This Kombucha Mocktail Recipe Is The Perfect Healthy Summer Sip

kombucha mocktail

Kombucha is our favorite mocktail, not only because it's delicious, but also because it contains gut-healthy probiotics. Kombucha is a sort of beer or wine, in a way: like these two beverages, it's a fermented drink — and it actually *does* contain a trace amount of alcohol as a result. The amount, of course, is far too little to get you buzzed, but it still makes for a great stand-in for boozier bevvies. That's why we love using kombucha to make mocktails. This insanely delicious kombucha mocktail is flavored with strawberries and ginger, and goes down a little like a mojito — it's hands-down one of our favorite mocktail recipes. Your hydrated, hangover-free self can thank us tomorrow.

Strawberry Ginger Faux-jito

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup strawberry jelly or jam
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • Ice cubes
  • 12 ounces ginger kombucha
  • 2-4 tablespoons strawberry sparkling water
  • 2 strawberries
  • Fresh mint, for garnish
  • Fresh basil, for garnish
  • Lime wedges, for garnish

Directions:

  1. Create the mocktail by adding the strawberry jelly, juiced limes, and a few ice cubes to a shaker cup. Shake the mixture until the cup is frosted.
  2. Divide the strawberry mixture between two tall Collin glasses. If you desire, muddle some mint leaves with the strawberry syrup. Top it with as much ice as desired, then pour over the ginger kombucha, leaving room at the top.
  3. Splash on top the strawberry sparkling water, then garnish with a fresh sliced strawberry, mint leaves, basil leaves, and a lime wedge. Enjoy ASAP!

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Photos and recipe by Sarah Anderson.

Ahh, a warming, cold-weather cocktail. Whether you're whipping one up to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just the annual first use of your fireplace, you simply can't go wrong with this butterscotch bourbon cocktail recipe for the holiday season. We love all manner of seasonal drinks, but bourbon is arguably the most beloved seasonal spirit to mix into your boozy bevs come November and December. This concoction, however, also throws butterscotch into the mix, so it's officially our go-to bourbon cocktail choice for the season. Keep reading for a Butterscotch Milk Punch that will change your holiday drink repertoire forever.

Ingredients for Butterscotch Bourbon Milk Punch

Sarah Anderson

For the cocktail:

  • 4 ounces bourbon
  • 1 cup whole milk or cream
  • 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Ground nutmeg, for garnish
  • Vanilla bean, split, for garnish
  • Homemade butterscotch syrup, for the rim

For the homemade butterscotch syrup:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or pink salt
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions for Butterscotch Bourbon Milk Punch

Sarah Anderson

To make the syrup:

  1. In a 2-quart sauce pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add in the brown sugar and stir until the brown sugar resembles wet sand. Stir in the half teaspoon of salt.
  2. Increase the heat to medium and stir occasionally until the mixture is bubbling up, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Add in the cream, lower the heat slightly, and whisk it all together until it is uniform and any lumps dissolve.
  4. Keep cooking the syrup for another 5 to 7 minutes until it reaches the temperature of 225 degrees F. Use a digital or candy thermometer, and if you don’t have one, stop simmering after a few minutes to ensure it doesn’t burn.
  5. Remove the pot from the burner, then add in the vanilla extract. Let the butterscotch syrup cool slightly and adjust the vanilla extract and salt amounts as needed after trying it. It will thicken up as it cools. This makes a large batch, so use it with cocktails, cookies, cakes, and ice cream!
  6. Once the syrup is cooled completely, store it in a glass jar with a lid and refrigerate it for up to a month.
To assemble the cocktail:
  1. Add bourbon, milk or cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract to a large shaker with a few pieces of ice. Shake the ingredients together.
  2. Dip the rim of each glass into the homemade butterscotch syrup, then add a large ice cube or several smaller ice cubes into the glass, topping with the milk punch. Garnish each drink with a sprinkle of ground nutmeg, and a split vanilla bean.
  3. Serve immediately and with cookies!

Love this fall butterscotch bourbon cocktail recipe? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more cocktail recs and inspo!

Recipe + photos by Sarah Anderson.

This post has been updated.

The holidays are here! Well, kind of. Thanksgiving isn’t until November 28 but as far as I’m concerned, November 1 is the day the festivities can begin. I’m pulling out my holiday candles, Christmas PJ’s, and even my How the Grinch Stole Christmas vinyl to make the dreary seasonal blues a little more cheerful. And a huge part of getting into the spirit is stacking up the perfect holiday movie marathon. Thankfully Netflix already has a bunch of holiday titles coming out over the next few weeks. Here are the best (new!!) holiday movies and specials coming to Netflix starting November 1.

Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition — On Netflix Now Until December 10

Adam Rose/Netflix

Nothing says the holidays like tons of delicious meals, and Chef David Chang is cooking some amazing food for his celebrity friends — and he's doing it all live. (Because, a lot of TV cooking uses swaps and stylists to make it look better than it actually is). I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition is hosted by David Chang.

Meet Me Next Christmas — On Netflix November 6

Sophie Giraud/Netflix

Christmas in New York City is truly a magical experience, and Layla's looking for her own fairytale romance this holiday season. And believe it or not, the ticket to finding her one true love is getting into the Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.

Meet Me Next Christmas streams November 6 and stars Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Tymika Tafari, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, Matt Sallee, Kalen Allen, Nikki Duval, and Wesley French.

Hot Frosty — On Netflix November 13

Petr Maur/Netflix

Nobody puts me in the holiday spirit like seeing Lacey Chabert onscreen, and this year, she's playing Kathy, a widow who happens to bring a handsome snowman to life. (I don't remember this in the "Frosty the Snowman" lyrics!). He helps Kathy reconnect with her emotions as they begin to fall for each other — and as he begins to melt.

Hot Frosty will stream on Netflix beginning November 13 and stars Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Craig Robinson, Joe Lo Truglio, Katy Mixon, Lauren Holly, and Chrishell Stause.

Netflix Stories: A Virgin River Christmas — On Netflix November 19

Petr Maur/Netflix

It's almost time for Virgin River season 6, which means we're getting closer to the ultimate cozy TV show. I mean, just look at those twinkly lights and pine trees in this preview image! It gives me the same exact feeling as drinking a mug of hot cocoa. This year, we're getting closer to Mel and Jack’s wedding, and confronting some serious secrets and drama along the way. This might not count as a Netflix holiday movie but I couldn't NOT include it!!!

Virgin River season 6 hits Netflix November 19 and stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, John Allen Nelson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Mark Ghanimé, Kai Bradbury, Kandyse McClure, Jessica Rothe, and Callum Kerr.

The Merry Gentlemen — On Netflix November 20

Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix

Remember that One Tree Hill episode where the Ravens take part in the "Boy Toy" charity auction? Complete with a shirtless fashion show? Consider this the Netflix holiday movie response. When former dancer Ashley learns her parents' performing venue is in danger, she puts together the ultimate Christmas-themed show to raise money. Shirts not included.

The Merry Gentlemen hits Netflix November 20 and stars Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, and Marc Anthony Samuel

Spellbound — On Netflix November 22

Skydance Animation/Netflix

Okay, this fantasy movie might not technically be a Christmas movie, but it has everything I need in my Netflix holiday movies: family, hope, and love. After her parents are turned into monsters, princess Ellian must go on the ultimate quest to put everything right.

Spellbound hits Netflix November 22 and stars Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman.

Our Little Secret — On Netflix November 27

Bob Mahoney/Netflix

If EXmas taught us anything, it's that spending the holidays with your ex is anything but calm. And in Lindsay Lohan's new movie, she finds herself at the same Christmas celebration as her ex when they realize their new SO's are siblings. No, that's not awkward at all.

Our Little Secret hits Netflix November 27 stars Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Tim Meadows, Jon Rudnitsky, Henry Czerny, Judy Reyes, Chris Parnell, Kristin Chenoweth, Dan Bucatinsky, Katie Baker, Jake Brennan, Ash Santos, and Brian Unger.

Is It Cake? Holidays — On Netflix November 28

Netflix

The only thing more enjoyable than eating delicious food is watching master bakers create beautiful food. This holiday special features edible ice skates, nutcrackers, and reindeer that will change the way you look at baking forever. Watch it in one sitting and it definitely counts as a holiday movie ;).

