After-dinner drinks to serve at Thanksgiving

If you make it through the pre-meal snacks, the wine list, the feast and dessert and are still longing for one last treat to push you over the edge, an after-dinner drink will do the trick. After-dinner cocktails may help you forget about the fact that you are uncomfortably full or that you just consumed more calories in one meal than you do on most days.

Before we get into a few cocktail recipes, it is a good idea to stock your Thanksgiving bar with some after-dinner favorites. These spirits are often served straight or over ice. They are also good to have around to mix with coffee or cream.

Of course you can prepare the standard after-dinner drinks such as Irish coffee, White Russians or hot toddies, but if you want something unique and a bit more festive, here are a few cocktail recipes.

Peppermint mocha recipe

This warm beverage will take you right into the Christmas spirit since Thanksgiving is over after all. You may even pull out the Christmas decorations after sipping on this after-dinner favorite.

Ingredients:

• Brewed coffee
• 1 ounce creme de menthe
• 1 ounce creme de cocoa
• Cream to taste
• Whipped cream and chocolate syrup for topping

Directions:

1. Pour creme de menthe, creme de cocoa and a touch of cream into a large coffee mug. Fill with hot coffee and stir to combine.
2. Top it off with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle on some chocolate syrup. Small chunks of peppermint candy will give it an even more festive look.

The snuggie recipe

After a big meal, you'll want to feel extra cozy, so the cocktail artisans at Sobieski vodka created this cocktail recipe named after winter's favorite modern invention. By invention, we mean someone's idea to get rich off of wearing a robe backwards. Either way you'll love this cocktail just as much as you love your reversed robe.

Ingredients:

• Cinnamon & raw sugar
• 1/2 ounce orange Juice
• 2 ounces Marie Brizard creme de cacao
• 3 ounces Sobieski Vanilia vodka
• Garnish with cinnamon stick

Directions:

1. Muddle cinnamon, sugar and orange juice in the bottom of a glass. Add to a cocktail shaker with creme de cacao and vodka. Shake vigorously.
2. Strain and serve in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the cinnamon stick.

Vanilla caramel pilgrim recipe

What's Thanksgiving without a pilgrim? This one doesn't wear any sort of strange outfit; it just tastes delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces vanilla vodka
• 1/2 ounce caramel sauce
• 1/2 can illy issimo mochaccino

Directions:

1. Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass.

More after-dinner drinks

5 Dark chocolate after-dinner drinks
5 Easy Baileys drink recipes
Choosing after-dinner drinks