Snowball Drink
, Updated Mar 12, 2020
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Get merry with a Snowball drink – this retro cocktail with Advocaat, lime juice and lemonade is the perfect winter warmer and worth a festive revival!
You will also love my Mudslide Baileys
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Recipe published December 2016 | Updated December 2019
Do you have a festive drink you always turn to to get into the Christmas spirit? 😉 I have a few… but I always wheel out a festive Snowball cocktail whenever certain friends come round.
A Snowball is a very simple Christmas cocktail made up of only three ingredients: Advocaat, lime juice and fizzy lemonade. Wondering what on earth Advocaat is? Read on!
What is Advocaat
This Dutch / Belgian liqueur is made from egg yolks, sugar, vanilla and brandy. It is rich, thick, creamy and smooth. Some have likened it to custard and others to eggnog!
Fun fact: Advocaat is also the Dutch word for “lawyer” which is a bit of a funny name for a liqueur if you think about it 🙂
There’s a few brands of Advocaat on the market with the Warninks and Kuprink being the most easily available.
You can also make it yourself although I would always choose the easy option and buy it!
A boozy snowball
How much alcohol in a Snowball cocktail? Advocaat is usually 17% ABV so not as innocent as it may sound! Baileys Irish Cream has a similar alcohol content if you want a comparison. One serving is just under one unit of alcohol according to Drinkaware.
How to store Advocaat
You can store an unopened bottle for up to a year in your drinks cabinet or dark cupboard.
Once you open a bottle of Advocaat it should be stored in the fridge and consumed within a month. This isn’t much of a challenge if you make a few of these drinks!
You can also serve Advocaat simply over ice, or perhaps experiment with other cocktails such as the Fluffy Duck!
How to make a Snowball drink
The best known Advocaat drink is the Snowball which was big in the UK in the 1970s and is currently making a comeback. This is a very easy cocktail which doesn’t require a shaker and just as well because you will probably be making a few!
STEP 1. Pour the Advocaat into a tall glass (highball glass) filled with ice. Add the lime juice and stir well to combine.
STEP 2. Top with chilled fizzy lemonade and stir again, gently this time so that you keep the carbonation in the lemonade. Garnish with a strip of lime peel
Champagne Snowball
This fancier version is made with chilled Champagne, cava or Prosecco instead of lemonade.
STEP 1. Fill a flute or coupe glass halfway with chilled sparkling wine.
STEP 2. Put the Advocaat and lime juice into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well until frost forms on the cocktail shaker.
STEP 3. Strain the cocktails of the shaker over the champagne (be mindful as it will froth up) and serve. Grate a little dark chocolate over your Snowball and garnish with a small candy cane or cinnamon stick!
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Snowball drink
Ingredients
Classic Snowball
- 60 ml | 2 measures Advocaat
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- chilled fizzy lemonade to top up
- lime peel to garnish
Champagne Snowball
- 60 ml | 2 measures Advocaat
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- chilled sparkling wine you can use Champagne, Cava or Prosecco
- grating of chocolate , optional
- cinnamon stick or candy cane to garnish
Instructions
Snowball Cocktail
- Pour the Advocaat into a tall glass (highball glass) filled with ice. Add the lime juice and stir well to combine.
- Top with chilled fizzy lemonade and stir again, gently this time so that you keep the carbonation in the lemonade. Garnish with a strip of lime peel
Champagne Snowball
- Fill a flute or coupe glass halfway with chilled sparkling wine.
- Put the Advocaat and lime juice into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well until frost forms on the cocktail shaker.
- Strain the cocktails of the shaker over the champagne and serve. Grate a little dark chocolate over your Snowball and garnish with a small candy cane or cinnamon stick!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate, and will depend on quality of ingredients and serving sizes.
I love the idea of replacing lemonade with Prosecco, but can you do it straight into the glass, without Using a cocktail shaker?
yes, just be careful pouring it as it can fizz crazily and overflow
This is such a delicious and nostalgic drink around the holidays! I love the way it looks too. So festive!
You really need to try and make your own advocaat. 6 egg yolks, 200ml brandy, 200g caster sugar, 1/2 tsp salt and some vanilla extract. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and salt in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the brandy and then place the bowl over a pan with some boiling water in the bottom (bain marie). Keep it moving until the mixture is hot and thickened slightly. Remove from the heat and add your vanilla extract. Allow to cool slightly before bottling in Kilner flip tops. Place in the fridge. Ideal for any quick cocktail with prosecco or cava.
I do love a good snowball cocktail. Liking the idea of sparkling wine too!
Replace the lemonade with Prosecco!!! How did I not know that this was even an option. I’m going to have to buy a new bottle of Warnicks before Christmas as I managed to shift rather a lot on the rocks last night!
Christmas must be so much more exciting when you have kids! We’re going to pick out our tree today, can’t wait 🙂 And I’m thinking a Snowball might be on the cards too…