Skip the Hangover: Enjoy These 7 Tasty Holiday Drink Alternatives
The Alternative Daily
Tying one on with Uncle Joe and Aunt Mildred may not be on your list of “great ways to spend Christmas” this year. Consuming too much alcohol can be a hazard to your health, and a hangover may put a damper on those precious moments you share with family and friends.
The good news is, there are plenty of tasty nonalcoholic holiday drink alternatives to enjoy this season. From the old Shirley Temple standby, to a Moscow Mule (nonalcoholic version of course), these holiday drinks are fun and delicious.
The Sleigh Driver
Prep Time:
5minutes
Cook Time:
30minutes
Total time:
Serves:
4
Recipe by:The Alternative Daily
Let’s start with a delicious, nonalcoholic drink that will keep you toasty. This tasty holiday drink is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It contains pears, cranberries, lemon, and ginger, all of which boast exceptional free-radical-fighting antioxidant powers.
Ingredients
1cupwater
2-inchpieceof fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
3pears, chopped into bite-size pieces
2quartsapple cider
1lemon, sliced
1tablespoonground allspice
1cupfresh cranberries
2tablespoonspure vanilla extract
Servings: Serves
Instructions
Combine all the ingredients in a pot, except for the vanilla extract and cranberries.
Cook over a medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the vanilla extract and cranberries.
Allow to simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
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Moscow Mule — hold the vodka
Prep Time:
5minutes
Cook Time:
nocooking
Total time:
Serves:
1
Recipe by:The Alternative Daily
The Moscow Mule is a favorite alcoholic drink during the holiday season, but it is quite possibly even more tasty without the vodka.
Ingredients
1fl ozfresh lime juice
3fl oznatural ginger beer
1 1/2fl ozsoda water
1stick of lemongrass
Servings: Serves
Instructions
Combine the fresh lime juice, ginger beer and soda water and pour over ice.
Next, pinch a stick of lemongrass from top to bottom to release its fragrance and taste, then use it to stir your Moscow Mule. Lemongrass is a powerful detoxifier and also helps boost immune function. From Russia with love — enjoy!
Recipe Notes
For measurement purposes, a shot glass is 1.5 fluid ounces.
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Sparkling Cran-Razzy
Prep Time:
5minutes
Cook Time:
nocooking
Total time:
Serves:
1
Recipe by:The Alternative Daily
This Yuletide beverage is absolutely delicious, and has wonderful aesthetic value for a holiday get-together, as well. Cranberries and raspberries are the two main ingredients, both of which serve up immune-boosting, antioxidant power!
Ingredients
1/2cupfrozen raspberries (buy fresh and freeze yourself for optimal deliciousness)
2cupsfreshly juiced cranberries and raspberries
2cupsseltzer water
2tablespoonslime juice
Lime slices for garnish
Servings: Serves
Instructions
Combine all the ingredients, except the frozen raspberries and lime slices, in a carafe and mix. Then, pour on the rocks, adding the raspberries and lime slices to garnish the drink. Yum!
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The Shirley Temple
Prep Time:
5minutes
Cook Time:
nocooking
Total time:
Serves:
1
Recipe by:The Alternative Daily
This nonalcoholic drink may have been your go-to when you were a child hanging out with the grownups on Christmas Eve. It has stood the test of time and still remains a holiday beverage of choice for many adults (and kids not keen on bedtime).
Ingredients
4fl ozsoda water
4fl oznatural ginger beer
1tbsplemon juice
Handful of fresh cherries
1tbsplime juice
Coconut crystals (optional)
Servings: Serves
Instructions
Add ice to a tall glass, then fill it with half soda water, half natural ginger beer. Add a squeeze of lemon juice. Splash with freshly juiced cherries and lime juice, then add a cherry or two for garnish. For a sweeter beverage, add coconut crystals to taste.
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You may want to have one of these for a stroll down holiday memory lane — I know I will.
Lemon-Orange Martini
Prep Time:
5minutes
Cook Time:
nocooking
Total time:
Serves:
1
Recipe by:The Alternative Daily
If you want a classy holiday beverage selection without the alcohol and hangover, then the lemon-orange martini is your go-to! This tasty beverage serves up vital vitamin C and potassium to keep your engine running for gift wrapping, or handling Uncle Harold after one too many.
Ingredients
1cupseltzer
1fl ozlemon juice (freshly squeezed)
2fl ozorange juice (freshly squeezed)
1tbspfresh lemon juice on the side (for martini glass rim)
Coconut sugar (for martini glass rim)
1drink shaker for that martini effect
Servings: Serves
Instructions
Combine the seltzer and freshly squeezed lemon and orange juice with ice in the martini shaker. Shake for 30 seconds. Add lemon juice to the martini glass rim and dip it in the coconut sugar. Pour the contents of the shaker into the glass and add a small peel of lemon or orange to the rim for a touch of sophisticated elegance. No one will even know your martini is virgin — it looks that good.
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The Pear Mojito
Prep Time:
5minutes
Cook Time:
nocooking
Total time:
Serves:
1
Recipe by:The Alternative Daily
If you live in those coveted sunny places, then your holiday drinks may have an island twist. The pear mojito is a taste bud satisfier that goes down easy with a bit of Bob Marley and the Wailers setting the Christmas mood.
Ingredients
2tablespoonsfresh lemon and lime juice (either or both)
1cupfresh pear juice
1tablespooncoconut sugar
4mint leaves
Extra mint leaves for garnish
ice
Servings: Serves
Instructions
Mash together the lemon-lime juice with the coconut sugar and mint leaves in your glass, just like a mojito. Add the pear juice and ice, then stir. Mint is not only refreshing, but it also offers digestive and antioxidant properties that will keep you healthier and happier this holiday season, so add a mint leaf or two for garnish and enjoy!
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Holiday Cran-Apple Rosemary
Prep Time:
1hour
Cook Time:
10minutes
Total time:
Serves:
2
Recipe by:The Alternative Daily
This aromatic nonalcoholic beverage not only looks festive, it also tastes delicious. It combines the essential vitamins and minerals you need to keep your energy and mood positive for the many demands of the holiday season.
Ingredients
2cupswater
4 to 5apples (depending on size), for juicing
1 to 1 1/2poundsfresh cranberries, for juicing
5sprigsof rosemary (for recipe and garnish)
Servings: Serves
Instructions
First you will need to prepare your rosemary. Boil water and then reduce to a simmer, adding the rosemary. Let it simmer for five minutes and then remove from the heat and cool in the refrigerator for about an hour.
Next, juice your apples and cranberries. You will need approximately one cup of cranberry juice and two cups of apple juice.
Mix your juice together and add the cooled rosemary for more amazing flavor. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and serve to impress.
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The holidays are a great time to connect with family and friends. Don’t let the hangover blues hinder the good times and holiday merriment. Serve up some of these wonderfully delicious and aesthetically pleasing nonalcoholic drinks this season. You may be surprised by how many requests you get for the recipes — even your most intoxicated guests will love these tasty, nonalcoholic alternatives.
Drink responsibly and in moderation over the holidays, and enjoy the company of loved ones, making memories this special time of year.