I Propose a Toast!

Now, I don't drink alcohol. However, that doesn't mean that the holidays aren't a fun time for fun beverages!

Here are a few family and kid-friendly holiday drinks you might enjoy.

Noel Spritzer

Ingredients:

2 cups apple juice, or sparkling non-alcoholic apple juice (such as Martinelli's)
1 cup chilled cranberry-apple juice drink
1 cup chilled sparkling water
Apple slices, if desired
Fresh mint, if desired

Directions:

Mix apple juice, cranberry-apple juice drink, and sparkling water.

Serve over ice. Garnish with apple slices and mint.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition information: 1 servings equals 80 calories, 0 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 5 mg sodium, 8 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 0 g protein.

Source: Betty Crocker. You can find the recipe here.

Notes: The drink that I took the picture of wasn't measured out...I eyeballed it and as a result, it had a little more cranberry-apple juice than it normally does...so while it still tasted fantastic, it also turned out a little more red in color than normal. However, this is a great and easy drink recipe. It tastes just like those fancy sparkling non-alcoholic juices that you can buy around the holidays, but it is cheaper and there is enough for a crowd.

I usually triple this (at least) and serve it in a punch bowl.

Sparkling Apple Cider and Variations

Ingredients:

2 (64 oz) bottles of 100% apple cider (or 2 cans frozen apple juice concentrate)

1 (2 liter) bottle of Sprite, 7-Up, or Club Soda

Directions:

Mix well in a punch bowl and serve.

Variations:

You can make a Sparkling White Grape Spritzer by using white grape juice/frozen white grape juice concentrate in place of the apple cider/frozen apple juice concentrate.

You can make a Red "Wine" Spritzer by using Concord grape juice/frozen concord grape juice concentrate.

Really, the sky is the limit. You could do this using pretty much any flavor of juice/frozen juice concentrate.

Source: We have done things like this since I was a child...but if you need more ideas, there are a ton floating around Pinterest.

Pineapple Limeade

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

6 cups pineapple juice, chilled

1 cup lime juice

2 liters sparkling water (Club Soda), or lemon-lime soda

Lime slices, for garnish

Directions:

Mix sugar and juices in large plastic or glass pitcher. Pour 1/2 into another pitcher.

Just before serving, stir sparkling water into juice mixture. Serve over ice. Garnish with lime.

Makes 2 pitchers.

Source: My Mom has made this one since we were kids. I don't know where she got it from.

Orange Julius or Fruit Whip

Ingredients:

6 oz. frozen juice concentrate (orange for Orange Julius, or pineapple, raspberry, etc. for Fruit Whip)

1 cup milk

1 cup ice water

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

10-12 ice cubes

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Makes 6 cups.

Source: I'm not sure where we got this recipe from...but honestly doesn't everyone have one of these recipes  floating around somewhere? 

Notes: Who doesn't love Orange Julius?

Family Friendly Sangria

Ingredients:

1 quart grape juice

1 quart carbonated lemon-lime beverage (such as Sprite or 7-Up)

3 cups orange juice

1 orange, thinly sliced

1 lime, thinly sliced

1 lemon, thinly sliced

Directions:

Mix juices and carbonated drink together in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Float slices of orange, lime, and lemon on top. Add ice.

Makes 16 servings (5 1/2 oz. each serving)

Delicious served with Mexican or Spanish food.

Source: I don't remember where I got this one from.

Shirley Temple Punch

Ingredients:

5 cups ginger ale

2 cups orange juice

1/2 cup grenadine

Directions:

Mix ginger ale, orange juice, and grenadine together in a punch bowl.

Garnish with sliced oranges and maraschino cherries.

Serve over ice.

Source: Food Network. Found in their list "50 Holiday Drinks." It is #25. I love these Food Network lists. Seriously, do a search for "50" on Food Network and check out some of these lists. They are awesome! You can find this holiday drink list here.

Non-Alcoholic Firewhiskey

Ingredients:

1 (2-liter) bottle ginger ale

1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup cinnamon red hot candies

2 cinnamon sticks, or more, to taste

2 habanero peppers, cut into 6 pieces (wear gloves while handling)

1 (12 fluid ounce) can grapefruit-flavored soda (such as Squirt), or more to taste (optional)

1 drop red food coloring, or enough to make desired color (optional)

Directions:

Combine the ginger ale, ginger, red hot candies, and cinnamon sticks in a large container. Refrigerate until the candies dissolve completely, 8 hours, or overnight.

Add the habanero peppers to the ginger ale mixture for 4 hours, or desired time (depending on your desired taste and heat preference). Remove and discard peppers and ginger root. Add Squirt. Serve over ice in small glasses (shot glasses for fun).

Source: Allrecipes.com submitted by vicimgd. You can find the recipe here. Here is what the recipe creator had to say "A while back I had to make drinks for a Harry Potter Club meeting, but all the recipes I found for firewhiskey involved either hot sauce, alcohol, or both. We were all underage, and carbonated Tabasco doesn't appeal to me, so I created this. We Muggles enjoyed it immensely, and I hope you will too. This goes great with any other Harry Potter-themed food. I made 'Cockroach Clusters,' 'Pumpkin Pasties,' and vegetable wands. Good for cold days as well."

Notes: This was a really fun drink. Sweet and spicy...but not overwhelmingly spicy.