candy Cane, for garnish
To make the drink, you’ll need these supplies: two plates, a jigger or measuring cup, mixing glass, a bar spoon, and a beverage glass.
Can I serve the elf drink as a mocktail?
Yes, you absolutely can!
In fact – you can even have a little bit of fun with this if you’re serving the drink at a party or for family and friends.
You can call the alcoholic version the Naughty Elf, or even the “dirty elf” and the mocktail version the Good Elf!
If you’re serving both, I like to mix them up ahead of time and prepare the glasses with different sprinkles so you can tell them apart to avoid any mix ups.
To make the mocktail, you can omit the spiced rum, pomegranate liqueur and orange liquor.
To replace the spiced rum, you can add a cinnamon stick to the drink.
To replace the pomegranate liqueur, you can substitute grenadine. Grenadine can be a bit sweet, so a little goes a long way.
A great substitute for the orange curacao is a splash of orange juice.
Can I make this Christmas drink ahead of time?
Yes!
Just whip up the juices and liquors ahead of time.
Store the mixture in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve.
Be sure to add the Sprite when you serve it so the fizz is nice and fresh.
It will also save you a lot of time to put the sprinkles on the glasses a day or two before your event as well.
If putting sprinkles on the glass is part of your pre-party preparations, I like to keep a layer of wax paper or parchment paper on top of the glasses so that the glasses don’t get dusty once they’re decorated.
Can I serve the drink as a big batch cocktail, like a punch?
Oh yes, and it’s a mighty great punch!
Depending on how many you wish to serve, you can easily make this drink by the pitcher or even by the punch bowl.
Simply figure out how many servings you need and multiply the recipe.
If you’re serving it by the punch bowl, you may wish to make an ice ring ahead of time too.
I like to freeze an ice mold or two the day before using just the cranberry and red grapefruit juices.
That way, your drink will stay nice and cold during your event, and you won’t constantly have to worry about refreshing the ice or watering down the drink.
How to decorate the naughty elf’s cocktail glass
Let’s start by decorating the cocktail glass.
You’ll need a plate for sprinkles and a plate for corn syrup.
Pour some sprinkles on one plate, and a small amount of corn syrup on the other.
Holding your glass upside down, gently dip the glass in the corn syrup so that it’s got a nice even coat.
then dip the glass in the sprinkles.
The corn syrup will hold the sprinkles onto the glass.
Let the glass dry before pouring the drink inside.
You can do this a couple of days ahead of time.
Just remember to put some wax paper or parchment paper on top of the glasses to keep the inside of the glasses clean for your event.
How to make the naughty elf Christmas cocktail
If you’re using a decorated glass, make sure the sprinkles are nice and dry. If not, let’s get mixing!
First of all, fill your beverage glass with ice.
In a mixing glass, combine the cranberry and red grapefruit juices with the spiced rum, pomegranate liquor and orange liquor.
Stir it until the juices and liquors are well mixed.
Pour the drink over the ice. You want to leave room for the Sprite.
Top if off with Sprite or your favorite lemon-lime soda. (Ginger ale also works well with this drink too if you like a bit more heat.)
Pour the Sprite slowly so that the fizz doesn’t overflow.
Once the fizz has dissipated, give the drink a gentle stir if it needs it.
Garnish with a candy cane or a cinnamon stick!
If you enjoy Christmas themed cocktails, you may enjoy these recipes too:
If you love our Naughty Elf cocktail, you may also enjoy some of these drinks too!
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Coffee
Chocolate Covered Cherry Martini
Chocolate Covered Raspberry Martini
Highland Whiskey Hot Chocolate
Christmas Cocktail with Cherry Heering and Hpnotiq
Hot Chocolate Bombs with Malibu Rum
try it and share!
Please let us know how you enjoy our Naughty Elf Cocktail recipe.
If you make it yourself, please let us know on Pinterest that you tried it and tag us with #champagneandcoconuts on your Instagram photo.
If you haven’t had a chance to make it yet, be sure to save the recipe on Pinterest so you’ll remember where you found it.
This recipe was initially published in November 2019 and was last updated in November 2021.
Naughty Elf Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 1 oz red grapefruit juice
- 1 oz Sprite
- 1 oz Pomegranate Liquor
- 1 oz Orange Liquor
- 1 oz Spiced rum
- ice cubes
- Sprinkles for glass rim optional
Instructions
- Add a few ice cubes to the glass.
- Mix liquors, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice and pour into the glass.
- Top with sprite
- Garnish with candy cane
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Jennifer. I love to cook and entertain. I have a lot of fun sharing traditional food and drink recipes as well as putting a new spin on the classics. I strive to provide easy to make recipes that are perfect for the home cook, bartender and entertainer.
The timing for this drink is great! Perfect for inspiration for elf ideas.