Naughty Elf Cocktail – A Christmas Rum Cocktail for the Holidays!
Home » COOK » Recipes » Beverages » Cocktails »
This Naughty Elf Cocktail is perfect for all of your festive soirees! Santa may even appreciate a glass of it with a cookie!
It’s a naughty concoction of fruit juice, fruit liqueurs, and spiced rum and is sure to be a hit with everyone who takes a sip.
Serve it at parties as your signature Christmas cocktail, or just make a glassful to enjoy while trimming the tree!
Save This!
Don’t have time for this Christmas cocktail now? Tap the heart icon ♥ in the bottom right of the screen to save it for later.
Affiliate Disclosure
We have included affiliate links to products and services related to the topic of this post.
We may earn a commission if you purchase after clicking on those links.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Read Our Full Disclosure Policy and Privacy Policy
Where is the Recipe Card?
The printable recipe card is toward the end of this post. We recommend reading through the blog post for tips, substitutions, and serving suggestions.
Naughty Elf Cocktail Recipe:
Number of Servings: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Naughty Elf Cocktail
This cocktail has a fruity yet festive taste. It combines cranberry juice, red (or pink) grapefruit juice, fruity liqueurs (pomegranate and orange), and spiced rum and is topped with Sprite.
Garnish your Naughty Elf cocktail with a candy cane. For an extra festive touch, rim the glass with red, green, and white sprinkles!
For more libations, check out our unique Christmas Cocktail Recipes list to get you in the spirit.
Decorating the Glass
Before mixing up your cocktail, decorate your glass(es) with holiday sprinkles. This is optional, but it makes the drink look even more Christmassy!
- Pour some Christmas sprinkles onto a small plate.
- Pour some corn syrup onto another plate.
- Dip the glass rim into the syrup and allow any excess to drip off.
- Dip the glass into the sprinkles, ensuring you cover the rim well.
- Fill with ice, pour in the Naughty Elf cocktail, and enjoy!
More Festive Cocktails To Make
Need some more cocktails to shake up? Check out these great seasonal party cocktails:
- How To Make A Snowball (And Other Christmas Cocktails!)
- Rudolph the Reindeer Spritzer with Bacardi & Ginger Ale
- Refreshing Peppermint Martini Cocktail with Crushed Candy Cane Rim
- Cranberry Moscow Mule Cocktail for the Holidays
- Festive Cranberry Margaritas for Christmas Cocktail Parties!
- Cinnamon and Cumin-Infused Cranberry Vodka Spritzer Cocktail
- Christmas Gin Cocktail with Cherries and Mint
- Frosty the Snowman -Peppermint Schnapps Cocktail
- Reindeer Cocktail – Vodka Cranberry Spritzer
- Christmas Margaritas | A Festive Twist On Classic Margaritas!
Mocktail Variations
Good Elf Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
For a kid-friendly Good Elf, shake 2 oz cranberry juice and 2 oz each of pomegranate juice and orange juice in a cocktail shaker with ice until combined. Pour into an ice-filled glass and top up with Lemon-Lime Soda. Garnish with a candy cane. (Makes 1 Mocktail.)
An optional addition is using Monin Caribbean Syrup, described as “Nose of Caribbean rum aged in oak barrel; a sweet rum taste with notes of fruits and vanilla…will convert rum-based alcoholic cocktails to their non-alcoholic versions without losing the rum aroma.” If you can’t find this syrup, try Brown Sugar Syrup or Cinnamon Syrup. Add to taste.
Virgin Naughty Elf with Non-Alcoholic Spirits
For adults who would still like to enjoy the taste of alcohol in their mocktail, you could try non-alcoholic alternatives. Try Lyres (UK and USA), Strykk (UK), and Ritual (US & Canada).
- Instead of Spiced Rum, use Captain Morgan Spiced Gold 0% Alcohol Free Spirit or Lyre’s Dark Cane Spirit.
- Alternatively, use Caribbean Syrup or Cinnamon Syrup.
- Instead of Triple Sec, use Lyre’s Orange Sec.
- Instead of Pama Pomegranate Liqueur, use Grenadine or Pomegranate Juice.
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed above instead of the alcoholic ones.
Cocktail Variations
Here are some variations of the original cocktail recipe you might like to try:
- Frozen Elf—Blend all the ingredients with crushed ice to create a slushy, frozen version. You can also do the same with the mocktail.
- Warm Elf—Replace the red grapefruit juice with cranberry juice and warm gently on a stovetop with the rum, liqueurs, and mulling spices. Serve warm with a cinnamon stick garnish.
- Velvet Elf—Replace the fruit juices with heavy cream or coconut cream. Shake with the liqueurs and serve over ice.
- Tropical Elf—Use tropical juices like pineapple, guava, mango, or orange instead of cranberry and red grapefruit juice.
Naughty Elf Party Punch
To make a big batch of Naughty Elf Punch for a party or gathering, use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.) for the “1 part.” The ratios will be correct and you’ll be able to make as much as you need.
To make the festive Naughty Elf Punch for a crowd, mix together:
- 1 part Spiced Rum
- 1 part Triple Sec
- 1 part Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
- 2 parts Cranberry Juice
- 1 part Red Grapefruit Juice
Transfer to a serving container such as a drinks dispenser, pitcher, or punch bowl, and top with Sprite. Add ice to keep the punch chilled.
Prepare glasses rimmed with Christmas sprinkles, or leave some corn syrup and sprinkles in separate shallow bowls for guests to rim their own. Remember to add a bowl of candy canes for garnish, too!
Setting Up Your Christmas Cocktail Bar
When setting up your cocktail bar or serving area, you could include the following:
- Christmas Ice Bucket—filled with ice, of course! Don’t forget a scoop or tongs.
- Christmas Cocktail Glasses
- Christmas Cocktail Napkins
- Christmas Cocktail Swizzle Sticks/Stirrers
- Christmas Cocktail Picks—for cocktail garnishes.
- Christmas Cocktail Straws
- Christmas Cocktail Decorations—like festive cocktail umbrellas.
How Do I Make Naughty Elf Cocktails?
The printable recipe card is below—please leave a star rating and quick review to share your experience with others!
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
Naughty Elf Cocktail
Ingredients
For Glass Rim
- Light Corn Syrup
- Nonpareils Sprinkles red, white, and green
For the Cocktail
- 2 oz Spiced Rum
- 2 oz Triple Sec
- 2 oz Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
- 4 oz Cranberry Juice
- 2 oz Red Grapefruit Juice
- Sprite
For Garnish
- 2 Candy canes
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- Pour a little corn syrup onto a small plate and some sprinkles onto another. Dip each glass into the syrup and lift straight up. Allow excess to drip off, then dip into the sprinkles. Fill glasses with ice and set them aside.
- Place the Spiced Rum, Triple Sec, Pomegranate Liqueur, and fruit juices into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well for 15-30 seconds to combine.
- Strain into the prepared glasses and top with Sprite.
- Garnish with a candy cane.
- Cheers, and Merry Christmas!
Notes
-
- 1 part Spiced Rum
- 1 part Triple Sec
- 1 part Pomegranate Liqueur
- 2 parts cranberry juice
- 1 part red grapefruit juice
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Recipes to Make It A Meal!
The beverage is covered, but what about other dishes to make this recipe into a full meal? Here are my suggestions!
- Main Dish: Christmas Pulled Pork
- Side Dish: Winter Slaw
- Side Dish: Hasselback Potatoes
- Dessert: Candy Cane Chocolate Fudge
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy! Please feel free to check them out too.