Christmas like an adult: cookies and boozy drinks
As a child, every Christmas morning I would rush downstairs to do two things: shake the presents and inspect the plate I left for Santa.
I remember always wondering why he only ate half the cookie and never finished the milk, but would polish off the tumbler of brandy.
As a kid, I questioned his taste.
But as an adult, I am starting to think Saint Nick was onto something. A favorite cocktail paired with a Christmas cookie? Genius.
When enjoyed responsibly, the two just go together. Much like a roaring fire and a lit tree, the right cookie and booze combination always puts me in the best of spirits.
So to help spread the holiday cheer, here are 10 Christmas cookie pairings. But rest assured, this is not an arbitrary list. We consulted with industry experts for the pairings that work best with the season.
Gingerbread cookie with a spiked apple martini
When it comes to perfecting a pairing, Gretchen Hanson, professional chef from Rehoboth Beach, said the palate centers should compliment — not compete — with one another. This rule is especially true when working with sugary items, like a Christmas cookie and a cocktail.
Her recommendation: gingerbread cookies, baked with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and cayenne, paired with a spiked apple martini.
"If you are eating something sweet, you'll want to sip on something sweet," she said. "Pull out the main flavors, spices and seasonings of the cookie, match that with your drink and it'll be a home run."
Spiced caramel appletini:
1 ounce Bailey's caramel apple cream
2 ounces apple vodka
Pinch nutmeg, apple pie spice and cayenne
Shake well with ice. Strain and serve.
Lemon ricotta cookies and chardonnay
Everyone knows cheese and wine make the perfect match and this combination is no different. The soft cookie plays up the zesty lemon, honeycomb, and toasted oak flavor of a chardonnay matched with the creaminess from the ricotta it is pleasant on the palate.
READ MORE: Orange wine: Next big thing for Delmarva?
Gingersnaps and eggnog
Gingersnaps are those hard, spiced cookies with a ton of bite. Pair them with basically, a half-melted, ice cold, boozy milkshake, and you'll be good to go.
Thumbprint cookies and champagne
The dry, bubbly beverage will help cut some of the heaviness of the cookie, without taking away from the sweetness of the jam.
Snickerdoodles and sauvignon blanc
One of the season's most popular cookies deserves one of the world’s most popular grape varieties.
The best snickerdoodle recipes will use cream of tartar and cinnamon to create a sweet, spicy and tangy cookie. Try an oak sauvignon blanc for a combination that shares the same sweet and savory notes.
Shortbread cookies and earl grey tea
For Susan Ryan, owner of Good Earth Market & Organic Farm, this is the ultimate Christmas combination. And it's completely gluten free.
Her storefront and bakery, with locations in Ocean View and Rehoboth Beach, carries a wide variety of teas and will also have the homemade, gluten free cookies available throughout the holidays.
Chocolate mint cookies and hot buttered rum
Totally different from peppermint, chocolate mint cookies pack a sweet punch all their own. Pair them with a hot buttered rum, a drink with enough spice and kick to offset some of that sugar.
Peanut butter cookies and port wine
Peanut butter cookies and port go together like peanut butter and jelly — only better.
Port has higher residual sugar making this a classic dessert wine, which is further enhanced by the hint of salt from the peanut butter. Go for a tawny Port, aged 10-20 years, whose nut and fig flavors will complement the peanut butter cookie's richness and depth.
READ MORE: Sniff, swirl, sip. wine tasting 101
Candy cane kiss cookies and cabernet sauvignon
Peppermint can be overpowering so it needs a full-bodied red like cabernet sauvignon. Big, bold cabs are known to pair well with chocolate, but the higher tannins in this wine also produce other harmonious notes, like mint and eucalyptus.
Biscotti and a double espresso martini
For Dru Tevis, Delaware pastry chef, the holidays are always a special, and incredibly busy, time of year.
When it comes to unwinding, Tevis enjoys indulging with a holiday spin on an old world classic: a biscotti cookie paired with a decadent, double espresso martini.
Biscotti cookies are twice-baked, oblong-shaped almond biscuits, made famous in Italy. Their versatility works well with a number of winter-approved adult beverages. So really, the choice is yours.
Just remember, a biscotti cookie always deserves to be dipped.
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