How to Make the Classic Snowball

The Classic Snowball is creamy Advocaat, zesty lime and fizzy lemonade in one glass, and it is pure joy from the very first sip. It takes seven minutes, needs just three ingredients, and is the happiest little Christmas cocktail you can make.

Call it a retro cocktail and you wouldn’t be wrong, but this snowball cocktail recipe is really timeless and the perfect winter treat. It doesn’t seem right that you could combine fizzy lemonade or cloudy lemonade with egg liqueur, but somehow it works to produce a creamy drink with a festive flavor!

What Is a Snowball Cocktail?

A Snowball is a velvety, bubbly mix of Advocaat and lemonade with a squeeze of lime. It tastes like a creamy custard that has been woken up with citrus and sparkle, and you have to taste it to believe it! Call it a retro cocktail and you wouldn’t be wrong, but it is really timeless, and it has been the Christmas drink of choice for generations.

What is Advocaat

The base of the Snowball is Warninks Advocaat, which is like eggnog in a bottle. Advocaat is made with sugar and egg yolks, plus the all important brandy. It is thick, smooth and custard-like, and it is a Dutch classic.

Advocaat is actually the Dutch word for lawyer! I am not sure if this is specifically a lawyer’s drink, but whoever drank it, the Snowball became the cocktail to make at Christmas time. Maybe it’s the velvety texture or just the fact it’s a delicious drink!

Several Dutch companies make Advocaat, and I am using Warninks for this recipe. If you have a bottle in the back of your drinks cabinet, time to dust it off and create some Christmas spirit in a glass!

What tools you need to make the Snowball

You will need a cocktail shaker, a jigger, a strainer and a chilled cocktail glass. I love a Martini or coupe glass for the full festive effect, and my guide to glassware for your home bar has more ideas. A highball or tall glass with lots of ice cubes works beautifully too, so if you would like to serve your Snowball in a glass with ice, go for it!

What ingredients go into a Snowball

Advocaat is the star, and a good quality lemonade or lemon-lime soda gives the Snowball its lovely sparkle. Fresh lime juice (or lime cordial) is the secret that keeps all that creamy richness bright and balanced.

For garnish, a maraschino cherry, a slice of lime, a cinnamon stick or a few mini meringues on top all look gorgeous. A sprig of Christmas foliage is a lovely finishing touch too.

Snowball Variations to Try

There are dozens of twists on the Snowball. A few of my favorites:

• Rim the glass with cinnamon sugar
• Add a touch of cream of coconut for a tropical feel
• Top up with vodka or pineapple vodka for a little extra kick
• Try ginger ale instead of lemonade for a drier flavor
• Finish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Crown it with a dome of frothy white foam made from whipped egg whites

Is a Snowball Like Eggnog?

They are close cousins! Both are rich, creamy, festive drinks, but eggnog is a dairy-based drink made with milk or cream, while Advocaat is a thick, custard-like liqueur made with egg yolks and brandy. Add lemonade and lime and the Snowball becomes lighter, zestier and fizzy. If you adore the cozy side of Christmas drinks, my Boozy Eggnog recipes are a lovely place to go next.

Where to find more Snowball recipes

There are loads more Snowball cocktail recipes to try! Here are a few of my favorites:

• Advocaat Custard Dream Snowball
• Advocaat Italian Snowball
• Advocaat Snowball Fizz
• Advocaat Posh Snowball

Or try the Belsazar Vermouth Snowball if you would like one made with vermouth. Nigella Lawson has a version of the Snowball too! For more festive sipping, see my mulled wine drinks for winter entertaining.

Snowball FAQs

Are Snowball drinks alcoholic? Yes, they are! Warninks Advocaat is 17.2% ABV, and once it is mixed with lemonade and lime, the finished Snowball comes out at roughly 4% ABV. That makes it a gentle, easy-sipping cocktail. Add vodka or pineapple vodka and the strength goes up.

Can you drink Advocaat on its own? Absolutely! Advocaat is lovely served chilled in a small glass as a creamy dessert drink, or spooned over vanilla ice cream.

What mixes best with Advocaat? Lemonade and a squeeze of lime make the classic pairing, and they are what make a Snowball a Snowball. Ginger ale gives a drier version, and a little cream of coconut adds a tropical twist.

What is Advocaat made from? Advocaat is a Dutch liqueur made from egg yolks, sugar and brandy, often with vanilla. It is thick and custard-like, which is why it feels so wonderfully creamy in a Snowball.

Is Advocaat the same as eggnog? They are similar in spirit, but not the same. Advocaat is a thick egg-yolk liqueur made with brandy, while eggnog is a milk or cream-based drink.

Why Lush Life Loves It

I adore the Snowball because it makes everyone smile. It is creamy and bright at the same time, it comes together in minutes, and it turns a quiet evening into a little celebration. It is also the drink that so many of us remember from family Christmases, so every sip comes with a warm, happy memory. Easy to make, easy to love, and lovely to share.

Here is the recipe: