Ina Garten Shares Her Perfect Holiday Cocktail Recipe—With A Little Inspiration From Julia Child

After you've set the table, fired up the background music, and carefully placed the poinsettias on the mantel, there's one last thing you can do to kick off your holiday party on the right note: Make a few rounds of Ina Garten's signature sidecar cocktails.

The Barefoot Contessa took to Instagram to share one of her favorite wintry cocktails. "To paraphrase Julia Child - 'A party without cocktails is just a meeting!'" she begins her post alongside a tantalizing photo of the drink. "My Sidecars with Dried Cherries are a classic old-fashioned cocktail with a twist - I make them with freshly squeezed lemon juice, Cognac and Grand Marnier plus Cognac-soaked dried cherries. They're sweet and tart and the perfect holiday cocktail!!"

The straightforward recipe only requires five ingredients (and some ice) and makes two drinks. If you're hosting people for dinner, feel free to double or even quadruple the recipe. Get the full recipe on Garten's website here.

Raising a glass for a bigger group? Consider making one of these 43 spirited holiday cocktails, ideal for a larger gathering with standouts like a big-batch Bloody Mary Punch or Holiday Milk Punch. When in doubt, there's always grandma's homemade eggnog recipe—just add rum and a deep breath before the guests arrive.

Do you have a favorite holiday cocktail to serve at your home? If you don't, we think a little afternoon recipe testing of this superb sidecar will certainly convince you otherwise.