7 Gorgeous Garnishes For Cocktails And Drinks

With the holidays in full swing, there are plenty of fun parties, dinners, and events to go to and to host. A big part of hosting an event is preparing food and drinks for your guests, and the things that tend to really impress aren't the big main courses or giant meals, they're the little details and final touches that you put on everything. That's where these 7 easy ideas for dressing up your drinks and cocktails come in! Using just a few pieces of fruit and some herbs, you can spice up any alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink that's on the menu. Give your cocktails a touch of extravagance this New Year's Eve, or make some impressive red & green garnishes for your Christmas party – your guests will be beyond impressed. What a fun way to get a little fancy!

1. Chic Nectarine Fan

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

You'll Need:

  • ½ nectarine, sliced
  • 1 sprig of mint
  • 1 wooden skewer

Here's How:

1.1 Cut the nectarine in half, then cut 1 of the halves into thin slices. Skewer the slices through the middle with wooden skewer and fan them out so they make a spiral shape. Insert 1 sprig of mint onto the top of the wooden skewer and place your gorgeous garnish in a freshly made drink!

2. Fun Fruity String Of Pearls

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

You'll Need:

  • watermelon, balled
  • cantaloupe, balled
  • cucumber, balled
  • wooden skewer
  • melon baller

Here's How:

2.1 Use the melon baller to make 2 balls out of the watermelon, cantaloupe, and cucumber, then insert the 6 balls onto a wooden skewer. Now you can place your fun fruity garnish in a delicious drink!

3. Stunning Strawberry Ladder

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

You'll Need:

  • cucumber, peeled
  • strawberries, quartered
  • 1 wooden skewer
  • vegetable peeler

Here's How:

3.1 Use a vegetable peeler to peel 1 long strip off of the outside of a cucumber and quarter the strawberries. Insert 1 end of the cucumber peel onto the wooden skewer, then slide 1 piece of strawberry on top. Fold the cucumber peel over the strawberry and insert it onto the wooden skewer again. Repeat this process, alternating between pieces of strawberry and the cucumber peel, all the way up the wooden skewer.

4. Fancy Nectarine Feather

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty Level: Moderate

You'll Need:

  • 1 nectarine, sliced
  • 1 blackberry
  • 2 sprigs of thyme
  • 1 wooden skewer

Here's How:

4.1 Cut the nectarine into quarters, then cut 1 of the quarters diagonally several times, starting with 1 pair of cuts made near the edge of the nectarine that meet in the middle, making a diamond shape. Make 1 or 2 more set of cuts closer to the center of the nectarine. Fan out the pieces of nectarine slightly, then insert a wooden skewer so that the pieces stay in place. Insert 1 blackberry underneath the nectarine and position 2 sprigs of thyme on the skewer, 1 on the top and 1 on the bottom.

5. Cozy Cinnamon Orange Swirl

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

You'll Need:

  • 1 orange, sliced & peeled
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 sprig of thyme
  • 1 wooden skewer
  • vegetable peeler

Here's How:

5.1 Use a vegetable peeler to peel the orange so that you're left with 1 long strip, then cut out 1 large slice of the orange. Skewer the orange slice on the wooden skewer, then insert 1 end of the orange peel onto it. Slide the cinnamon stick over the skewer, wrap the orange peel around it, and attach the peel to the wooden skewer at the the top of the cinnamon stick. Insert 1 spring of thyme onto the cinnamon stick and place your citrusy garnish into your favorite drinks!

6. Elegant Lime Sunshine

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty Level: Moderate

You'll Need:

  • 1 lime, sliced & peeled
  • 1 blueberry
  • 1 strawberry, quartered
  • 1 wooden skewer
  • vegetable peeler

Here's How:

6.1 Peel the lime in the center to make 1 long strip. Cut a thick slice out of the center of the lime along where it was peeled. Make small diagonal cuts down each side of the lime peel to make the rays of the sun. Insert 1 end of the lime peel near the top of the wooden skewer, green side facing upwards. Skewer the lime slice, then secure the other end of the lime peel on top. Place 1 blueberry and 1 piece of strawberry on top of the skewer.

7. Perfectly Personalized Garnishes

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty Level: Moderate

You'll Need:

  • kiwi, sliced
  • plum, sliced
  • cantaloupe, sliced
  • apple, sliced
  • wooden skewer
  • alphabet cookie cutters

Here's How:

7.1 Cut the fruit into thin slices, then cut out the letters of your choice using the alphabet cookie cutters. Carefully slide the letters onto a wooden skewer and place your beautiful personalized garnishes in a drink!

These 7 gorgeous garnish ideas for your drinks will add the perfect finishing touch to any event you host this holiday season. Feel free to put your own modifications on any of these amazing designs and start sipping in style!

Get the recipe for the Ways To Decorate Loaves Of Bread featured in the bonus video.

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