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This New Year's Day, I'm inviting my friends over for champagne and sweets. After the stress of hosting holiday parties, this is a way to entertain with minimal effort.
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To start things off, I'll need to select some sweets. Since strawberries are a natural companion for champagne, I'm serving up these cocktail and champagne strawberries.
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And because this celebration is all about the sweetness of life, I'm adding in sea-salted caramels and cake truffles. What a delicious indulgence just before writing goals for the new year and hitting the gym to work off those holiday pounds. It's all about balance, right?
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Now, instead of just serving traditional champagne, I want to provide my guests with cocktails that are a bit special. Classics like a Kir Royale or a Bellini are interesting and delicious ways to impress your guests. Each only requires you to gather a few extra ingredients before the celebration. Let me show you.
5 Easy Champagne Cocktails
To create each of these classic cocktails, add the following to your glass before topping with champagne.
- Champagne Cocktail - A sugar cube and a splash of bitters
- Kir Royale - 1/2 ounce Cassis (black currant liqueur)
- Raspberry Royale - 1/2 ounce Chambord (raspberry liqueur)
- Mimosa - 2 ounces orange juice (about 1/3 of the glass)
- Bellini - 1 ounce peach juice / puree and 1/2 ounce peach schnapps
So simple, right?
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You can explain how to create these classic cocktails to your guests, display a helpful menu card or let folks experiment with their own flavor combinations.
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Whatever you decide to do, I guarantee that ringing in 2015 will be fun and stress free.
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Here's to a new year that's filled with many reasons to celebrate!
Michael Wurm, Jr. is a designer and lifestyle blogger. On his blog, Inspired by Charm, Michael shares his love and tips for a decorated life. Whether it’s ideas for easy decorating, a delicious recipe, or a unique DIY project, his goal is to provide the tools and inspiration for everyone to live a happy, colorful life.