December Food Fest: Holiday Cocktails

Today please welcome Penny Watson, a book blogger and author who's famous for her quirky, unusual romances. Penny's most well-known series is the Klaus Brothers, about the sons of Nick Klaus who leave the North Pole to find love. I also happen to know Penny loves a good cocktail, so I thought it would be fun to have her share some Klaus-inspired cocktails for winter. Take it away, Penny!

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Party with the Klaus Brothers! A Few Holiday Cocktail Suggestions from Penny Watson

Happy Holidays!

I’m Penny Watson, author of quirky fiction and lover of cocktails. My holiday romance series THE KLAUS BROTHERS always includes delicious food and beverages.

Here are some fun suggestions for holiday drinks inspired by the five Klaus Brothers. They take their cocktails seriously. (And often drink with elves, but that’s another story...)

1. Nicholas Klaus (Sweet Inspiration)

Nick Junior is the oldest Klaus brother. He’s a pastry chef who loves all things foodie. He would certainly choose this Salted Caramel Eggnog since it involves a bit of cooking on the stovetop. This recipe includes dark rum, pure vanilla extract, caramel syrup, and cinnamon sticks. Here’s the recipe from The Cookie Rookie.

2. Sven Klaus (Sweet Adventure)

Sven Klaus—toy-maker and hippie extraordinaire—loves his all-natural lifestyle, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. What would a Birkenstock-wearing hippie drink over the holidays? A Grapefruit and Rosemary Cocktail.

This simple recipe includes vodka, fresh rosemary and super healthy grapefruit.

3. Gregor Klaus (Sweet Cinderella)

Gregor Klaus, the man-of-finance for Klaus Enterprises, enjoys a life of luxury in Manhattan. He would gravitate towards a bourbon-based beverage. Santa’s Little Helper is his perfect cocktail. It includes plenty of bourbon and some cranberries to jazz up the holiday. Check out this recipe from Aunt Peaches.

4. Oskar Klaus (Sweet Magik)

Oskar Klaus, green-haired punk snowboarder and crazy man, doesn’t hold back with his alcoholic beverages. He goes ALL out. Ergo, the White Chocolate Peppermint Martini is the drink for him. It includes Godiva white chocolate liquor, vanilla vodka, peppermint schnapps, chocolate syrup, and candy canes for garnish (of course).

Here’s a cheery recipe From A Family Feast...

5. Wolfgang Klaus (Sweet Destiny)

What’s the perfect holiday beverage if you’re cabin-bound in the middle of the Vermont forest? Wolfgang and Belinda would love this recipe for spiked hot apple cider. Simmering this cider on the stovetop makes the whole house smell cozy and festive.

Penny’s Spiked Apple Cider

• 1 quart fresh apple cider
• 1 generous handful mulling spices (cinnamon sticks, orange peel, cloves, star anise, lemon peel, etc)
• Laird’s Applejack
• Orange/apple slices for garnish

Gently heat apple cider on stovetop. Add handful of mulling spices. When the liquid is at a low simmer, strain out the spices and pour hot cider into mugs. Add 1-2 shots apple brandy into the mug (depending on how “festive” you want your celebration). Garnish with sliced orange or apples and maybe a couple of cinnamon sticks for fun.

Enjoy!


For more information about the five Klaus Brothers, stop by my website. I have a cheat sheet for the series and a quiz to determine how much you love Christmas.


Happy Holidays To All!