Christmas Mocktails - The Best Festive Non-Alcoholic Drinks for Everyone
The holiday season is filled with reasons to gather, celebrate, and enjoy festive drinks, but not every holiday drink needs to have alcohol.
Christmas mocktails offer all the charm and flavor of classic holiday cocktails, minus the booze, making them perfect for family gatherings, parties with friends, or even a cozy night in.
Whether you’re looking for something fruity, spiced, or sparkling, there’s a Christmas mocktail for every taste.
Let’s dive into some delicious recipes that are easy to make, taste amazing, and look just as festive as the classic holiday cocktails!
As a bartender, I can tell you that great mocktails are all about balance, flavor, and a bit of creativity. Here are my top Christmas mocktail recipes that anyone can make at home. They’re family-friendly, easy to customize, and full of holiday cheer.
2. Spiced Cranberry Sparkler
If you’re a fan of tart, fruity flavors, this mocktail is for you. It combines cranberry juice with festive spices, giving it the feel of mulled wine but with a refreshing twist.
Ingredients:
1 cup cranberry juice (unsweetened or sweetened, depending on your taste)
1/2 cup sparkling water or club soda
1 cinnamon stick
3–4 cloves
A few fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig for garnish
Directions:
In a small pot, heat the cranberry juice with the cinnamon stick and cloves until it just begins to simmer. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly, then strain out the spices.
Pour the spiced cranberry juice into a glass over ice, and top with sparkling water.
Garnish with a few cranberries and a rosemary sprig for an extra festive look.
Tips:
The combination of tart cranberry with the warmth of cinnamon and cloves gives this drink a wintry, cozy feel without being overly heavy. You can also replace the cranberry juice with pomegranate juice for a slightly different flavor.
3. Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is a winter classic, but this gingerbread version adds a fun twist with flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It’s rich, warming, and tastes like a gingerbread cookie in a mug!
Ingredients:
1 cup milk (or your favorite milk substitute)
1/4 cup hot chocolate mix or melted chocolate chips
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
A pinch of nutmeg
Whipped cream and crushed gingerbread cookies for garnish
Directions:
Heat the milk in a pot over medium heat until warm. Stir in the hot chocolate mix, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Pour into a mug, top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with crushed gingerbread cookies.
Tips:
This mocktail can be made vegan with almond or oat milk, and if you want a thicker texture, try using a blend of milk and a little bit of cream.
Kids and adults alike love this one, it’s decadent, cozy, and absolutely Christmas in a cup.
4. Christmas Berry Mojito Mocktail
This drink is fruity, refreshing, and has the festive color of Christmas berries. With fresh mint and lime, it’s like a summer mojito with a holiday twist.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup mixed berry juice (cranberry or raspberry work well)
Juice of 1/2 lime
Fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup soda water
Fresh raspberries and lime slices for garnish
Directions:
In a glass, muddle a few mint leaves with the lime juice.
Add ice, pour in the berry juice, and top with soda water.
Garnish with fresh raspberries, a sprig of mint, and a lime slice.
Tips:
For an extra holiday touch, add a splash of pomegranate juice. If you’re serving this mocktail to kids, skip the soda water and replace it with lemonade or a non-alcoholic ginger beer for a sweeter drink.
5. Holiday Spiced Apple Cider
Nothing says Christmas like warm spiced apple cider. It’s comforting, aromatic, and fills the whole house with that wonderful holiday scent of cinnamon and cloves. This drink can be served warm or cold, making it perfect for any winter gathering.
Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
3–4 cloves
1 slice of fresh ginger
Fresh apple slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish
Directions:
In a pot, combine the apple cider, cinnamon stick, cloves, and ginger. Simmer on low heat for about 10–15 minutes to let the flavors blend.
Remove the spices and pour into a mug if you’re serving it warm, or let it cool and serve over ice.
Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
Tips:
For a bit of extra flavor, add a few star anise or a little orange peel to the cider. You can also make this in a slow cooker, which keeps it warm for hours—perfect for a holiday party.
6. Candy Cane Mocktail
Here’s a mocktail that’s as festive as it gets. The combination of peppermint and cream soda gives it a fun, candy-cane flavor, while a splash of grenadine makes it red and festive.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cream soda
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
A splash of grenadine
Crushed candy cane and a candy cane stick for garnish
Directions:
In a glass, add the cream soda and peppermint extract. Stir gently to mix.
Add a splash of grenadine for color, it will sink to the bottom and look like a candy cane!
Garnish the rim of the glass with crushed candy cane and add a full candy cane as a stir stick.
Tips:
If you want to get creative, make it into a peppermint float by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This drink is a hit with kids and anyone with a sweet tooth!
8. Ginger Apple Fizz
Ginger and apple are a match made in holiday heaven. This mocktail is refreshing, with the spiciness of ginger balancing the sweetness of apple juice, making it perfect for Christmas brunch or an afternoon get-together.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup apple juice
1/4 cup ginger ale or ginger beer (non-alcoholic)
Fresh apple slices and a cinnamon stick for garnish
Directions:
In a glass, add ice and pour in the apple juice.
Top with ginger ale or ginger beer and stir gently.
Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
Tips:
For an extra burst of flavor, add a splash of lemon juice or a few slices of fresh ginger. This drink is light, bubbly, and has a bit of that warming ginger kick that makes it feel festive.
Enjoy the Holidays with These Festive Mocktails!
Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering, spending time with family, or just want to treat yourself to something festive, these Christmas mocktails bring all the cheer without the alcohol.
They’re simple to make, filled with holiday flavors, and can be easily customized to fit your tastes.
From cozy spiced ciders to sparkling fruity drinks, these recipes offer something for everyone. So grab your favorite glassware, mix up a mocktail (or two), and enjoy the holiday season with a festive, non-alcoholic drink in hand.
Cheers to a merry, mocktail-filled Christmas!
More Articles
Smartblend is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk and amazon.com. Smartblend does earn a small commission on goods purchased through the included links. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, but we do appreciate your referral!