5 Delicious NA Holiday Drinks
Oh holiday cocktails -sigh- how we miss you.
Are you tired of just drinking bubbly water at parties and gatherings, especially during the holidays? We all know hydration is key to health, but sometimes water can get a little, well, boring…
The holidays are a time to get festive and enjoy extra-special treats, including seasonal beverages. The list of traditional holiday drinks is a long one: eggnog, mulled wine, buttered rum, spiked cider and more.
In this blog, we're sharing 5 of our favorite non-alcoholic holiday drinks and mocktails.
This means you can get festive AND honor your sobriety. One of these delicious drinks might just become your next holiday tradition!
Drink #1 - Classic Eggnog
Traditionalists might have a hard time enjoying the holidays without a glass of eggnog. Luckily, the classic drink works just as well as a DELICIOUS non-alcoholic cocktail.
How to make it:
The ingredients list might read more like a Christmas cookie recipe, so you know this non-alcoholic drink is just as decadent as the original. For visual appeal, eggnog is best served in a tall glass, with or without ice, and a dash of nutmeg on top. If you are putting ice in the drink, remember to use large cubes that won’t melt quickly.
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2 cups milk*
5 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup sweetened, condensed milk*
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream*
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (Optional: More for garnish)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*There are several great non-dairy eggnog recipes out there as well using oat milk or other alternatives! A quick web search should give you 5-10 easy recipes to choose from, just leave out the booze.
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To make it, first combine the milk, condensed milk, cloves, and cinnamon in a saucepan over low heat. Once the mixture has been warmed through, increase the heat to medium until the combination is boiling, but not a rolling boil.
In the meantime, beat the eggs and sugar together in a separate mixing bowl, until you get a nice light color and a fluffy texture.
Slowly add one tablespoon at a time of the hot milk mixture to the eggs and sugar, stirring the combination together each time.
Don’t worry, you won’t have to spoon the entire milk mixture into the eggs! Once the egg/sugar/milk combo has a nice, fluid texture, you can transfer the mixture back into the saucepan, then put the whole thing on medium heat for 3-5 minutes, while stirring frequently.
You’ll know your non-alcoholic eggnog is nearly ready when the mixture is thick enough to leave a clean line on the back of your spoon. Then it’s time to add the cream, nutmeg, and vanilla to the mix, heating the whole thing through without bringing it to a boil.
Pour through a strainer to get rid of the chunkier spicy bits, then refrigerate in an airtight container for at least an hour.
By that point, it should be exactly the right time to enjoy this supremely delicious holiday treat.
Original recipe: (https://savorysweetlife.com/holiday-cheer-eggnog-latte-recipe/)
Drink #2 - Spiced Apple Mocktail
This one is sure to get rave reviews from folks who love the warming, spicy appeal of ginger. It’s also packed with great whole-food nutrition, so it’s basically a health tonic disguised as a holiday drink!
How to make it:
Look for real cranberry juice to get an authentic cranberry flavor and avoid added sugars. If you have time, prep some fun garnishes like orange slices, skewered cranberries or a sprig of fresh herbs to dress up your poured mocktails. This one is best served over a big rock (ice cube) in a large tumbler, or up in a coupe glass.
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Fresh ginger root
Apple
Cayenne pepper
Real cranberry juice
Garnishes for fun
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First things first, peel your ginger root and chop coarsely. Then slice up your apple so it blends easily.
In blender (or juicer), mix peeled ginger, red apple slices and cayenne until smooth.
Filter your juice blend through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer, pour over ice, and add splash of cranberry juice on top.
We suggest playing around with this recipe to see how much ginger and cayenne your taste buds prefer. Start with a very small amount of cayenne (a few dashes) for one apple and a thumb’s worth of ginger.
Original recipe: https://heated.medium.com/the-24-drinks-of-a-sober-holiday-season-392cd601a328
Drink #3 - Buttered Rum Mocktail
A virgin version of the real thing, this is the perfect holiday mocktail treat for anyone with a sweet tooth. It’s absolutely indulgent as an after-dinner sipper or paired with a savory dessert.
How to make it:
Your buttered rum mixture can be easily prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge, which makes it a nice, no-fuss party drink that you can make on-demand with a kettle of hot water and a pitcher of cream. This mocktail is best served steamy-hot in a fancy glass mug with a sprinkle of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.
