A snowball is a retro cocktail with just 3 ingredients, and it's becoming a household name once again. Creamy and refreshing, it's the perfect festive drink!
What do you like to do to get yourself in the Christmas spirit? Put a Christmas movie on? Maybe listen to some Christmas music? Turn on the Christmas lights? Well, I have another solution that will guarantee you immediately feel warm and merry (in more ways than one) - a snowball cocktail! It's a creamy winter drink made with Advocaat, and it will get you feeling festive from the inside out.
What is Advocaat?
Advocaat is a Dutch alcoholic drink that's a beautiful creamy yellow colour. It's not dissimilar from eggnog - it's traditionally made with brandy and eggs (so unfortunately, Advocaat is not vegan), and it's got that same thick, rich sweetness.
If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own homemade Advocaat by whisking the eggs and cooking them over a low heat - I haven't tried making it myself, but this recipe doesn't sound too difficult.
Or, you can just buy it in a bottle - Warninks is the most common brand in the UK (get it online* if you can't find it in the shops!). Obviously this is the option I chose (do you know me at all?).
Shop-bought Advocaat is around 17% alcohol, which is similar to some dessert wines and fortified wines. You can drink it on its own if you want to, but I think it's nicer mixed up into a snowball cocktail.
What is a snowball cocktail?
A snowball is quite a retro cocktail - they were super popular in the UK in the 1970s. But trends are cyclical, and the snowball is making a comeback in a big way. Apparently Nigella Lawson is a fan, so obviously it must be good!
Just like any good cocktail, a Snowball is seriously easy to make - after you've already had a couple, you don't want to be faffing about with a complicated recipe!
How do you make a snowball cocktail?
As far as cocktails go, a snowball couldn't really be any simpler - there are only three ingredients. You can mix it up straight in your glass - no shaking, muddling, layering, or any other fancy techniques.
It starts with a couple of shots of Advocaat, mixed with a squeeze of lime juice. Then just fill the glass up with cold, sparkling lemonade. That's it! It's so simple, but so delicious. It's light and fruity, yet rich and creamy at the same time. It actually reminds me of the centre of a fruit cream chocolate, in a weird way!
How should I serve a snowball?
Snowballs are best made fresh - since there are so few ingredients anyway, it's no hardship to mix them up individually. You can serve them over ice if you want to, or just use fridge-cold lemonade.
They're great garnished with a slice of lime or a cherry.
Or, if you want to make it feel that little bit more festive, you can also give the whole thing a stir with a cinnamon stick. Honestly, I don't think it sounds like lime and cinnamon should work together, but they really do!
How should you store Advocaat?
If you have any Advocaat left over after making your snowball cocktails, you should store the bottle in the fridge. Unfortunately, it doesn't keep as long as a lot of other alcoholic drinks - you can't stick it in the back of the drinks cabinet for 5 years, and expect it to be as good as the day you opened it.
Once the bottle has been opened, you should finish your Advocaat within 6 months - but that shouldn't be too hard!
Christmas traditions
It's always nice to have some kind of wintery drink at Christmas. Often it's something warm - hot chocolate or mulled wine, for example - but if you prefer a cold drink, a snowball is the answer! The alcohol helps to warm you up inside, and the festive flavour is just perfect to sip while you're decorating your tree or opening presents.
We've made snowballs for a few years running now - they're our new little Christmas tradition. We have our fair share of Christmas traditions that have come from my family or my husband's family, but it's nice to have started some of our own as well (we have a few more child-friendly ones too!). We'll definitely be making snowballs again next winter.
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Festive Snowball Cocktail
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Print Pin CommentIngredients
- 2 shots Advocaat
- Squeeze of lime juice
- Cold sparkling lemonade
- Cinnamon sticks, for stirring (optional)
Instructions
- Add the Advocaat and lime juice to a glass, and mix to combine. Top up the glass with cold sparkling lemonade. Stir with a cinnamon stick if desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.
If you want another cocktail to wow at Christmas, a layered cocktail or mocktail always goes down well!
* Note: This post contains an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sharon Klindera says
I assume your snowball recipe is the UK one. Lovely. But if someone from America is reading this recipe, you should substitute 'lemonade' for '7up'. American lemonade is a flat lemon squash type drink. Not the same at all. I used to love drinking snowballs back in jolly old England. I'm definitely going to get some tomorrow. Thank you.
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
Good point, thanks! 7Up would probably be a good substitution - it's not quite the same as our lemonade, as it's actually lemon and lime flavour, but it might be the closest alternative.
Karen Rogan says
I love a Snowball, it’s what my dad always made for my mum at Christmas time - but for more of a kick I make mine with........., wait for it......, a Babycham and if I really want a killer Snowball add a dash of brandy! Cherries are a must to give that extra little something x Try it, it’s delicious 😋 xxx
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
Ooh sounds wonderfully retro ;)
Dee says
For an added twist we add prosecco to it
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
Sounds great, thanks for the tip!
Lauren says
Never heard of a Snowball (I'm in Australia so our Christmas is in summer) but if you take out the squeeze of lime juice and just have Advocaat with Diet Lemonade it is called a Fluffy Duck. My mum loved them in the 80's and when I was old enough to drink she made one for me and I fell in love with it. Apart from a Black Russian and a White Russian without the Vodka lol (so Kahlua & Diet Coke/Pepsi Max and Kahlua & Milk) a Fluffy Duck is my favourite alcoholic drink.
Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says
Haha I love the name Fluffy Duck! Where do people come up with these names!
John Allingham says
Advocaat! Yuk!!!!!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
You're more than welcome to just not cook any recipes you don't like the look of, it's not a requirement ;)
Kitty says
Well said, Becca👍😊
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Haha thanks. Some people need to get a hobby ;)
Anna says
Hi Becca,
Thanks for the recipe, I remember the first snowball cocktail I had was last year and I miss the drink already, but i don't know how to make one. Thank you for sharing this cocktail drink.