Non-alcoholic Christmas drinks

Ashley Hunt
December 3, 2012

Holiday parties often come hand in hand with tasty alcoholic drinks. For those who are underage or just simply don’t consume alcohol, these delicious non-alcoholic drinks will be a hit at any party and allow all guests to “Cheers!”

Sleigh Driver punch

Ingredients
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
  • 3 pears, chopped into bite-size pieces, divided
  • 2 quarts apple cider
  • 1 lemon, halved and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon ground allspice
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
Directions
 
Combine the water, sugar, ginger and 1 pear in a large saucepan.
 
Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat. Make sure to be stirring the ingredients occasionally.
 
Strain out the solids. Return the mixture to the pan.
 
Add remaining pears, cider, lemon and allspice to the mixture. Heat over medium-high heat. Continue stirring often for 15 minutes.
 
Add the cranberries and vanilla. Reduce heat to medium-low. The liquid should not be boiling. Let mixture simmer for approximately 10 minutes.
 
Serve in heat-safe mugs and enjoy.

 
Spiced Hot Cider

 
Ingredients

  • 4 cups apple cider
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon flavored syrup
  • Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Directions

Combine apple cider, cinnamon stick and whole cloves in a medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. 

Reduce the heat and let simmer for approximately 5 minutes.  

Add the syrup.

Garnish your drink with cinnamon sticks for a fun holiday feel.

Thick Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups nonfat milk
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

Add milk, cocoa powder, sugar and cornstarch into a large saucepan. Let the mixture cook over a medium heat while whisking often. Continue to whisk until the mixture is steaming.

Continue to cook. This time, whisk the mixture constantly. Do this until the mixture boils. Then, remove it from heat.

Pour into a heat-safe mug and enjoy.

Spicy hot chocolate (an original hot chocolate recipe)


Ingredients

  • 4 cups prepared hot cocoa with 1 percent milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
Directions
 
Prepare hot chocolate as you would normally.
 
Add nutmeg, chili powder and cinnamon sticks to prepared hot chocolate.
 
Hot chocolate was originally made to be enjoyed spicy, so enjoy this spicy hot chocolate drink just as people did in the past.
 
Homemade Eggnog
 
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup egg beaters* (equal to three eggs)
  • 3 tbs sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 2 1/4 cups milk
  • 2oz Cool Whip** (about 1/4 of a regular sized tub) 
 
*Egg beaters do not use actual eggs, so there is no risk for salmonella. However, it is still recommended you consume the drink within 24 hours.
**More Cool Whip can be added for extra creaminess.
 
Directions
 
Combine all ingredients together. Mix the ingredients until they are well blended and creamy.
 
Mix all ingredients together until well blended and creamy. Enjoy your homemade eggnog any time of the year.