Gorgeous Cranberry Cocktails: The Perfect Holiday Drink

Cranberries are a classic holiday ingredient, and for good reason. They're tart, sweet, and festive, and they make for delicious cocktails. Whether you're looking for a refreshing drink to enjoy by the fire or a boozy punch to serve at your holiday party, there's a cranberry cocktail out there for you. Here are a few of our favorite cranberry cocktail recipes:

Cranberry Gin Fizz by Cup of Zest

Chai Cranberry Bourbon Smash by Burrata and Bubbles

Cranberry Christmas Punch by Curry Trail

Smoked Orange and Cranberry Cocktails by Stef’s Eats and Sweets

Cranberry Orange Margaritas by Cooking with Curls

Cranberry Gin Cocktail by Baking Ginger

Christmas Morning Mimosas by Persnickety Plates

Poinsettia Mimosa by Limoncello Kitchen

Woo Woo Cocktail by Mom Foodie

Pineapple Cranberry Mezcal Margaritas by Gastronom

Apple Cranberry Mules by Made with Happy

Cranberry Hard Ginger Ale by Easy Party Cocktails

Cranberry Old Fashioned by Three Olives Branch

Cranberry Tequila Spritzers by Sustain My Cooking Habit

Cranberry Mojito Punch by Sugar + Soul

These are just a few of the many delicious cranberry cocktail recipes out there. So next time you're looking for a festive drink to enjoy, reach for some cranberries and get mixing!

Here are some additional tips for making the perfect cranberry cocktail:

• Use fresh cranberries whenever possible. They'll add a brighter flavor and color to your drink.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors. Cranberry juice pairs well with a variety of spirits, so have fun and try different combinations.
• Garnish your cocktails with fresh cranberries, citrus slices, or herbs for a festive touch.

With these tips in mind, you're sure to make delicious cranberry cocktails that everyone will love.

Find more favorite cocktail recipes here:

Sour Apple Margaritas

Haunting Halloween Cocktails

 

If you love sugar cookies, then this is the place for you! I gathered 15 of my favorite sugar cookie recipes to share with you. Make sure you click thru to the full recipe.

Almond Sugar Cookies by The Taylor House

These are the perfect cookies to make with your kids, they make great cut outs that the kids can decorate and sprinkle!

Perfect Sugar Cookies by Spend with Pennies

This Sugar Cookie recipe is the perfect year-round holiday cookie! A simple mixture of butter, sugar and flour (with a few additions), these sugar cookies bake up beautifully every time. 

Cut Out Cookies with Marbled Icing by Easy Cookie Recipes

 These Cutout ugar Cookies with Marbled Icing are basically edible art. Each delicious sugar cookie is dipped into homemade swirled icing to create a unique marbled effect.

Peppermint Sugar Cookies by Gimme Some Sugar

If you’re headed to a holiday party or just love baking during the holidays, try this homemade Christmas cookie recipe. If you’re looking for a quick solution for the holidays, this is the best Christmas sugar cookie recipes out there! Seriously, I’ve never seen one easier.

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies by Cooking on Caffeine

This recipe is like the holy grail of “safe” sugar cookie recipes. No eggs. No milk. No wheat. No nuts or peanuts. Easily made soy-free. Use a different flour blend if you have issues with legumes or potatoes. And no chilling the dough, because who has time for that? We just want cookies! 

Soft Lemon Cookies by On My Kids Plate

These sweet and easy soft lemon cookies are the perfect little cookie for a delicious treat. Full of fresh lemon zest, these are bright, yummy cookies you’ll want to make again and again!

Chai Sugar Cookies by Lovely Indeed

These chai spice sugar cookies are the perfect cookie to go with a cup of tea or coffee! The easy recipe makes soft, chewy cookies that will be a hit at any party or cookie swap.

Buttery Almond Sugar Cookies by On Ty’s Plate

Buttery Almond Sugar Cookies — buttery soft almond flavored sugar cookies rolled in almond flakes. It's the perfect cookie!