Is It Cake? Holidays hits Netflix November 28 and stars Jonny Manganello, Andrew Fuller, April Julian, Elizabeth Rowe, Miko Kaw Hok Uy, Danya Smith, Henderson Gonzalez, Grace Pak, and Jujhar Mann, with judges Rachel Bloom, Hannah Berner, Tiffany Haddish, Devon Walker, James Austin Johnson, Chris Witaske, Sasheer Zamata, Terry Crews, Punkie Johnson, and Randall Park.

The Snow Sister — On Netflix November 29

Netflix

Julian's turning 11 on Christmas Eve, and even though it's usually the best day ever, this year is overshadowed by the death of his older sister. A newfound friendship with Hedwig helps him heal, but he can't help but feel like Hedwig's house — and the old man that's always around — are hiding secrets.

The Snow Sister hits Netflix November 29 and stars Mudit Gupta, Celina Meyer Hovland, Ole Steinkjer Øyen, Jan Sælid, Samsaya, Gunnar Eiriksson, and Advika.

Which Netflix holiday movie are you excited to watch? Let us know in the comments!

Bring it on, fall. It's almost time to put your shorts aside, dig out your sweaters, and start replacing flats with booties. As you honor the changing seasons, don't forget to dress your drinks properly, too! Add some cider to your sangria, some apple to your martini, and some pumpkin spice to yourhot chocolate.

These delicious fall cocktails will brighten your soirees, warm your last outdoor dinner parties, and sweeten the glow of your nights by the fire. With one of these bevs in-hand, you'll welcome fall with open arms.

Brit + Co

Chocolate Mocha Martini

Take a sweet break from those busy fall weekdays with this decadent mocha martini that's made with Baileys Chocolate Liqueur, espresso, vodka, and simple syrup.

Kelly Pettit for Brit + Co.

Fall Aperol Spritz

To craft this fall cocktail, you'll combine Aperol with pear juice, sparkling wine, cinnamon, and more – each ingredient works to bring forth those warm and cozy flavors you love!

Brit + Co

Pomegranate Ginger Beer Cocktail

This cocktail is *so* fit for the season. It's delicately balanced with dry vermouth, pomegranate juice, orange bitters, and ginger beer to make a boozy play at seasonal flavors.

Brit + Co

Butterscotch Bourbon Milk Punch

This sweet drink is sure to follow you through the fall and winter seasons, as it provides a warming sip with the addition of bourbon!

Not Without Salt

This festive cider packs quite a – you know – punch. You would never guess that it only has three ingredients!

Barley & Sage

Apple Pie Moonshine Hot Toddy

Five minutes is all it takes to whip up this warming cocktail that uses apple pie moonshine. One sip, and you'll be leaning into the fall vibes.

Mixop

Pumpkin Spice Martini

Vodka, pumpkin spice liquor, pumpkin puree, vanilla and more join forces for a full-on dessert drink.

Half Baked Harvest

Pumpkin Head Punch

Mix lemon, spiced pumpkin butter, vodka, cinnamon, ginger beer, and a few more ingredients for this stunning, sparkling autumn punch.

Not Without Salt


For this drink, throw in some brown sugar, cinnamon, butter... wait... are these cookies we're talking about, or a favorite fall cocktail? (via Not Without Salt)

Sunshine Punch

Good Morning Sunshine

Missing that summer sun already? Keep it shining all fall long with this unique bev that carries notes of coffee and orange juice. To make it, combine 1 part Sunshine Punch with 1 part cold brew coffee over ice. Stir it, then garnish the mix with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice.

Filthy

Filthy Cherry Apple Punch

Grab your punch bowl, and prepare to please a crowd with this fall cocktail. You'll make a concoction with 750ml bourbon, 12 oz fresh-squeezed (store-bought's way easier) apple juice, 12 oz Filthy® Black Cherry Syrup, and 12 oz cider before garnishing with 2 red apples, cinnamon sticks, and a few Filthy® black cherries.