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1/2 cup of softened butter*
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup sugar or sugar substitute (Splenda, et al)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/16 teaspoon ground cloves
Half and half or heavy cream*
* There are several great non-dairy buttered rum recipes out there as well using soy milk or other alternatives! A quick web search should give you several easy recipes to choose from, just leave out the booze
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First, prepare the butter mixture by combining the butter, both types of sugar, and all the spices in a mixing bowl, then beat with an electric mixer (or just a good old wooden spoon) until everything is thoroughly combined.
You can then either store this mixture in an air-tight container in the fridge or use it right away.
When you’re ready to make your mocktails, scoop 1 or 1 & 1/2 tablespoons of the butter mixture into a mug. Pour about 1/4 cup boiling water over the top, and then add 1 - 2 tablespoons of half and half or cream. Stir to combine, and drink to indulge!
Original recipe: https://alcoholicsanonymous.com/non-alcoholic-drinks-for-holidays/
Drink #4 - Cinnamon Mule
This is a creative holiday spin on an all-time classic - the Moscow Mule. The booze-free version is festive, light and provides an awesome “sparkling” option for people who love bubbles!
How to make it:
Sourcing high-quality ginger beer like Fever Tree or Reed’s will really take this mocktail up a notch. Ginger beer has a much more intense spicy-sweet ginger flavor than ginger ale. Mules can be served in a traditional copper mug or a tall glass, whatever fits the vibe of your gathering. Either way, be sure to put plenty of fresh ice in the glass and stir to combine the ingredients. Garnish with citrus slices, candied ginger or other fun bites.
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½ - 1 oz cinnamon simple syrup
1 - 2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice
Fever-Tree Ginger Beer or Reed's Ginger Beer (not ginger ale)
Fresh lemon or lime slices and candied ginger for garnish
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First, make a batch of cinnamon simple syrup. Most simple syrup recipes call for white sugar, but you can also substitute a variety of other sweeteners like agave, maple syrup or honey using the same ratio of water-to-sweetener. When you start reducing (heating) the sweetened liquid, just drop in 3 or 4 cinnamon sticks and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the syrup thickens to your desired consistency (10-15 minutes).
Let the syrup cool to room temp. Then you can store it in a jar or squeeze bottle in the fridge. It will be a great addition to many other drinks as well, like your morning latte!
Once you’ve got your syrup ready, you can craft your mule. This one is super simple; juice the citrus of your choice, add the juice and syrup to a mule mug or tall glass with plenty of ice, and then top it off with 4-6 oz of ginger beer. Stir to combine all ingredients and top it off with some fun edible garnishes.
Drink #5 - Spiced Hot Cider
We just had to include a cider - it’s an all-time classic holiday drink. I bet many of us have fond childhood memories of sipping hot cider after a long day of playing outside in the snow. If you have kids at home, this drink is a sure winner for warming them back up after hours of skiing, sledding or other outdoor adventures. And lets be real, adults love a hot cup of cider just as much as kids do.
How to make it:
Another super-easy recipe, this drink really only requires combining and heating the ingredients on the stove-top. Then serve it up in your favorite mug and enjoy!
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8 cups pressed apple cider (not apple juice)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or 2 cinnamon sticks)
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 whole cloves
1 orange, cut into slices
Optional: whipped cream for topping
Garnish with extra cinnamon sticks and orange slices.
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Making this cider is as easy as combining everything (minus the whipped cream and garnishes) in a saucepan, then warming the mixture over medium heat for 5 -10 minutes, or until the drink is suitably hot. Make sure to occasionally stir your cider while it heats up.
Serve it in your favorite mug with citrus and cinnamon garnishes.
We hope these festive seasonal drinks and mocktails become new favorites for your holiday gatherings. There are of course many more great recipes out there, so if you didn’t find something here that really lights you up, fear not. A quick web search for “non-alcoholic (insert your favorite cocktail)” is sure to turn up some great ideas!
Happy Holidays from Recovery Resources!
Written by Kelsey Brasseur, RR Development Director, with mocktail research by Heather Hopper, RR Peer Support Specialist