Crispy Sugar Cookies by Creative Lifestyles

Do you ever just want a little crunch in your cookie? I don’t mean the crunch you get from over cooking the cookie. I mean a little crunch inside the softest yummiest cookie you will ever try. This amazing krispy sugar cookie is so easy to make, but it is hands down one of my favorite cookies of all time.

Swirl Sugar Cookies by Bride on a Budget

This recipe is time consuming, but so worth it for the way these swirl sugar cookies turn out! These are perfect for special occasions!

Vegan Dairy Free Sugar Cookies by Delightful Adventures

Easy homemade cut-out vegan gluten-free sugar cookies you can make for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween…they’re perfect for ANY occasion! These cookies can be made soft or crispy, it’s up to you. Decorate simply with sanding sugar or buttercream frosting or get fancy with a simple vegan icing that hardens.

Spiced Sugar Cookies by Bean Around the Bowl

These Spiced Sugar Cookies are warm and cozy with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.

Perfect for the holidays and simple to make. These can be topped with additional sugar before baking to add a nice texture. They are not overly sweet to begin, so don’t worry about them being too sweet with added sugar.

Vegan Lofthouse Copycat Cookies by Strength and Sunshine

Sure, you could make classic cut-out sugar cookies for decorating, but no one can pass up one of the soft, cake-like, frosted gems that have been gracing grocery store shelves since 1994 from Lofthouse! Like a cake and a cookie all baked up into one delicious buttery, sweet, colorfully frosted treat! Can you still have this classic cookie even if you're gluten-free, vegan, or have food allergies? Sure you can! With this easy copycat homemade version of the classic soft-baked frosted cookie, you'll never have to miss out again!

Classic Sugar Cookies by Healthy Kitchen 101

This sugar cookies recipe makes fun treats for Christmas and any other occasion. Also, making and decorating cookies is a great activity to get everyone in the kitchen to spend time together.

Super Soft Sugar Cookies by Emily Fabulous

These Super Soft Sugar Cookies are easy to make and taste just like the Lofthouse sugar cookies in the grocery store. This recipe is perfect for making with kids and will work for Valentine’s Day or any occasion because you can choose whatever color and decoration you want to use!

Find more favorite recipes here

Cocktail Hour Favorites

Coffee Lovers Favorites

Lego Stamped Pumpkin Art

 Harper and I love to paint with, well, anything but a paint brush! Last week she came home from school and asked me if I wanted to make something with paint, and how could I resist the invitation? This lego pumpkin idea was just the thing. It pairs cute and creepy together just right.

This is such an easy activity, and it is fun for kids of all ages! Even Rolf, who is 12 now, was curious about this and told us it was a "cool idea" before dashing back to his busy preteen activities. 

Supplies:

Orange Paint

Black Paint

Green Paint

Legos

Paper Plate

Paper

Directions:

Pour a small amount of orange, black and green paint onto a paper plate.

Offer your child legos in assorted sizes and paper.

Encourage your child to dip a lego into the orange paint and make the shape of a pumpkin.

Now, fill that shape in with more lego stamps.

When you have filled in the shape of the pumpkin, dip a lego into the black paint and make a face.

Next, give your pumpkin a stem with the green paint.

Allow to dry and display.

These were a really fun, kid led Halloween craft. I know your kids will love making pumpkin art this way.

You can find all of my Halloween crafts here

Painting projects here:

Reader favorites include:

Pumpkin Window Clings

Ghost Play Dough Ornaments

Freaky Halloween Foods

 Halloween is such a fun time of year. We certainly love to go all out with decorations, epic costumes for the kids, and of course, the best treats! This year why not bring the festivities to the dinner table with these Freaky Halloween Foods? These ideas are sure to delight your family and maybe even creep them out a little.

I have so many fun Halloween ideas on site. While you are here, you might want to check out these homemade play dough ghost ornaments.

