You can create special holiday cocktails with seasonal ingredients—cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppermint.

But you can add a touch of red and green to Martinis and Margaritas as well.

Here, some suggestions to get you thinking about holiday cocktail garnishes.
 
 
OPENING THOUGHTS

If you want a red and green motif, cruise the aisles of the produce section, or start with these lists.

We don’t like to use raw cranberries. They just become detritus in the glass: No one eats them. (Some people enjoy chewing on citrus peel and mint leaves and other herbs, so we give them a pass.)

It’s the same with cinnamon sticks: They make a great impression, but they’re expensive and just end up in the trash.

Instead, use the lists below to create pleasing combinations (see photo #5 for an easy favorite).
 
 
FRUIT GARNISHES:

RED FRUIT GARNISHES

Our favorites:

 
Starfruit, which is yellow and provides perfect star slices, is a natural holiday garnish (photo #4).

Other options, like red apples and pears, are more white than red; blood orange, unless you segment it, contributes its orange peel.

Watermelon, although it can be cut into stars, simply isn’t seasonal.

You can add dried cranberries to a clear drink.
Pick bite (a snack bite on a cocktail pick): alternating red and green grapes.
 
 
GREEN FRUIT GARNISHES

 
Not great: green apples (too much white), honeydew (too light, not seasonal).

 
 
VEGETABLE GARNISHES:

RED VEGETABLE GARNISHES

 
Now, on to the veggies.
 
 
GREEN VEGETABLE GARNISHES

Sure, you can use green olives; but how about a sugar snap pea in your Martini instead?

Savory cocktails can be dressed up with:

 
Too pale green: celery, cucumber, endive, zucchini.
 
Pick snack: For a fancy bite, make a pick of cherry tomatoes, ciliegine (bite-size mozzarella balls) and a bit of basil.
 
 
BEYOND FRUITS & VEGETABLES

Glass Rimmers

Check out, from yesterday’s tip: colored sugar and salt glass rimmers (photo #3).

Mini Candy Canes

If they work with the drink, mini candy canes are a fun touch.

Drinking Straws

Instead of a garnish, or in addition to it, consider red-and-white striped straws. They add a “candy cane” touch. You can alternate with green and white versions.
 
 
MORE IDEAS

Also see these articles on cocktail garnishes:

[2] Elegant garnishing for a Martini or other light-colored drink (photo courtesy Style Me Pretty).

[3] Another option for pomegranate arils: on the bottom of the glass (photo courtesy Trendhunter).

[4] The perfect holiday cocktail garnish: a slice of starfruit (carambola,
photo courtesy STKLA).

[5] Another elegant cocktail garnish: spear a raspberry with a sprig of rosemary or thyme (photo courtesy ).

[6] With the right flavor of cocktail, a mini candy cane is fun (here’s the recipe from Mantitlement).