Sidral Mundet

Sidral Sparkling Apple & Berry Refresher

This apple-berry combo couldn't be more of a fit for fall. To make it, combine .5 oz fresh lime juice, 2 slices of fresh ginger, and 6 blackberries into a shaker and muddle together. Then, add 1.5 oz unsweetened cranberry juice and 1 bottle of Sidral Mundet before shaking it all together. Optionally, add some vodka or gin to make it a complete fall cocktail!

Flecha Azul Tequila

Fall Margarita

Batch cocktails always win people over. To make this pitcher, you'll start by crafting your own fall simple syrup: boil 1 cup of water, then add 3 cinnamon sticks, ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of sugar, and stir vigorously for about 2 minutes until sugar dissolves. Let cool. The rest of the recipe is simple: combine 9 oz Flecha Azul Blanco, 6 oz orange juice, 4 oz lime juice, and 2 oz of the fall simple syrup.

Culinary Hill

Hot Toddy

The ultimate warm-up drink, this hot toddy mixes plenty of lemon juice and honey into whiskey and adds nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon slices.

HGTV

Caramel Apple Martini

The ingredients for this fall cocktail are truly simple — apple schnapps, butterscotch schnapps, Baileys, and your choice of milk. Make a large amount to share at brunch!

Salt & Lavender

Refreshing Persimmon Cocktail

Persimmon season begins in October, meaning it's the perfect time to mix together this drink made of persimmon puree, lime juice, creme de cassis, and Champagne.

Love & Olive Oil

Bourbon Salted Caramel Milkshake

If there's booze in it, it's a cocktail. No matter if it's in milkshake form!

Pamela Wiznitzer and Joanna Lin for Ketel One Vodka

Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini

Espresso martinis are great as their own thing, but why not make a pumpkin twist on them? This recipe makes the ultimate dessert drink. To create it, combine 1.5 oz Ketel One Vodka, .5 oz coffee liqueur, .75 oz pumpkin allspice syrup*, and 1 oz coffee concentrate** in a shaker with ice, and shake vigorously. Strain it into a chilled martini glass and garnish half of the cocktail with some shakes of pumpkin spice and espresso powder!


For the *pumpkin allspice syrup:

  1. Boil 2 cups of water with 1 tbsp pumpkin spice on high for 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes and remove from the stovetop.
  2. In a jar or bowl, measure out the reduced liquid, it will be less than 2 cups because of evaporation during the boiling process.
  3. Measure out the same quantity in sugar for a 1:1 ratio, and add the sugar to the pumpkin spice liquid. Mix until dissolved, and keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

For the **coffee concentrate:

  1. Mix 1 cup of cold brew (or store-bought iced coffee) and mix with 1 tbsp instant espresso powder.

Sidral Mundet

Mundet Appletini

Get a sip full of harvest flavors by mixing up this martini: first, vigorously shake 1.5 oz vodka over ice for 10 seconds and strain it into a chilled glass. Then you'll top things off with cold Sidral Mundet Green Apple soda and an apple slice. Fresh!

Naturally Ella

Apple, Pear + Gin Cocktail

Juice two pears and an apple together. Add honey, lemon juice, and soda water, garnish with rosemary, and voila! That was easy.

Saveuer

Regent's Punch

Pineapple meets a new season when it's mixed with orange, nutmeg, and — an unlikely addition — green tea. Don't forget the cranberries on top!

Proper No. Twelve

Proper Apple Pie Martini

To make this pie-inspired martini, shake 2 oz Proper No. Twelve Irish Apple with 2 oz of Irish cream liqueur in a shaker with ice and a dash of cinnamon. Once shaken, strain into a martini glass rimmed with crushed graham cracker. Get ready for dessert in a drink!

Barley & Sage

Sparkling Fig Cocktail

Made with fresh figs, vodka, and Champagne, this sparkling cocktail is quite the refreshing nod to harvest season.

Culinary Hill

Brandy Apple Cider Slush

Mix some frozen apple cider with brandy, and top it off with hard apple cider (or sparkling water) for a frozen fall cocktail. Gotta love an adult slushy.

Half Baked Harvest

Sleepy Hollow Cocktail

Mix pomegranate juice with tequila, bitters, cinnamon, rosemary-infused orange honey simple syrup and top it off with sparkling water and a smoking sprig of rosemary to create this Halloween-ready brew.

Minimalist Baker

Boozy Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate

We like to celebrate all the possible ways to add pumpkin to our drinks. Our favorite method is through this white hot chocolate.

Sidral Mundet

Sidral Mundet Crisp Mezcalrita

This seasonal take on a margarita will provide fun times and fall vibes. First, rim a glass with brown sugar and cinnamon. To the glass, add 1 bottle of Sidral Mundet, 2 oz of mezcal, and 2 oz of triple sec. Add a squeeze of lemon and ice before mixing it together. Finally, garnish with a star anise piece!

Intoxicology

Cider Jack Cocktail

Friends forever: hard cider and apple jack liqueur.

Wyn Vida for Dulce Vida

Tequila Vanilla Sour

Indulge in a fancy fall cocktail by following this recipe: shake 1.5 oz Dulce Vida Anejo Tequila, .5 oz Licor 43, .5oz vanilla liqueur, 1 oz lemon juice, .5 oz agave, and 1oz egg whites together before straining into a sour glass!

Half Baked Harvest

Vanilla Chai White Russian

A chai tea simple syrup made with chai tea, honey, and vanilla extract is added to a classic white Russian for this autumnal spiced cocktail.

Proper No. Twelve

Apple Mule

Make a twist on your go-to mule with this seasonal offering. Over ice, combine 1.5 oz Proper No. Twelve Irish Apple and 3 oz of ginger beer. From there, garnish with a lime wedge for a special touch!

Aviation American Gin

Negroni Upgrade

Let this smooth cocktail engage your senses with each sip.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

0.75 oz Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur

0.75 oz Sweet Vermouth

Orange Twist

Combine all ingredients into mixing glass with Ice. Stir, then strain into Rocks glass with Ice. Garnish with Orange Twist.

Aviation American Gin

NY Juniper Sour

Give your taste buds a jolt with this amazing cocktail.

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

1 oz Lemon Juice

0.75 oz Ginger Syrup

Top with Red Wine

Combine all ingredients except Red Wine into cocktail shaker with Ice. Shake, then strain into Rocks glass with Ice. Carefully top with Red Wine.

Aviation American Gin

Tom Collins

Keep everything easygoing with a Tom Collins. (via Aviation American Gin)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

1 oz Lemon Juice

0.75 oz Simple Syrup

Top with 2 oz Club Soda

Combine all ingredients except Club Soda into cocktail shaker with Ice. Shake, then strain into Collins glass filled with Ice. Top with Club Soda and garnish with Lemon Slice.

Aviation American Gin

Gin Espresso Martini

When you combine nutmeg, espresso and Aviation American Gin, you're bound to fall in love with a Gin Espresso Martini. (via Aviation American Gin)

Ingredients

1.5 oz Aviation American Gin

0.75 oz Coffee Liqueur

0.75 oz Espresso

0.5 oz Simple Syrup (optional)

Coffee Beans or Nutmeg

Combine all ingredients into cocktail shaker with Ice. Shake, then strain into chilled Martini glass. Garnish with 3 Coffee Beans or grated Nutmeg.

Mixop

Caramel Martini

We're entering sweet territory with this scrumptious drink! It's like drinking a dessert instead of hearing your fork scrape a ceramic dish. All you need are Vodka, Irish and heavy creams, caramel syrup, and brown sugar. The best part about this drink are the soft caramel candies you can use as a garnish!

SirDavis

Honey Bee Cocktail

Your fall cocktails should be as sweet as they are warm and spicy like SirDavis's Honey Bee Cocktail. The ingredients and instructions are simple so you'll be sipping on this delectable drink in no time!

Ingredients

2 oz of SirDavis American Whisky

.75 oz of Lemon Juice

.50 oz of Honey Syrup

Garnish

Honeycomb or Lemon Twist

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

Mixop

S'Mores Martini

The upcoming bonfire party you're attending needs a ton of tasty camping foodand one of the sweetest fall cocktails anyone has ever tasted. With ingredients like Marshmallow Vodka, Kahlua, and Chocolate Syrup, you may find that you don't need to eat S'mores after all!

We might be drooling now. These fall cocktails are sure to warm you up this autumn.

Join our newsletter and check out our complete list of hot cocktails for more inspiration.

This post has been updated.

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

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