This collection of freaky foods has some really fun ideas in it! From puking pumpkin taco boards to scary spaghetti and pumpkin stuffed peppers. I am sure you are going to find something you want to make for your family! Be sure to click through the links below to check out the full recipe.

Puking Pumpkin Taco Board by Maple and Mango

Meatball Mummies by Spend with Pennies

Deviled Spider Eggs by Living Sweet Moments

Scary Spaghetti by By Andrea Jannsen

Jack O Lantern Stuffed Peppers by Hip Homeschool Moms

Black Bean Pasta by Vegan Dollhouse

Trick or Treat Cheese Ball by Centsless Meals

Spooky Gnocchi by Wild Vegan Flower

Pumpkin Stuffed Peppers by Sula and Spice

Spooky Spaghetti by Summer Yule

Pretzel Mummy Snacks are a great freaky Halloween food for later in the evening, maybe as a movie snack.

Creepy Halloween Cocktails

 Halloween is near, and that means it is time to start planning some parties, setting the scene with ghoulish decorations, and of course, mixing up some festive drinks! This collection has some completely creepy cocktails that you might want to make this year.

From blood bags that are ghastly, to an oozing green tonic that is sure to set your senses to spook. This round up has so many fun ideas. These are meant for grown ups, so please, if you want to make these and share them, do so responsibly!  Click through the links below for the full recipes.

My easy Pretzel Mummy Snack Idea pairs well with cocktail hour too!

Blood Bag Punch by Gastronom

Camp Crystal Lake Punch by Cheese Curd in Paradise

Halloween Green Sangria by Slow the cook Down

Halloween Sangria by The Forked Spoon

Shimmering Witches Brew by Tikido

Bloody Eyeball Cocktail by Ann’s Entitled Life

Ghostini by Tonya Staab

Halloween Sangria by Basil and Bubbly

Demon Juice Cocktails by Crayons and Cravings 

Halloween Tonic by Ottawa Mommy Club

I have so many fun Halloween ideas on site. If you are looking for more ways to get into the spirit, you might like 25 Deliciously Scary Snacks. Why Not Make a Halloween Tree and let your guests decorate it at the party?

Haunting Halloween Cocktails

 

If you are planning for a party, or maybe just want to treat yourself to something extra this Halloween, then you are in the perfect place to be inspired! I have gathered 10 of my favorite festive cocktails for the Halloween season to share with you. You can find a bonus of a few of my favorite cocktail recipes below too.

Hocus Pocus Cocktail by Easy Party Cocktails

Black Widow Martini by Burrata and Bubbles

Monkey Brain Shots by Aleka’s Get Together

Devil Margaritas by Sula and Spice

Witches Brew by Sugar and Charm

Wicked Things Cocktail by Like MK Library

Halloween Sangria by The Forked Spoon

Bloody Cosmos by By Andrea Jansen 

Lychee Gin Cocktail by Emily Fabulous

Green Appletini by The Art of Natural Living

Which of these sounds best to you? Those witches brew drinks look fun!

You might also want to try this sour apple margarita recipe

The Night King Cocktail is always a favorite!

Strawberry Ghosts

Trying to eat a little healthier this fall? You are in luck! With this simple recipe you can make a serving of candy coated fruit to satisfy your cravings.

I am always trying to make fruits and veggies more appealing to my kids. This recipe is a sure way to get kids excited about strawberries, while giving them a little of the candy they desire.

Supplies:

Strawberries

White candy melts

Candy eyes

Parchment or wax paper

Directions:

Wash the berries and dry them on a paper towel.

It is very important that you remove all the exterior moisture before you dip into the chocolate.

If there is still water/moisture on the berries when you dip into the chocolate; it will clump up fast.

When the berries are dry melt the white chocolate/almond bark according to the directions on the packaging.

Dip the berries into the melted chocolate, working fast.

Place the berries on the wax paper.

