Christmas parties are a great way to catch up with friends and family you haven’t seen in a while. But if you’re fighting alcohol addiction, they can be dangerous for your sobriety. To make things worse, seeing everyone holding a Christmas cocktail can trigger FOMO (fear of missing out) in some people, which can strengthen the urge to drink again.
To fight FOMO and have fun at your holiday celebration, you might consider creating and enjoying some “mocktails.” When a drink looks and tastes like a cocktail but doesn’t have any alcohol, it’s called a mocktail, which is just plain fun!
Here’s a list of 7 popular Christmas mocktails that you might enjoy (links to full recipes below):
- Cran-Apple Spritzer: Possibly one of the most delicious mocktails to make that also requires very little drink-mixing knowledge is the Cran-Apple Spritzer. Simply mix apple juice, cranberry juice, and lemon-lime soda in near-equal parts. Garnish the glass with rosemary for extra flair.
- Lamplighter: For eggnog fans, try the Lamplighter, which mixes heavy cream, coffee bean syrup, lemon juice, egg whites, and seltzer for a festive and frothy drink. Shake everything up in a mocktail shaker and strain to get it just right.
- Holiday Mule: Craving a bit of cinnamon spice? Shake up small amounts of cinnamon syrup, cranberry juice, and lime juice and pour it into a glass. Finish it up with your favorite ginger beer poured over, and you have yourself a Holiday Mule.
- Almond-Fennel Cooler: When you want a unique taste that you won’t find in many other drinks, make an Almond-Fennel Cooler. To make this mocktail, you’ll need almond syrup, fennel syrup, lemon juice, and club soda. Mix them up and adjust the ratios to taste.
- Cherry Bomb: Who doesn’t love a Shirley Temple? The Cherry Bomb is an advanced version that requires some extra steps. Boil water in a pan, add grenadine, and stir. Let the mixture cool and then pour into an ice tray to make delicious ice cubes that you add to a glass of lemon-lime soda.
- Hot Cider: Pour non-alcoholic apple cider into a crockpot until it is at least halfway full. Add various spices, such as cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and whatever else you prefer. Set the crockpot to the warm or lowest setting and allow it to heat up before serving.
- Peppermint Julip: What holiday mocktail list would be complete without a peppermint one? Make a Peppermint Julip by mixing peppermint syrup and cranberry ginger ale to make a yummy beverage for the whole family. To make it a little sweeter, garnish with a candy cane.
From all of us at Mount Sinai Wellness Center, we hope this quick list of some of our favorite Christmas mocktails helps you enjoy the holiday season while staying sober and confident in yourself.