How to Make Snowball Cocktail

Mixing a Basic Snowball Cocktail

Combine the lemonade and lime juice in a cocktail glass. Choose a cocktail glass that can hold at least 6 fluid ounces (0.18 L) at a time to hold the entire cocktail. Pour 3.5 fluid ounces (0.10 L) of lemonade into your glass, then add ⁄4 fluid ounce (22 mL) of lime juice. If you want to give your snowball cocktail an extra kick, use sparkling lemonade. Just take care not to shake your cocktail or the lemonade if you choose this option.

Add 2 fluid ounces (59 mL) of advocaat to the glass. Advocaat is a creamy Dutch liqueur similar to American eggnog. Pour about 2 fluid ounces (59 mL) of advocaat into the glass, stirring the drink well to mix the flavors. You can buy advocaat from many stores that sell liquor, especially around the holiday season. If you can't find store-bought advocaat, you can make it from egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and liquor instead.

Garnish and serve your snowball cocktail. For a festive decoration, garnish your cocktail with lime zest or slices. Add ice if desired, then serve your cocktail immediately for the best flavor. For a slightly sweeter taste, garnish your cocktails with orange slices instead. You could also grate some fresh nutmeg on top.

Trying Different Variations

Make coconut snowball cocktails for a sweet, tropical drink. To make coconut snowball cocktails, mix 4 fluid ounces (0.12 L) of coconut rum, 2 fluid ounces (0.059 L) of vanilla vodka, and 2 fluid ounces (0.059 L) of vanilla vodka, and 6 fluid ounces (0.18 L) of light cream in a martini shaker. Shake the mixture for about 10 seconds, then pour it into cocktail glasses and serve. Garnish coconut snowball cocktails by coating the glass rims with a mixture of powdered sugar and water, then dipping them in coconut flakes. Add ⁄4 fluid ounce (0.022 L) of lime juice for a sour kick.

Add cognac for a more complex flavor. Cognac brandy can give snowball cocktails an earthy, almost bitter aftertaste. Add a dash of cognac at a ratio of 2 fluid ounces (0.059 L) of advocaat for every 1 ⁄2 fluid ounce (0.015 L) of cognac.

Substitute sparkling wine for lemonade for a stronger taste. Chill 3.5 fluid ounces (0.10 L) of your favorite sparkling wine in the fridge for several hours before serving. When it's time to prepare the cocktails, mix the sparkling wine and lime juice in the glass for a richer, slightly more alcoholic take on traditional snowball cocktails.

Use ginger syrup instead of lemonade and lime juice for a spicier taste. To make your snowball with a spicy holiday twist, simmer ⁄2 cup (0.12 L) of ginger syrup and ⁄2 cup (0.12 L) of caster sugar until you bring it to a boil. Strain the syrup through a sieve, then mix it with advocaat and serve immediately. You won’t need to strain the syrup if you give the sugar time to completely dissolve. Garnish this snowball cocktail variation with ginger slices or shavings. You can also stir your snowball cocktail with cinnamon sticks for a similar kick of spice.

Making Advocaat for Snowball Cocktails

Boil a little water in a saucepan and let it simmer. You will be using the water for steaming your advocaat, so you don’t need to measure out an exact amount. Fill a medium saucepan with water about 1 inch (2.5 cm) or 2 inches (5.1 cm) deep and turn your stove to high heat until the water boils. Once the water begins to boil, turn the heat to low and leave the water to simmer. Never leave your saucepan unattended while the stove is on to prevent accidents.

Whisk egg yolks, salt, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Combine 10 egg yolks, 1.5 teaspoons (7.4 mL) of salt, 1.25 cups (0.30 L) of sugar, and 1/8th of a teaspoon (about 1/3rd of a gram) of cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture develops a pale, creamy color.

Add the brandy and vodka to the bowl mixture. Combine the 1 cup (0.24 L) of brandy and ⁄3 teaspoon (3.3 mL) of vodka in a separate glass. While whisking the mixture, pour in the liquor and continue mixing until it blends completely with the other ingredients. Combine the brandy and vodka in a cup beforehand and leave it in the fridge to speed up the mixing process.

Whisk the mixed ingredients over the simmering water. Place the bowl over the saucepan so it sits in the simmering water. Continue whisking the ingredients in the bowl for about 5-8 minutes. After 6-7 minutes have passed, place a spoon over the top of the mixture. When the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, you are finished whisking. You can also use a double-boiler as an alternative if you have one.

Add 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of vanilla extract to the cooled mixture. Once your mixture has thickened, turn off the heat. While continuing to whisk the mixture, pour in 2 teaspoons (9.9 mL) of vanilla extract and whisk until it blends smoothly.

Store advocaat in your refrigerator for up to 1 month. After mixing in vanilla extract, pour your advocaat into sealable glass containers. Leave the advocaat in the fridge until you need it for snowball cocktails, up to 1 month after mixing. Do not use advocaat in snowball cocktails until it has chilled in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours.