Thanksgiving Drinks – Non Alcoholic Holiday Mocktails

A seasonal mocktail is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table or holiday party.

As someone who enjoys hosting people for social gatherings or parties during the colder winter months, I love to find new ways to wow my guests while still having something for myself. I have searched high and low over the last several years for Thanksgiving drinks, non-alcoholic options included, and have landed on a few favorites.

Everyone knows you can toss together a mocktail anytime you want or even order something virgin at the bar, but when it comes to hosting or attending a holiday party, part of the fun is keeping with the theme. I’m not saying that some of our favorite mocktails aren’t right, but I am saying that I want my alcohol-free option to feel special and fit in with the vibe of the group.

I also like to prepare something that matches an alcoholic offering I may be providing for others, so I’m going to share some cocktails we know and love and help you modify them!

So, here are some of our best non alcoholic Thanksgiving drinks that contain some of my favorite fall and holiday flavors, and how to make them work for every guest on your Thanksgiving dinner list!

Coffee and Hot Cocoa Inspired Mocktails

First of all, does anything scream “get cozy” like hot cocoa? I strongly doubt it.

Hot cocoa instantly takes me back to fall’s chilly weather and wintery warmups after sledding or ice skating. The first orange leaves aren’t even touching the ground before my kids and I are eyeing the cocoa in the store.

Not to mention my endless love for coffee and all things caffeinated — lattes, I’m looking at you. 

Here are some Thanksgiving mocktails to enjoy that bring out the warmer side of your holiday!

White Chocolate Milky Way Mocha — Skip the Bailey’s this recipe calls for and add a dash of non-alcoholic whiskey if you’re looking for that same flavorful bite. This recipe calls for caramel Bailey’s but you can opt for plain virgin whiskey and add more caramel to taste.

Hot Pumpkin Pie Cocktail — A highly-rated zero alcohol rum replacement such as MONDAY goes a long way. Make your own simple syrup for an extra-special touch. Add heavy cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract to taste for the perfect rumchata replacement.

Pumpkin Pie Chai Latte — Nix the bourbon or replace it with a non-alcoholic version and indulge in this sweetly spiced pumpkin chai that will leave you feeling cozy even without the booze on Thanksgiving day!

Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch — This festive drink can easily be made sans booze without sacrificing any of the flavor! It’s definitely a family favorite for many this time of year, and great for kids, too.

Slow Cooker Peppermint Hot Chocolate — Prepare without Peppermint Schnapps for the perfect minty cocoa prepared in the slow cooker, my favorite fall kitchen go-to! Hot drinks are exactly what I want in the fall and winter, and the good news is this fun drink also works wonderfully for Christmas. Big batch cocktails and mocktails are the way to go when you’re entertaining a crowd at holiday gatherings, too.

Fall Flavors Mocktails

We’re looking at you, fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks!

Bring out the flavors of fall with apple cider, cranberry juice, ginger beer, orange juice, and more with these cocktails that you can easily turn into mocktails using the right replacements!

Cranberry Simple Syrup — This ultra-easy cranberry simple syrup is a great option for fall and winter mocktails!

Cranberry Gimlet — Give your cranberry simple syrup a try and use up what’s left of your non-alcoholic gin with this easy-to-modify festive drink that has a stunning presentation.

Cranberry Punch — In this refreshing punch recipe, Replace the Prosecco with sparkling cider or ginger ale. Classy cranberries floating atop make the perfect garnish!

Cranberry Orange Sangria — This cocktail recipe is our inspo for this mocktail treat:

• Fresh orange and lime slices and cranberries
• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 2 cups red grape juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 4-5 cups cranberry ginger ale

Combine in a pitcher and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve! Sprinkle with cinnamon or toss in a cinnamon stick when serving if you’re looking for an extra dash of seasonal flair to pair with your Thanksgiving feast.

Charred Orange “Whiskey” — Ginger and orange are a superb combo, including the way they come together in this ginger orange mocktail:

• 5 cups freshly-squeezed orange juice
• 3 cups pineapple juice, chilled
• ½ tsp orange bitters
• 3 bottles ginger beer, chilled

Combine juices and bitters in a pitcher or punch bowl and top with ginger beer. Serve over crushed ice and garnish with fresh orange slices.

Apple Cider Mocktail – This recipe calls for rum and brandy, but here’s what else you can whip up that will give you that similar feel without the booze:

Homemade Apple Syrup:

• 1 gala apple, skin on
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground allspice

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine above ingredients and stir. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Mocktail:

• 1 cup apple cider
• ¼ cup apple syrup (see above)
• ½ freshly-squeezed lemon
• 1 freshly-squeezed orange
• Lemon soda for topping
• Crushed ice

Follow these steps to assemble:

1. In a mason jar or cocktail shaker, combine a small amount of crushed ice with the mocktail ingredients and shake well until combined.
2. Fill a cocktail glass with ½ ice cubes and pour over the mocktail mixture until half of the glass is full.
3. Top with lemon soda, saving room for garnishes.
4. Top with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.

St. Germain and Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail — This is a very simple cocktail recipe that you can serve alongside this mocktail:

• 2 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 ½ cup orange juice
• 2 bottles apple cider
• 1 freshly squeezed lemon
• 1 bottle sparkling water or club soda
• 1-2 dashes of orange bitters
• Arils from 1 pomegranate

Follow these steps to make this delicious drink:

1. Combine all juice and cider ingredients in a punch bowl and stir. Store in the fridge until time to serve.
2. When ready to serve, slowly pour in sparkling water or club soda and dashes of orange bitters. Gently mix to combine and then add pomegranate arils.
3. Ladle into glasses and serve.

Looking to modify or make your own refreshing Turkey Day or holiday season mocktails? Have these simple ingredients on hand to whip up your own tasty drinks:

• Sparkling water
• Sparkling juice
• Sparkling cider
• Still cider
• Red and white grape juice
• Orange juice
• Ginger ale
• Lemon soda
• Fresh apples, cranberries, and other fall fruits
• Warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, fresh ginger, and star anise

Just about any mocktail can be created using these as a base! And these delicious drink ingredients should be available at just about any grocery store. We hope you enjoy these non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drinks at your Friendsgiving party, whole family gathering, and throughout the winter season — alongside good food, of course!

Tip: Speaking of Thanksgiving, try our simple stove top stuffing recipe, or this pineapple mocktail recipe! You may also want to consider some of these top-rated nonalcoholic beers.