‘Tis the season for holiday gatherings - some planned, some unplanned. The latest social trends show that we’re enjoying flavorful mocktails as we re-evaluate our relationship with alcohol and its impact on our health, and many of us are looking for stress-free appetizers and snacks to serve our guests. Are we finally tired of running around like drunk reindeer with our heads cut off during the holidays? We are all about keeping things simple and healthier for both our bodies and minds, so we’ve put together some of our favorite mocktails and easy holiday apps to have on hand for pop-ins or planned gatherings. Enjoy!
Easy and Tasty Holiday Mocktails
Skinny Mimosa Mocktail
Enjoy a skinnier, alcohol-free but just as tasty mimosa with two easy ingredients: pick up your favorite orange juice and mix 3/4 cup with 1/4 cup of Lemon Dasani Sparkling Water. If you’re feeling fancy, feel free to garnish with an orange slice and cherry! This makes an 8oz. glass. If you want to make a full batch ahead of time (enough for 8 glasses), mix 6 cups of orange juice with 2 cups of Lemon Dasani Sparking Water. Delish!
A Different Twist on Mulled Cider (much easier and colder!)
Have you ever had a chilled version of mulled cider that’s super easy to make? And when we say super easy, we mean two ingredients easy. We recommend Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider and Bigelow Spiced Chai Black Tea. To make: brew a bag or two of Bigelow Spiced Chai and then put the brewed tea in the fridge to cool. Add the cooled tea to a champagne flute of Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider and enjoy. All fizz, no fuss.
Baileys - Worth the Five Minutes!
We adore this non-alcoholic homemade Baileys recipe! Use a blender to mix all the ingredients or use a cocktail shaker! Blend ¾ cup milk of your choice (we think coconut milk works best), 1 oz chilled espresso or instant coffee shot*, 1 teaspoon maple syrup (you can add more per your taste buds!), 1-2 drops vanilla essence or extract, ½ teaspoon cacao or cocoa powder (or 1 teaspoon chocolate sauce), 1 tablespoon cream (this just adds a bit of decadence). After you pour, top with whipped cream and chocolate flakes for a flare of the fancy!
*For a single shot of espresso (perfect for this non-alcoholic Baileys), mix 1-2 heaped or level teaspoons of instant coffee with 30ml/1oz of hot water. Test for strength and increase or decrease the coffee to taste.
Appetizers to Keep Get-Togethers Simple
Shrimp Cocktail
Yes, you can make this at home, including the cocktail sauce. But to keep things really simple this year, we recommend picking up a nicely packaged shrimp cocktail display at your favorite store. Why? The majority of crowds enjoy it, it’s easy to pack and go, and clean up is simple.
Caprese Bites
You just need a few ingredients to make this magic happen: 8 oz. mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, balsamic glaze, and long toothpicks for the skewers. To assemble, simply layer a cherry tomato, basil leaf, mozzarella ball, and another cherry tomato. Place on your serving platter and drizzle with balsamic glaze. For extra flavor, toss the mozzarella balls in olive oil, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes before adding to the skewer. Assemble on a plate and enjoy!
There are a ton of mocktails and easy appetizer ideas we’d love to share. We picked a few of our favorites. The most important message is that we tend to overdo it during the holidays, don’t we? Perhaps a kind reminder that taking a shortcut now and then is okay, and treating our bodies to healthy alternatives is important when we can. No matter what, do whatever will bring you JOY this season and moving forward. And if we can help, we’re here for it.