Holiday Inspired Mocktail and Cocktail Recipes

Looking for some fun, holiday-inspired mocktail and cocktail recipes for your senior loved ones and/or other family members? Look no further. We have some recipes and references for the hosts/entertainers in the family.

Serve Delicious Mocktail and Cocktail Magic at Your Holiday Feast

There are plenty of reasons senior loved-ones may not be allowed to drink alcohol. From recovering alcoholics and those with dementia, to seniors with dietary restrictions that eliminate alcohol – it’s easy for loved ones and friends to feel left out during holiday toasts.

Fortunately, the following holiday-inspired cocktail recipes are easily converted into mocktails so nobody feels left out of the fun. Even the kids can enjoy their mocktails, without any of the alcohol.

Cranberry Margaritas

These cranberry margaritas from gimmesomeoven.com are a host(ess)’s dream. Not only can they be prepared in advance, you can mix whole pitchers at a time without the alcohol so guests can serve themselves. Those who want the alcoholic version can have a shot of the tequila and a splash of Triple Sec added and stirred into their cup.

The recipe includes:

• Cranberries
• Tequila
• Fresh lime juice
• An orange liqueur (like Triple Sec)
• Fresh cranberries and lime wedges for garnish
• Salt for the glass rims

For non-alcoholic batches simply leave out the Tequila and add a splash of fresh-squeezed orange or tangerine juice.

Once your guests arrive – salt the glass rims, fill them with ice, poor the mock/cocktails and garnish with cranberries to float on top and a slice of lime on the rim.

Apple Pie Punch (great iced or hot)

Here’s another one that can be mixed up ahead of time (yahoo!) and is easy to “sneak” as a mocktail. This recipe comes to us via thecookierookie.com.

You’ll need:

• One ripe apple, sliced into thin, lengthwise slices
• Apple cider
• Pear nectar (cans of Kearns are typically on the juice aisles of the grocery store)
• Ginger Ale
• Apple Pie Vodka

Just like the Cranberry margaritas, this can be mixed ahead of time and single, 1.5 oz shots of the vodka can be added to those who want them. This punch can be served as an iced-beverage, with an apple slice on the edge, or as a hot punch (heated up on the stove in a pan and ladled) with a slice of apple in the mug.

Pumpkin Pie Martini (and guess what? They’re low-carb!)

What good would holiday-inspired mocktails be if we didn’t include a little pumpkin? Martinis are a favorite of the senior set, and these pumpkin pie flavored versions will be a hit with the millennials too!

We found this recipe on alldayidreamaboutfood.com and everyone will be a fan of their low-carb attributes – which are great for any diabetics in the group.

For this recipe, you’ll need:

Rimming sugar: finely ground pecans, Swerve sweetener, ground cinnamon

• Vanilla Vodka (or a splash of vanilla for the mocktail crowd)
• Soda water (for the mocktails)
• Dark rum
• Pumpkin puree
• Heavy cream
• Swerve sweetener
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground Ginger
• Ground nutmeg

Each one is mixed in a cocktail mixer and shaken with ice, poured into a glass that’s pre-coated with the scrumptious Rimming Sugar. The mocktail versions are made using sparkling water to make up the vodka/rum difference – along with a splash of vanilla for extra flavor. Cheers!

The Perfect Holiday Drink that can be Made as a Mocktail and Cocktail

We’ll conclude with one of our staff favorites, called The Perfect Thanksgiving Drink, shared by ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com. In addition to ease, the most striking thing about this drink is that you can make it in your clear, party-sized, water/iced tea dispenser used to serve cold beverages during the summer months.

In this case, the jugs – one with alcohol and one without – can be set atop your buffet or island bar top for a beautiful, colorful, serve-yourself drink station.

For this one, you’ll need:

• Your favorite Champagne or sparkling wine
• Sparkling cider, for the non-alcoholic crowd
• Your choice of fizzy, lemon-lime soda (Sprite, Sierra Mist, 7-Up, etc.)
• Cans of frozen, cranberry concentrate
• A bag of fresh cranberries

Once you’ve mixed the ingredients together, you can put them in your drink dispenser with plenty of ice and get ready for lots of compliments.

Does your senior loved one have a favorite cocktail they can no longer have as the result of their medical diagnosis, dementia or other health issue? You can easily make mocktail and cocktail beverages this holiday! The internet is a wonderful resource for finding non-alcoholic alternatives that can make all the difference in a senior’s ability to “maintain their preferred routine.”

The owners and staff at Bay Area-based HomeAide Home Care wish you and your family a wonderful holiday. Don’t hesitate to call us if you need respite care services over this upcoming holiday weekend or to learn more about the ways we can ensure your senior loved ones receive compassionate and experienced care while you’re out of town or away for a while.