We’re now in an age when, thankfully, the options for non-alcoholic beverages span more than simply a glass of club soda with a squeeze of lemon or lime. While changing consumer tastes over the past few years has brought hard seltzer, hard kombucha, and yes, even hard water, into the limelight, there’s been a simultaneous shift toward the rise of brands making delicious, refreshing, and beautifully packaged zero-alcohol cocktails and mixers. Whether it’s a result of the fatigue from booze-heavy Zoom happy hours or perhaps the increase in the sober-curious among us, (or any of the other many reasons we might turn down a drink), we’re wanting more from the now-trendy mocktail. To supply you with enough options to last the entire holiday season, we’ve put together a list of the best holiday mocktail recipes that are fruity, fizzy, and meant to be shared with family and friends. Cue the Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. Forget the hangover.
feature image by Kristen Kilpatrick
Bottoms up! Scroll through for our favorite 14 holiday mocktail recipes.
Orange Cranberry Mimosa Holiday Mocktail from Rhubarbarians
Why We Love It: The expression “go big or go home” was inspired by this mocktail. Kidding, of course, but the festive look and feel of cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and sprigs of fragrant rosemary prove that you can successfully stray from a less-is-more approach. Oh, and the combo of sparkling apple cider and cranberry fully epitomizes holiday flavor. Sugared rim, not optional.
Hero Ingredient: A pinch of cinnamon is all you need to add a little cozy warmth to your mimosa.
Minty Pomegranate Punch
Why We Love It: Pomegranates are the fleeting, ever-elusive ingredient that we try to use as much as we can between now and the end of December—and this recipe does the ruby-red fruit justice. Muddling the pomegranate seeds with the blueberries and mint leaves balances out their tart flavor, giving just enough sweetness to make this taste like the best take on a non-boozy mojito you’ve ever had.
Hero Ingredient: The bunch of fresh mint leaves lends a lingering coolness to offset the fruit-forward flavor of this colorful drink.
Holiday Kombucha Mocktail from Cook At Home Mom
Why We Love It: We’re low-key obsessed with this drink’s impressive color story. It packs all of our favorite hues and flavors that we expect from the holiday season, and even weaves in a vibrant hit of orange from the addition of clementines. Too pretty to drink? Take a picture, add to your Insta story, and sip away.
Hero Ingredient: ICYMI, kombucha isn’t just for height-of-summer poolside hangs. You can use any flavor in this recipe and the result will satisfy your craving for something bubbly. Full of probiotics that are good for your gut, this drink’s base of kombucha makes it so you’ll still feel virtuous even while going up for a second glass.
Candy Cane Christmas Mocktails from This Vivacious Life
Why We Love It: We couldn’t call this the definitive list of holiday mocktail recipes without including a Christmas-favorite flavor. When the mood calls for a drink that’s cool and creamy (and you’re told that the eggnog contains rum), here’s what you need. Pretty, peppermint-y, and just as deliciously indulgent as any Christmas cookie you can find, this drink epitomizes holiday fun.
Hero Ingredient: Crushed candy canes on the rim add texture and just enough festive flair.
Pomegranate Mocktails from The Mindful Mocktail
Why We Love It: If you’ve ever thought that mocktails are a second-rate substitute for the “real deal,” this recipe will have you changing your tune. Healthy, easy to prep, and fit for a crowd, this recipe checks off all of our boxes when we’re hunting down the perfect Christmas mocktail to make for our next holiday party. You can make the drink in individual glasses for a small get-together with friends or mix up an entire pitcher if your plans involve a few more guests. Either way, everyone will be asking how you did it.
Hero Ingredient: Pomegranate juice gives this drink its distinctive color and flavor. Be sure to taste before adding the optional sweetener—this could get really sugary, really fast.
Minty Green Kombucha Smash Mocktail
Why We Love It: Kombucha is at it again. If you’re looking for a drink that’s not only non-alcoholic but packs significant health benefits as well, this is the mocktail to make. The foundation of this recipe is a slightly-sweet green juice that you can (meal preppers rejoice!) make in large batches. What’s more, you don’t even need a juicer to make this—simply pull out your Vitamix, blend your ingredients, and push the mixture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Friendly reminder that you don’t need to wait until January to start practicing the habits that help you feel your best.
Hero Ingredient: Spinach is the healthy base of many a green juice, and while you can’t taste it here thanks to the addition of plenty of other just-sweet-enough ingredients, the spinach is responsible for this juice’s beautiful bright green color and the fiber and antioxidants it packs.
