How To Create A Perfect At-Home Bar

And just like that, I'm in full on holiday mode. Can't help it, this time of year makes me so happy! And with Thanksgiving less than two weeks away it's hard not to be excited. Anyone else feeling the same?

We've been having the coziest weather up here in the mountains. It's inspired me to create recipes that will to warm us up from the inside out. That's honestly one of the cheesiest things I'll say, but it's the truth. I know it's hard to imagine a drink warming you up, especially one that's served over ice, but the spices in this wine spritzer do just that.

The key to this fun drink is the cranberry jam-syrup. It's actually kind of a mix between a jam and syrup. It uses fresh fruit like a jam would, but it's consistency is much more syrup like. So, it's kind of a cross between the two. Whatever you'd like to call it, it's a delicious mix of sweet honey, fresh tart cranberries, rosemary, and warming cardamom. The honey balances out the tart cranberries, while the rosemary and cardamon add coziness and warmth. Perfect for a Thanksgiving spritzer!

To make the jam, just add all ingredients to a pot. Bring to a boil, boil a minute or two, and done. So simple.

Once the jam has cooled, add it to a pitcher along with a bottle of your favorite rosé, elderflower liquor (this is my favorite right now), cranberry or pomegranate juice, and a few dashes of orange bitters. Chill the mix, and then just before serving, add fresh citrus slices. I used blood oranges, but regular oranges or grapefruit would be great too. Top it all off with fizzy, spicy, ginger beer (another one of my favorites).

This cocktail is both refreshing and warming, perfect for a chilly November night, or a snow-filled Thanksgiving Day complete with cozy blankets, a roaring fire, and candles galore.

Ingredients for Spiced Cranberry Rosé Spritzers

• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
• 1 tablespoon cardamon pods or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 bottle (750 ml) rosé wine
• 4 ounces elderflower liquor
• 1/3 cup cranberry or pomegranate juice
• 2-3 dashes orange bitter
• 2 blood oranges or regular oranges, sliced
• 4-6 (12 ounce) ginger beers, to your taste

Directions for Spiced Cranberry Rosé Spritzers

1. To make the cranberry syrup: In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, cranberries, rosemary, and cardamon to a boil over high heat. Boil 5 minutes or until the cranberries begin to burst, then remove from the heat. Let cool. Remove the rosemary and cardamon pods. If desired, strain out the cranberries.
2. In a large pitcher, combine the cranberry syrup, rosé, elderflower liquor, cranberry juice, and orange bitters. Chill until ready to serve, up to 2 days.
3. Add the orange slices and ginger beer just before serving. Garnish each drink with a candied rosemary (recipe below), if desired.

For the candied rosemary garnish:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Gently run rosemary sprigs under a little water to dampen and place on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle the rosemary with granulated sugar on all sides, making sure the rosemary is thoroughly coated in sugar.
4. Allow to dry on the baking sheet for 1 hour. The rosemary can be made 1 day in advance and stored at room temperature.

Speak Now Spritz

Very few combos scream "Halloween" like purple and glitter. This Halloween cocktail is totally magical, and it's so pretty, it's basically party decor! (via @thespritzeffectfor Brit + Co)

Vampire's Kiss Cocktail

This is one Halloween cocktail that tastes good *and* looks good. Add it to all your spooky get-togethers to totally freak out your guests. Bonus points if you're dressing up as a vampire for Halloween! (via Brit + Co)

Cranberry Is The New Black Halloween Cocktail

Did you know that black vodka exists? Well, thankfully, it does, and it goes effortlessly into this sparkling cranberry drink. (via Brit + Co)

Black & Orange Rum Punch

It's a Halloween party, so there has to be some orange and black on the menu. This delicious rum punch is a welcome change from all of those pumpkin drinks out there. (via Brit + Co)

Blood Bones Halloween Cocktail

This campy cocktail is something your guests will be talking about all night. Prep your Jello bones ahead of time using some molds, and there's no need for any other garnish. Unless, of course, you want blood bags for the drinks. (via Brit + Co)

Ghostly Halloween Cocktail

Turn your cocktail a ghoulish hue by mixing red and green food coloring together with Chambord. Dry ice added before serving makes the drink smoke like a spooky potion. (via Brit + Co)

Apple Cide-Car

This spin on the classic Sidecar cocktail is like the grown up (and tastier) version of bobbing for apples. You can serve this Halloween cocktail hot or cold, depending on your preference. (via Brit + Co)

Zombie Cocktail

This delicious drink uses rum for a fruity, tropical finish that will remind you of summer – even on Hallow's Eve. (via A Couple Cooks)

Apple Butter Old Fashioned

Put your fall stock of apple butter to good use in this Old Fashioned recipe. The tart-sweet apple flavor mellows out bourbon's fiery bite for smooth sipping all night long. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Prosecco Punch with Cranberry + Orange

Tangy cranberry and sweet orange set this Prosecco punch apart, giving it a festive harvest flair. Change up the cranberry and orange ratio until you find a mix that you like the best. (via Chattavore)

