Entertaining over the holiday season doesn’t mean dulling down the celebration. Non-alcoholic drinks are just as festive, your guests will still be merry, and they will thank you the next morning when they awake without a hang-over. Besides, the best part of the party is not the booze – it’s YOU!

Mocktail Bonus

Most holiday drink recipes can be adapted into non-alcoholic beverages. Serving non-alcoholic drinks over the holidays has many benefits. Friends or family members in recovery will especially appreciate the support and will not feel singled out, or left out while everyone else is drinking alcohol. It will also help keep temptation and relapse at bay.

Holiday Drink Recipes

Choose holiday drink recipes with an out of the box twist and add your own signature touch; trim the rim of a glass with sugar, float unexpected fruits in the glass, like cranberries, tie tiny jingle bells on stemware; serve your non-alcoholic punch with flair.

Here are a few recipes to get you started. For more varieties, check the Food Network website or Pinterest.

Thanksgiving

Cindy’s Hot Cranberry-Apple Cider: Nothing says autumn like hot apple cider. The twist – cranberry juice. This jewel-colored, warm-the-tummy cider is perfect to serve on a cold Thanksgiving Day. Cranberry juice, apple juice, and spices simmering on the stove top will also serve as a potpourri.

Pineapple Basil Tea: This drink is so beautiful you almost don’t want to drink it. The twist – pineapple. A cool, beautiful golden blend that will decorate any Thanksgiving table with style.

Christmas

Giada’s Virgin Pomegranate-Cranberry Bellini: This cranberry-colored holiday drink will provide a cool drink option on the menu. The twist – pomegranate juice. Healthy and tasty all at the same time.  To make this drink extra festive, serve it in chilled champagne glasses with a lightly sugared rim (use super-fine sugar).

Eggnog: What’s Christmas without eggnog? Creamy goodness in a glass and worth every calorie. The twist – be sure to use freshly grated nutmeg, not the canned ground nutmeg; big taste difference. Top with whipped cream.

Keep the holidays sober, safe and merry by incorporating non-alcoholic holiday drink recipes.