Tis’ the season when millions of people from around the world will gather to celebrate with one another for the holidays. For someone in early sobriety, the holidays can be difficult. You may have a difficult time refusing a drink at the holiday party or New Year’s Eve event. Do not be discouraged, there are always alternatives! There is a way to still enjoy this time of year, without having to avoid parties and people you love, while staying sober!
For those of you who will be hosting the party, we’ve searched high and low to find some of the best holiday drink recipes that offer the perfect alternative to alcoholic beverages. A holiday with friends and family should be cherished and remembered, and so staying sober during this year’s holiday festivities can ensure that you’ll not only accomplish that, but you’ll have a much better chance of making it home safe as well. You don’t need alcohol to have a toast, so here’s to you having a safe and happy holiday season, cheers!!
1. White Chocolate Peppermint Mocktini
Ingredients: white hot chocolate, peppermint mocha coffee creamer, white chocolate syrup, crushed peppermints
This easy to prepare mocktail utilizes white hot chocolate and an unexpected addition…flavored coffee creamer. For extra flair, dip the rim of a chilled martini glass in white chocolate or chocolate syrup, and then roll the rim in crushed peppermint candies.
2. Red Velvet Hot Chocolate with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream
Ingredients: milk, sugar, semi-sweet chocolate, red food coloring, vanilla extract, heavy cream, cream cheese
An indulgent treat perfect for cold winter nights, this hot chocolate combines the sweet taste of chocolatey red velvet with a tangy cream cheese whipped topping. Top with marshmallows and a peppermint stick and you have a drink that’s perfect for a party of a holiday movie. The recipe uses milk, sugar, baking chocolate or chocolate chips, and red food coloring for the signature red velvet hue.
3. Mock Champagne
Ingredients: ginger ale, frozen white grape juice, fresh raspberries
If you want to ring in the New Year with something bubbly, this drink is for you. It uses only three ingredients: ginger ale, frozen white grape juice, and fresh raspberries.
4. Festive Sparkling Cider
Ingredients: fresh apple cider, cranberry soda, sparkling cider, white grape juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, diced apples, cinnamon sticks
This drink is crisp and fruity with a bit of spice, making it perfect for anytime in the fall or winter. Each glass is rimmed in spiced sugar, and the sparkling cider and cranberry soda give it a festive fizz.
5. Old Fashioned Eggnog
Ingredients: egg yolks, sugar, milk, heavy cream, nutmeg, vanilla extract
This is a holiday classic. Rich creamy eggnog is a family favorite for many, and making it yourself allows you to customize the flavors to your liking. Try adding different spices such as cinnamon or cloves, in addition to the nutmeg the recipe calls for.
6. Slow Cooker Gingerbread Latte
Ingredients: milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, ground ginger, vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ground nutmeg, strong coffee or espresso
This drink is perfect for busy days or when it’s your turn to host the holiday gatherings. Put everything in the slow cooker and forget about it. Rim cups with caramel sauce and crushed graham crackers and top with whipped cream.
7. Sparkling Pear Punch
Ingredients: pear juice, lemon juice, sugar, ginger ale, fresh pear
This drink is as simple as it is delicious. With only 4 ingredients (not counting a fresh pear for garnish), it’s easy to assemble right as guests arrive. If you’re taking it to a party, mix the pear juice, lemon juice and sugar ahead of time, and when you’re ready to serve add the ginger ale.
8. Christmas Mojito
Ingredients: fresh cranberries, sugar, water, a lime, mint leaves, 7UP
This is another east beverage that can be taken anywhere. Make the cranberry simple syrup ahead of time to save yourself a step on the day of. Rim the glasses in red sugar and garnish with a lime wedge for some added holiday color.
9. The BEST Party Punch
Ingredients: frozen pina colada concentrate, frozen orange pineapple concentrate, diet lemon-lime soda, ice, frozen raspberries
For this one the author suggests using “pebble ice”, such as the kind found at Sonic, but crushed ice or regular cubes will do. This is a sweet and citrusy cocktail, and the addition of frozen raspberries give it a splash of Christmas color. It’s worth noting that if you add the ice before the soda, the punch will develop a foam, so it’s important to add the ingredients in the order the recipe calls for.
10. Chilled Christmas Punch
Ingredients: water, sugar, cinnamon, pineapple juice, cran-apple juice, ginger ale
This is another one that can be made ahead of time, save for the addition of the ginger ale. The cinnamon simple syrup takes just a few minutes to make and can be stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Garnish with some cranberries threaded on a toothpick for some color.
11. French 75 Mocktail
Ingredients: ice, lemon juice, lemon or orange bitters, tonic water, rock candy sticks
A French 75 is a classic cocktail that combines champagne, gin, lemon, and sugar. To turn that into a non-alcoholic drink, the champagne and gin are substituted with good quality tonic water and citrus bitters. Rather than adding sugar, the author decided to use a rock candy stick, which serves as both a sweetener and a garnish. Choose a red or green color to instantly make this drink Christmas ready!
12. Grapefruit and Rosemary Mocktail
Ingredients: water, sugar, rosemary (for syrup and garnish), fresh grapefruit juice, and sparkling water.
Our last drink gets a refreshing twist with a rosemary simple syrup. For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
For some tips on creating your own mocktails, Elsie Larson of the blog A Beautiful Mess shares the following advice: make it sparkle (add some fizz), go crazy with flavors, and know which drinks translate. To read more about making up your own mocktails, and for some other recipes, please visit http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2014/05/lets-make-mocktails-.html
Contact Clearbrook Today For Addiction Treatment
We understand that the holidays can be a difficult time for someone in early sobriety or active addiction. Nevertheless, with the right support system in place, and family by your side, the holidays can also be the most wonderful time of year! Clearbrook is a big believer in enjoying yourself and having fun in sobriety. Recovery can bring joy, happiness, and laughter back into your life if you allow it. Make it a point this holiday season and surround yourself with loved ones and friends; isolation is never a good place to be! And if you are looking for something fun and creative, make yourself a fun, festive non-alcoholic drink, like a gingerbread latte, and enjoy the holidays!
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and/or alcoholism, contact our Admissions Specialists today. They are available 24 hours a day, even through the holiday season!
