Christmas mocktails: 10 easy, festive recipes

Our quick picks

French Bloom

Bubbles for mimosas and toasts

French Bloom Le Blanc (750 mL)

Better Rhodes

For a 21+ Christmas spritz

Kanna Pomegranate Fusion · from $30.60

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Two syrups that make everything festive

• Cinnamon syrup: simmer 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 3 cinnamon sticks for 5 minutes, then cool and strain.
• Rosemary syrup: steep 3 rosemary sprigs in 1 cup of hot simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) for 20 minutes, then strain.

Both keep a week in the fridge. For a sugared rim, run a lime wedge around the glass and dip it in sugar.

For the whole family

These seven have no botanicals, so anyone can drink them, kids included.

1. Poinsettia sparkler

• 2 oz cranberry juice
• 1 oz fresh orange juice
• Non-alcoholic sparkling wine or sparkling cider, to top

Pour the juices into a flute and top with bubbles. Garnish with a few cranberries and an orange twist. See the best non-alcoholic champagne for a bottle to use.

2. Christmas morning mocktail mimosa

• 3 oz fresh orange juice
• 3 oz non-alcoholic sparkling wine or sparkling cider

Pour the orange juice into a flute first, then slowly top with bubbles. For a pitcher, use one 750 mL bottle per 3 cups of juice.

3. Holiday Shirley Temple

• 6 oz ginger ale or lemon-lime soda
• ½ oz grenadine
• A squeeze of lime
• 2 maraschino cherries and a candy cane, to garnish

Fill a glass with ice, add the soda and lime, then slowly pour in the grenadine so it sinks. Hook a mini candy cane on the rim. The kids' favorite.

4. Rosemary pomegranate sparkler

• 2 oz pomegranate juice
• ½ oz rosemary syrup
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• Club soda, to top

Shake the juice, syrup and lime with ice, strain into a sugar-rimmed glass over ice, and top with soda. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and pomegranate seeds; it looks like a little Christmas tree.

5. Cinnamon orange spritz

• 3 oz fresh orange juice
• ½ oz cinnamon syrup
• Sparkling water, to top

Stir the juice and syrup over ice, top with sparkling water, and garnish with an orange wheel and a cinnamon stick.

6. Warm mulled cranberry punch (serves about 10)

• 6 cups cranberry juice
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 orange, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks, 6 whole cloves and 2 star anise
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, to taste

Simmer gently for 20 minutes (don't boil), or keep warm in a slow cooker. Ladle into mugs with an orange slice.

7. Peppermint hot chocolate

• 1 cup milk (any kind)
• 2 oz chopped dark or white chocolate
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• A drop of peppermint extract
• Whipped cream and a crushed candy cane

Warm the milk, whisk in the chocolate and sugar until smooth, and stir in the peppermint. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.

For adults 21+: one-can Christmas spritzes

These three start with one ready-to-drink kava or kanna can. One can is one serving, so build each drink in its own glass, never in a shared punch bowl, and tell guests what's in it.

8. Pomegranate Fusion sugared-rim toast

• 1 can Botanical Brewing Co. Kanna Pomegranate Fusion, chilled
• A sugared rim and a few pomegranate seeds
• A rosemary sprig

Rim a coupe with sugar, drop in the pomegranate seeds, and pour the can slowly. It pours pink, so it's the one for photos.

9. Orange Dream cinnamon spritz

• 1 can Botanical Brewing Co. Kava Orange Dream, chilled
• ½ oz cinnamon syrup
• An orange twist

Stir the syrup in a glass with ice, top with the can, and garnish with an orange twist and a cinnamon stick.

10. Tutti Frutti cranberry sparkler

• 1 can Botanical Brewing Co. Kava Tutti Frutti, chilled
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• A squeeze of lime

Pour the cranberry and lime over ice and top with the can. Garnish with cranberries on a pick.

Serving kava or kanna at a holiday party

• Adults 21+ only, and one can per drink.
• Don't mix them with alcohol, and don't serve a kava drink and a kanna drink to the same guest.
• Never serve kanna to anyone taking antidepressants. Read who should skip each plant below.
• Nobody drives after a kava or kanna drink. Plan rides the same way you would with wine.

More holiday ideas

Hosting Thanksgiving too? See our Thanksgiving mocktails. For a bottle to bring, see the best non-alcoholic champagne and the best non-alcoholic wine, and for presents, our non-alcoholic gift guide.