What’s Cooking: Thanksgiving Nonalcoholic Drinks!

I’m a teetotaler, so sometimes it can be hard to go to holiday parties and there are no non-alcoholic options.  When they do have non-alcoholic options, they are usually sodas and juice boxes for kids. I usually bring my own beverage to these parties!  Here are some recipes I have used in the past.

Applejack Mulled Cider

Ingredients

  • 1-gallon apple cider
  • 2 peeled, but not sliced apples
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 10 cloves (whole, not ground)
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • Nutmeg

Instructions
Using a paring knife or apple corer, core your apples and place six cloves in the hollows you create. In a slow cooker, combine the apple cider, the apples, cinnamon sticks, and brown sugar. Cover and cook on low for four hours. Reduce heat to keep warm and serve directly from the slow cooker. Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Pumpkin Pie Punch (17 8oz servings)

Ingredients

  • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 2 liters cream soda
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1-liter ginger ale
  • 1 750 mL bottle sparkling apple cider
  • Ice
  • Cinnamon sticks for garnish

Instructions
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and the cream soda. Pour into a punch bowl. Add the ginger ale, sparkling cider, and ice. Stir. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Apple Pie Punch (14 8oz servings)

Ingredients

  • 32 ounces apple cider
  • 16 ounces sparkling apple-pear cider
  • 2 liters ginger ale
  • Ice
  • Sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, and star anise for garnish

Instructions
In a punch bowl, combine the apple cider, apple-pear cider, and ginger ale.
Add the ice and stir. Float sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, and star anise on the punch as a garnish.

Pink “Champagne” Mocktail

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces sparkling cider, chilled
  • 1-ounce raspberry syrup
  • Blueberries and raspberries for garnish

Instructions
In a Champagne flute, combine the sparkling cider and raspberry syrup. Stir. Garnish with blueberries and raspberries.