Gourmet Holiday Snack Ideas & Festive Drinks

The holidays are a fun time to try new recipes, make yummy snacks and mix up delicious hot beverages. It’s also fun to treat your family to some special treats like mixed nuts and holiday cookies. We’ve partnered with Sam’s Club to share some easy holiday ideas you can use at your next party.

This post is sponsored by SheSpeaks, Inc and the Simply Orange Juice Company. All opinions are our own.

My favorite holiday drinks include spicy hot drinks such as homemade wassail and caramel apple cider. You can easily make homemade holiday wassail by combining fresh juices with a few spices in a crock pot. Warm holiday drinks and refreshing cocktails are best made using fresh juices such as Simply Orange® juice which deliver a crisper taste over juice concentrate alternatives. Simply Beverages™® are deliciously simple. You can find these great-tasting 100% juices and juice drinks in the refrigerated section of your Sam’s Club.

Simply Orange® juice and Simply Lemonade® are classic beverages your family can enjoy year round. My girls love drinking Simply Orange® juice for breakfast and for snack time. We go through at least once container a week of Simply Orange® juice enjoyed by our five family members. Sam’s Club is a great place to pick up a double pack of Pulp-Free Simply Orange® juice at a great price!

Homemade Holiday Wassail

Mix up this festive holiday drink for a dinner party or family gathering. Wassail is a spicy twist on traditional apple cider with citrus flavors and seasonal fall spices.

• 8 cups apple cider
• 1/2 cup Simply Orange® juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

Mix apple cider, Simply Orange® juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, sugar and spices together in a large pot over medium heat. Simmer for 15 minutes until warmed through. Serve with large ladle. You can find the full homemade wassail recipe here.

Simple Party Snacks

Mixed nuts, chocolate and fresh orange juice sound like perfect ingredients for a festive holiday desert, right? Member’s Mark Mixed Nuts and Chocolate Covered Almonds are great snacks to put out on their own in a pretty dish at your next party. Or if you are making a holiday recipe that requires nuts, chop up some of the  lightly salted Member’s Mark Walnuts and cashews to add a crunchy element. Chopped nuts are always a classic addition to butter toffee, chocolate peppermint bark or  homemade oatmeal cookies.

Mixed nuts and chocolate covered almonds are pretty snacks to put out on a dessert buffet table. I like the light saltiness of Member’s Mark Deluxe Mixed Nuts and yummy combination of almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and pecans. Our mixed nuts container had a fairly even diversity of different kinds of nuts.

The Member’s Mark Chocolate Covered Almonds are equally as festive and delicious for a holiday snack. Each almond is coated with milk chocolate and finished with a glossy sheen. You could use these chocolate coated almonds to garnish a holiday dessert or enjoy alongside a homemade pumpkin spice latte or spicy hot chocolate.

Homemade wassail, mixed nuts and chocolate covered treats are all easy ways to make a holiday party feel festive! I love hosting simple parties and inviting our friends. Having friends over is also a great reason to decorate your home for the holidays. Your family can also work together to make special treats and create some memorable family traditions!

Which are your favorite holiday treats to make and enjoy during the holidays?

Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 3 kids in beautiful Coeur d’Alane, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, DIY projects, photography, homeschooling my kids, traveling, and serving people. I’ve previously worked as a graphic designer, web designer, journalist and barista. I started Create. Play. Travel. to share some of our creative projects and family adventures.  I hope you enjoy the highlights of our creative family life!