Before the chocolate has a chance to harden, drop 2 candy eyes on each berry.

When all of the berries have eyes, you can place them in the fridge to help the chocolate harden.

You can enjoy these within 15 minutes or so.

These are perfect for sharing at a Halloween party! What a sweet little spooky ghost!

I bet you can't eat just one!

These are delicious, easy to make, and while they do have a candy coating, they are so much healthier than some of the options Halloween is best known for!

Make a batch and stop by to share a little BOO! with a friend or neighbor!

Or maybe just eat them all by yourself! 

 You can find all of my Halloween ideas here

Reader favorites include:

DIY Halloween Tree

Pumpkin Face Window Clings

Play Doh Ghost Ornaments

Mummy Pretzel Snacks

Paper Plate Spiders

Play Doh Pumpkin Faces

Reclaimed Wood Black Cats

Paper Plate Crafts for Kids

 Paper plates have always been one of my kids favorite things to craft with. There are so many possibilities for making something fantastic, out of a plain old paper plate! This collection has some really fun ideas for your family to try out. You might not ever look at a pack of plates the same again.

You might notice there are a few of my craft projects listed below. I have been crafting things out of paper plates and Styrofoam bowls since I was a little girl. I can recall my cousin Courtney and I making these super fun flying saucers when we were kids with styrofoam bowls, and it is safe to say, I have been hooked ever since.

Be sure to click through to get the details of all of the projects below.

Paper Plate Lions by Sweet Silly Sara

Grab the paper plates, glue and some pasta to make a really fun little lion craft!

Paper Plate Ladybugs by Crafts by Amanda

These cute little ladybugs are the perfect way to make a spring craft with minimal supplies. Kids of all ages will love this!

Fun Snails by Attachment Mummy

These little snails might inch their way into your heart! They are perfect for an afternoon craft for the little ones!

Paper Plate Witch Craft by Sweet Silly Sara

This friendly witch is the perfect craft project to get kids in the Halloween spirit!

Paper Plate Apples by Mom Brite 

Take a bite out of craft time with this cute apple craft! All you need is a paper plate and a few basic supplies!

Paper Plate Crabs by Mom Wife Busy Life

This paper plate crab craft is nothing short of a pinch of perfect! This is such a cute idea for little hands!

Paper Plate Flowers by Glitter on a Dime

Create a pinkalicious storybook inspired garden of pretty flowers! This a great craft for anytime you need a craft to share!

Paper Plate Pigs by Simply Everyday Mom

Need a cute craft to entertain the kids? This piggy craft is an oinking good time for all!

Pretzel Mummy Snack

This 3 ingredient treat is a total scream for Halloween. This is great for party snacks or just as an easy way to give pretzels a little costume of their own for the occasion.

 

After a year and a half of homeschooling my kids, they are back to in person learning. Let me first off say, hats off to all the homeschool families and distance learning families. That is no easy feat! I don't think I realized how time consuming school was for us until they went back to normal.

I usually find that I have just enough time to make something special for their afternoon snack after cleaning the house, tending to the pets, and enjoying my own coffee and podcast time. This was one of the treats I made for the kids that they LOVED. Best of all, it is so easy that anyone can make these, in just a couple of minutes.

Ingredients:

Pretzels

Melted white candy wafers

Candy eyes

Melt the candy and dip the pretzels in. Fish them out with a fork or spoon.

Related: Ghost Ornaments

Drop the pretzels onto some parchment or wax paper.

'

Drop on some candy eyes.

Alternately, if you prefer, you can just drizzle on some melted white chocolate right onto the pretzels.

Either way is totally delicious and easy!

Then drop on the candy eyes.

  

Then let them dry for about a half hour.

Serve immediately after they have hardened.

Store in an airtight container if you have leftovers.

 

If you are looking for more Halloween treats check out these favorites:

12 Ghouslish Snacks for Halloween 

Play Doh Pumpkin Faces are so much fun for little ones this Halloween too!