Holiday Mocktails

Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Holiday mocktails are festive non-alcoholic beverages that capture the flavors and spirit of the holiday season. Here are some delightful holiday mocktail ideas to enjoy:

1. Cranberry Sparkler:

  • Ingredients: Cranberry juice, sparkling water, lime juice, fresh cranberries for garnish.

  • Instructions: Mix equal parts cranberry juice and sparkling water, add a splash of lime juice, and garnish with fresh cranberries.

2. Apple Cider Punch:

  • Ingredients: Apple cider, sparkling water, cinnamon sticks, apple slices.

  • Instructions: Mix apple cider and sparkling water, add cinnamon sticks for flavor, and garnish with apple slices.

3. Spiced Gingerbread Latte:

  • Ingredients: Strong brewed decaf coffee, almond milk (or any milk of choice), gingerbread syrup, ground cinnamon, whipped cream (optional).

  • Instructions: Heat the almond milk and gingerbread syrup, mix with brewed coffee, sprinkle with cinnamon, and top with whipped cream if desired.

4. Pomegranate Fizz:

  • Ingredients: Pomegranate juice, club soda, lime juice, pomegranate arils for garnish.

  • Instructions: Mix pomegranate juice and club soda, add a splash of lime juice, and garnish with pomegranate arils.

5. Minty Hot Chocolate:

  • Ingredients: Hot cocoa mix (without added sugar), almond milk, peppermint extract, whipped cream (optional), crushed candy cane for rim.

  • Instructions: Prepare hot cocoa with almond milk, add a drop of peppermint extract, top with whipped cream, and rim the glass with crushed candy cane.

6. Holiday Mojito Mocktail:

  • Ingredients: Lime juice, fresh mint leaves, simple syrup, cranberry juice, club soda, lime slices for garnish.

  • Instructions: Muddle mint leaves and lime juice, add simple syrup and cranberry juice, top with club soda, and garnish with lime slices.

7. Winter Berry Spritzer:

  • Ingredients: Mixed berry juice, sparkling water, lemon slices, frozen mixed berries.

  • Instructions: Mix mixed berry juice and sparkling water, add lemon slices and frozen mixed berries for a festive touch.

8. Cinnamon Maple Latte:

  • Ingredients: Strong brewed decaf coffee, almond milk, cinnamon, pure maple syrup, ground nutmeg.

  • Instructions: Heat almond milk, mix with brewed coffee, add cinnamon and maple syrup, and sprinkle with ground nutmeg.

9. Ginger Sparkle:

  • Ingredients: Ginger ale, lemon juice, fresh grated ginger, candied ginger for garnish.

  • Instructions: Mix ginger ale, lemon juice, and a touch of fresh grated ginger, and garnish with a piece of candied ginger.

10. Winter Wonderland Punch:

  • Ingredients: White grape juice, pineapple juice, coconut water, frozen blueberries for a frosty touch.

  • Instructions: Mix white grape juice, pineapple juice, and coconut water, and add frozen blueberries to mimic snowflakes.

These holiday mocktails offer a delightful and refreshing way to celebrate the festive season without alcohol. Feel free to adjust the ingredients and ratios to match your taste preferences.

Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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