Festive drinks and beverages are a huge part of any holiday celebrations but they can be extremely unhealthy with all the sugar, dairy, and alcohol. To give you some options healthy holiday beverages we have a few fun alternatives that can be a crowd pleaser for any sort of celebration or holiday. Plus they can be made with or without alcohol for the teetotalers in the party.
Holy Basil (Tulsi) Clementine Mocktail Recipe
Tulsi also know as holy basil is an Indian plant that has many religious as well as healthy benefits. It is known for its immune-boosting properties.
This version is sweet and herb-infused to support your immune system with antibacterial and antimicrobial benefits which is a perfect way to kickoff the holidays, right?
Recipe (makes about 2 servings)
- 1/4 cup dried tulsi leaves or even fresh leaves if you have them handy
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 3 clementines – juiced and de-seeded
- 2 clementine peels for garnish
- Tulsi for garnish
In a small bowl , add boiling water over the tulsi leaves and let it steep for about 10-12 minutes. Strain and discard the leaves and then chill the tulsi water. Juice the clementines and once the tulsi water is chilled, add it to the clementine juice. Pour into martini glasses and add clementine peels and tulsi leaves as garnish.
Winter Fruit Enriched Sangria Cocktail/Mocktail Recipe
This holiday beverage can be made with our without alcohol making it a crowd pleasure for both the healthy drinkers as well as the festive drinkers at the party! It features winter fruits and berries that add antioxidant richness to an old favorite. You can prepare this the night before so that the fruit flavors can all blend together.
Recipe (makes about 6 to 8 servings)
- 1 qt pomegranate juice (without added sugar)
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 lime thinly sliced
- 2-3 clementines thinly sliced
- 1 apple thinly diced
- 1 cup red or black grapes seeded and chopped fine
- 4 cups sparkling water or red wine (to make it an alcoholic drink)
In a large pitcher, mix the pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, fruits and cinnamon sticks and let it steep overnight or at least several hours. If needed add alcohol or add sparkling water for a little frizz. Pour in wine glasses and serve chilled.
Cozy Chai Toddy Mocktail Recipe
Traditionally a warm toddy is a drink made with whiskey, lemon and cinnamon and is taken to relieve a cold or a flu. This version features lemon grass, an herb with a citrusy flavor. This blends beautifully and make a delicious cup of herbal tea that has a host of benefits including help fight cold and flu and makes it a fun healthy holiday beverage option.
Recipe (makes about 8 servings)
- 8 cups of boiling water
- 7-8 bags of tea
- 12 cardamon pods
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole star-anise pods
- 3-4 slices of fresh ginger or dried ginger
- 3-4 lemongrass blades
- Honey to taste
Pour boiling water over the tea bags and add lemon grass blades and let it steep for at least 30 minutes. Add the ginger, star-anise, cardamon pods and cinnamon sticks as well. Remove all the spices except for cinnamon sticks and put it on a warm burner to serve warm. Honey can be added to taste, if required.
Vegan Irish Cream Mocktail Recipe
This dairy-free vegan version of a traditional beverage is sweetened with maple syrup instead of sugar. Definitely makes for a healthy version of a holiday favorite.
Recipe (makes about 6 servings)
- 1 quart of almond milk or 1 can of coconut milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 shot of expresso or 1/4 cup of instant coffee
Mix all the ingredients together until smooth. Serve at room temperature or you can even serve chilled. You can even store this in the refrigerator for up to a week.
If you want to spike this drink, you can add some Irish whiskey to individual glasses.
Jamaican Ginger Beer Cocktail Recipe
One of our favorite non-alcoholic drinks of all times, this ginger drink is a perfect way to warm up the insides during the cold winter months.
Recipe (makes about 1 quart of concentrated ginger beer)
- 2 1/2 cups fresh ginger peeled and cut into pieces
- 8 cups of water
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 1/2 cups of honey
- Shot of whiskey or rum (optional)
Use a Vitamix or a blender to pulverize the ginger and liquify it with 2 cups of water. Make sure to squeeze all the ginger goodness. Strain the juice to remove any ginger pieces. Return the ginger to a mixing bowl and add 2 more cups of water. Repeat the process to extract all the liquid until all 8 cups of water have been used. Add the lime juice and honey and mix well to dissolve. Store this ginger concentrate in glass jars in the refrigerator. To serve you can mix it with soda or tonic water. Add a shot of rum or whiskey for the alcohol drinkers in the party.
We hope these festive and healthy holiday beverage recipes inspire you to experiment and change it up for your next party. Perhaps add a little unexpected culinary adventure for your friends and family.
0 Comments