10 Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks for the Holidays

We've got you covered from Thanksgiving all the way into the new year with these best non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy.

It’s that time of year again — holiday parties, hanging out with extended family, all the food and drinks! Not everyone likes to booze it up at holiday functions, though, and for that reason, we’ve curated this list of delicious holiday drinks that are all sans alcohol. All the taste and celebration, without the hangover.

And, hey, if you have something that looks festive in your cup, maybe Aunt Carol will stop trying to shove that glass of wine in your face. Here are the 10 best non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy and share this holiday season. We’ve got you covered from Thanksgiving all the way into the new year.

Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate

Saving Talents

Slow cookers aren’t only for the holiday roast, they’re also excellent tools for creating the perfect cup of hot chocolate. Add all the ingredients to the pot, set it on low, and once the chocolate chips melt, you can drop the setting down to warm. You’ll have to keep an eye on the Crock Pot, stirring every 10 minutes. Top with some marshmallows, and enjoy the best cup of hot chocolate you’ve ever had.

6 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 package (12 oz) milk chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Cranberry Cosmo Mocktail

Food Meanderings

1 ¾ cup cranberry cocktail
¼ cup sparkling water
¾ tsp orange extract
1 tbsp lime juice from concentrate

Garnish with:

Fresh lime slice
Sparkling sugar and edible glitter
Frozen cranberries or ice, as desired

Kinderpunsch

Food Folks and Fun

If you like the taste of hot apple cider, you might appreciate this drink that is sweet and spicy. To create this festive drink, you’ll first pour the liquids into a slow cooker; next, add cloves, cinnamon sticks and star anise to the liquid. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Lastly, add the tea bags, letting the strings hang on the side of the pot for 15 minutes, then the final touch would be to add a bit of sugar to taste.

2 cups apple cider
3 cinnamon sticks
2 cups cherry juice
4 bags herbal hibiscus tea (caffeine-free)
2 cups orange juice
2 cups water
10 whole cloves
2 whole star anise

Cranberry Orange Spritzer

Frugal Mom Eh

This is a super simple recipe that you can whip up in a minute! All you need to do is combine the ingredients in a pitcher, and set it in the refrigerator to chill.

2 cups cranberry juice
2 cups orange juice
2 cups sparkling water or ginger ale
Fresh cranberries (optional)
Ice

Homemade Eggnog

Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without an essential drink: egg nog! First, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Next, in a saucepan, bring cream, milk, nutmeg and salt to a simmer, stirring often. Slowly ladle in ½ cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking vigorously to avoid little bits of cooked egg. Ladle in another ½ cup, whisking vigorously the entire time. Do this until all the hot milk has been added to the eggs and the mixture is well combined. Place in refrigerator to chill before serving.

6 large egg yolks
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups milk
1 ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of salt
¼ tsp vanilla extract

Pumpkin Pie Punch

The Cookie Rookie

Thanksgiving is all about that pumpkin! This pumpkin punch will be a hit with adults and kids alike. In a large pitcher, stir together the cider and pumpkin. Use a large whisk, and stir until fully combined. Stir in the cream soda and pumpkin pie spice; serve chilled, and be sure to add a little whip cream on top.

½ gallon cold apple cider
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
12 oz Cream soda
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Apple Moscow Mule

The Kitchen

Apple is another holiday flavor essential. Apple and ginger pair perfectly in this tasty mocktail. Shake cinnamon and nutmeg into the bottom of the glass. Add ice, then pour the ginger beer, apple juice and lemon juice into the glass. Lightly stir with a cinnamon stick and add an apple slice garnish.

One shake of cinnamon
One shake of nutmeg
Ice
½ cup ginger beer
½ cup apple juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 apple slice for garnish

Christmas White Russian

Art From My Table

This non-alcoholic take on a White Russian will surely put you in the holiday spirit. The assembly of this drink is super simple — add ice to a glass, pour in coffee, add extracts and then add the cream on top slowly stirring it in. You decide what you want the coffee-to-cream ratio to be.

Strong brewed coffee
Vanilla extract
Peppermint extract
Heavy cream
Peppermint stick (optional garnish)

Thanksgiving Punch

Thyme & Joy

Fall in a glass — what more could you ask for? This recipe is great to make in a big batch. In a large pitcher, add 2 cups apple cider, and whisk in pumpkin pie spice and add the rest of the apple cider. Pour in ginger ale, add fruit, chill and serve!

1 gallon apple cider
Ginger ale (48 oz.)
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
Sliced green and red apples
Sliced orange
Fresh or frozen cranberries

Champagne Mocktail

Love Bakes Good Cakes

We can’t forget a drink to ring in the new year! It doesn’t get any easier than this — just add all the ingredients together in a large pitcher or bowl — and viola! Garnish with a few raspberries, and you have a drink that not only tastes good but looks good, too.

1 bottle (2 liters) ginger ale, chilled
1 can (46 oz.) pineapple juice, chilled
1 bottle (64 oz.) white grape juice, chilled