Eyeball Martinis

Make your guests squirm with this ingenious Halloween hack. Stuff some Spanish olives into cocktail onions, and they look just like eyeballs – ready to grace your glass with gross. (via Sprinkles & Sprouts)

YoCo Vodka’s Monster Halloween Cocktail

To make this spooky sip, add 1 ½ oz YoCo Vodka, ¾ oz Lemon Juice, 1 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur, ½ oz Simple Syrup, and ½ tsp Activated Charcoal to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with regular ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a glass, add 1 pea-sized Dry Ice Chip on top, and watch your "monster" come alive! (via YoCo Vodka)

Death Eater Negroni

This moody take on the Negroni is the drink your Harry Potter-themed party craves. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Hallowine Sangria

Here's a sweet sangria to add to your spooktacular holiday list! It's made with Cabernet Sauvignon, sugar, orange juice, orange liqueur, and club soda. Easy! (via The Seasoned Mom)

Spooky Punch

This tasty fruit punch gets a spooky upgrade when you swap the fruit garnishes for faux spiders. Serve in small glasses or go big with fancy goblets that would make Dracula proud. (via Culinary Hill)

Glow-in-the-Dark Infected Brain Cocktail

If you're into the blood and gore of The Walking Dead or 28 Days Later, this bright concoction may be right up your alley. While it's not quite as eerie as a brain hemorrhage shot (eek!), this whole drink glows in the dark thanks to the tonic water, so serve it when the lights go out. (via Boulder Locavore)

Pulparindo

Natali Villarruel, National Tequila Ambassador for Mi Campo crafted this stellar cocktail inspired by Halloween candy. “This drink is a throwback to my childhood growing up in Mexico and the Pulparindo candy we’d get on Halloween," she said. To make it, shake 1.5 oz Mi Campo Reposado, .5 oz Ancho Reyes Liqueur, and .5 oz lime juice with ice before straining into a glass. Top it with some Jarritos Tamarindo, and get ready to gulp! (via Mi Campo Tequila)

Haunted Orchard Cocktail

A mysterious rustling noise in the orchard... a mist creeping in between the trees... it sounds like after your apple picking adventure, you could use a drink! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Magic Cotton Candy Martini

Impress your friends with an alcoholic magic trick by playing magician mixologist at your party. Pour shaken grape juice and vanilla vodka over cotton candy, and watch it dissolve into a delicious syrup to sweeten your Halloween cocktail. (via The Cookie Rookie)

Toil & Trouble

Craving a Hallowen cocktail that's a bit more elevated? This recipe from Elvie's in Jackson, Mississippi infuses edible glitter into your holiday elixir. To make it, combine 1.5 oz black sesame-infused scotch, 0.5 oz Cathead Hoodoo Chicory liqueur,0.5 oz Cocchi sweet vermouth, and 2 dashes blood orange bitters with some edible glitter! (via Elvie's)

Pomegranate Cider Mimosas with a Salted Caramel Rim

Start your Halloween celebration early by serving up these pomegranate cider mimosas. Of course, it wouldn't be trick-or-treating season without adding some candy to the mix with the salted caramel rim. (via How Sweet Eats)

Beetle Juice

This Halloween cocktail boasts a haunting blood red color, perfect for spooking your friends with. To make it, shake 1.5 oz Espolon Blanco tequila, 0.75 oz Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, 0.75 oz orange juice, 0.5 oz lime juice, and 0.5 oz beet syrup over ice. Strain the mix into an iced glass and garnish with an orange slice! (via Grand Marnier)

Clonakilty Witches Brew Cocktail

This drink pays homage to Ireland's myths and legends through the essence of Samhain, which is, essentially, the ancient Celtic version of Halloween! To make it, mix together 1.75 oz Clonakilty Port Cask Whiskey, .5 oz orange juice, a splash of ginger ale, and garnish it all with an orange slice. (via Clonakiilty Distillery)

Witches Brew Cocktail

Use regular or black vodka to make this eerie cocktail. The recipe *also* includes a special hack for rimming the glasses with colorful sugar. It's scary good! (via Sprinkles & Sprouts)

The Grave Digger Halloween Cocktail

This creepy cocktail mixes bourbon, hard cider, and ginger ale for a drink that will make even the scariest of demons disappear. (via Boulder Locavore)

Sour Frankenstein Halloween Cocktails

What makes these cocktails *so* delightfully sour? Homemade margarita mix, shaken with freshly squeezed limes. Oh, and that's not real blood on the rim — just a little corn syrup and red food coloring. (via The Girl On Bloor)

The Quick Demise Halloween Cocktail

You wouldn't think that a drink with such a poisonous name would be good for you. With ingredients like carrot, lime, and orange juices, this cocktail is more likely to extend your life... rather than end it. (via Best Friends for Frosting)