Non-Alcoholic Homemade Eggnog from Ahead of Thyme
Why We Love It: The holidays and eggnog go hand in hand. Some people hate it, others like it, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the majority of us love it. We’d encourage you to ditch your store-bought jugs and cartons and instead opt for a thick and comforting cup of this rum-free interpretation. Truly: this recipe was made for cozy fireside sipping.
Hero Ingredient: While a tablespoon of vanilla may seem like, well, a lot of vanilla, you won’t regret going all-in on its aromatic and complex sweetness.
Ginger-Lime Spritzer from Pamela Salzman
Why We Love It: Looking for a weeknight drink to mark the transition from work to dinner? Make this your go-to. Casual, but elevated, this spritzer is the perfect Tuesday night sipper when paired with your favorite book, warmest socks, and a little Christmas music in the background. However, you can’t deny the festivity inherent in its from-the-beach flavor and slightly-spicy kick—we wouldn’t turn down a glass at a holiday party.
Hero Ingredient: Freshly-made ginger juice is the key to packing in the little something that makes this recipe special.
Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail from Maris Moore
Why We Love It: We’ll be home for Christmas—if this mocktail is being served. It might be the monochromatic color palette of the snowy outdoor scenery that makes us crave something vibrant and bright, but whatever the inspiration, this citrusy drink offers exactly what we’re looking for. Oranges are lovely and all, but blood oranges bring a uniquely crimson and coral blend of color to this drink. Sipping on the essence of summer in the dead of winter? We’re not opposed to it.
Hero Ingredient: While the other ingredients are very much so necessary to making this drink the perfect thing to serve for a girls’ night in, they pale in comparison to the blood orange juice that makes this mocktail the showstopper that it is.
Cranberry Apple Spritzer
Why We Love It: If a flute of something bubbly in hand is your way of knowing the holidays are here, then you should try this delicious champagne cocktail substitute. Preparing the Cranberry Apple Syrup in advance makes this recipe take only minutes to whip up. Pretty and pink, we might just plan our holiday outfits around the anticipation of this drink being served.
Hero Ingredient: The Cranberry Apple Syrup takes this recipe to premium minimalist mocktail status. While technically a recipe in and of itself, the couple of components it takes to whip up this syrup (and the fact that you can prep it ahead of time) excuses the technicality.
Peppermint White Russian Mocktail from Art From My Table
Why We Love It: While slightly more under the radar than other drinks you’d expect to see and sip on throughout the holidays, White Russians are nonetheless capable of making your season merry and bright. Drop the vodka and forget the Kahlua—this recipe tastes like your favorite cup of creamy and seriously elevated iced coffee.
Hero Ingredient: Peppermint extract is the important addition that takes this White Russian mocktail to new holiday season heights.
Apple Cider Sangria from Wholesomelicious
Why We Love It: Sangria has the unfortunate, albeit sometimes deserved status of being named the drink of choice at many college parties. This booze-free, grown-up version adds a good amount of sophistication with a mixed medley of sliced seasonal fruits, pomegranate arils, and cinnamon sticks. The result is a stunning sangria that, when served with a splash of sparkling water, is celebratory enough for any party you’re hosting.
Hero Ingredient: A hearty pour of apple cider solidifies this drink’s sweet and crisp flavor.
Orange Rosemary Mocktail from Cook With Manali
Why We Love It: Alternatively named the Spicy Sunset, this mocktail is an inspiring mix of pretty much everything you could ever want contained in a glass. Spicy, sweet, and certain to brighten up your next gathering, it doesn’t hold anything back when it comes to flavor. The mix of chaat masala, kala namak, and Kashmiri red chili powder will have everyone asking you for the recipe. You get to decide whether or not you want to share.
Hero Ingredient: While a perhaps unexpected combination of flavors, rosemary pairs beautifully with the orange juice, lending its lemony and slightly piney bite to the citrus juice’s sweet acidity.
Cranberry Pineapple Mocktail from Finding Zest
Why We Love It: Ring in the new year with this fun and kid-friendly mocktail. Older kids and teenagers alike will feel like they’re a part of the party toasting with this mix of seasonal juices and citrusy flavors. You can even involve them in the prep! With just four ingredients, everyone can be the bartender for the evening.
Hero Ingredient: Pineapple juice provides an easy-to-love flavor that makes this sophisticated and refined mocktail enjoyable for adults as well as younger party guests.