Spider Bite Cocktail

Give the *illusion* of a spider's web, without having to deal with the real thing (or having to clean up a party prop!). This Halloween cocktail is bright and colorful, which is perfect for anyone who's not a huge fan of darker decor this time of year. (via A Beautiful Mess)

Vampire's Drip Cocktail

If vampires had access to these boozy milkshake-inspired cocktails, maybe they wouldn't be thirsting for blood all the time. Yum! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Ilegal Mezcal Margarita de Granada

This spookily strong Halloween drink is powered by mezcal. To make it, add 2 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven, 1 oz agave syrup, and 0.5 oz pomegranate juice to a shaker, shaking well until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice, garnish with pomegranate seeds and a lime wheel, and you're set to sip! (via Illegal Mezcal)

Slow Cooker Vampire Punch

It's always a nice gesture to make a special drink for guests who don't consume alcohol. Simmer this mocktail punch in the slow cooker so they can help themselves whenever they get thirsty — it'll also make your house smell deliciously like cinnamon. (via Boulder Locavore)

White Widow Halloween Cocktail

Sure, a black widow sounds scarier, but this white widow will knock you out with one swing (or swig, ha!). Garnish the top with a black gel icing web that will catch all of your Halloweentime prey. (via Best Friends for Frosting)

Witch's Brew Cocktail Recipe

You certainly wouldn't catch any self-respecting witch with a single beer. She would most definitely be drinking a fabulous purple cocktail, complete with a glitter spider garnish. (via Pizzazzerie)

Pumpkin Beer-mosas

Pumpkin juice (like they drink in Harry Potter) is mixed with pumpkin beer for a brunch drink that's truly autumnal. (via Growing Up Gabel)

Candy Corn-Infused Vodka

Didn't think the all-time best Halloween candy (we know it's an unpopular opinion, but still, the right one) could get any better? This infused vodka will make you think again. (via Kitchen Treaty)

Diplomatico Rum Blood Moon Negroni

To craft this delicious Halloween negroni, stir 1 part Diplomatico Mantuano with 1 part sweet vermouth and 1 part of a bitter Italian aperitif over ice to chill. Strain into a rocks glass with a big block of ice, then garnish with grapefruit peel! (via Diplomatico Rum)

Poison Apple Cocktail

These spookily sour cocktails emulate everything you love about a margarita and make it Halloween-friendly. (via Crowded Kitchen)

Pumpkin Margaritas

The season's favorite ingredient gets blended into a frozen sip that'll leave you with the spooks all Halloween long. (via Clean Cuisine)

Smoke & Mirrors Halloween Cocktail

Love a Halloween cocktail, but aren't a huge fan of spooky drink accessories? This sip is equal parts sweet and smokey, and features one of our favorite ingredients: orange blossom water. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Halloween Punch with a Severed Hand

You can create an icy 'severed hand' using a glove for this big ol' bowl of spooks. (via The Edgy Veg)

1. BOGO 50% off packaged soups (Tuesdays)

Tuesdays and Fridays are the main days of the week that Whole Foods offers savings on their groceries. The first amazing deal for Tuesdays is BOGO 50% off packaged soups – perfect for this time of year!

They’ve got every kind of flavor from minestrone and chicken noodle to Italian wedding and broccoli cheddar. Their packaged soups average out at about $9 per 24-ounce tub, so saving 50% on one when you buy one is pretty good, especially for meal prep purposes.

2. $2 off classic and organic rotisserie chickens (Tuesdays)

You can take $2 off two kinds of Whole Foods’ rotisserie chickens every Tuesday. Their classic rotisserie chicken goes for $9 while the organic version sells for $13. I love using rotisserie chicken for soups, sandwiches, wraps, and pastas, so getting a whole chicken to use for recipes all week long for just $7 is so nice!

3. $8 large cheese pizzas (Friday)

Sometimes you just do not feel like cooking on a Friday evening after work – that’s where this Whole Foods savings hack comes in! Every Friday, you can get a large cheese pizza for $8. While there’s nothing wrong with a plain cheese pizza (nostalgia galore!), I’d take advantage of this deal then bulk up my slices with various toppings like peppers, pepperoni, and olives.

4. 12 for $12 wild caught oysters (Friday)

Ooh, fancy! Every Friday, Whole Foods’ wild caught oysters go for $1 a pop. Buy a dozen for just $12, and you’re golden. This deal would be perfect for a bougie at-home date night.

5. BOGO 50% off packaged sushi rolls (Friday)

This is another great date night pick! Buy one packaged sushi roll, and get another 50% off on Fridays only. From rainbow rolls to California rolls, this Whole Foods savings hack has my cravings going crazy.

6. $10 family-sized tiramisu (Friday)

Got a hankering for a sweet treat? Don’t fret – you can shop a whole family-sized serving of tiramisu at Whole Foods for just $10 every Friday.

7. $12 bottles of prosecco (Friday)

The death of the work week and start of the weekend is obviously a cause for celebration, and Whole Foods has you covered with $12 bottles of Presto prosecco every Friday. Cheers!