8 Holiday Cocktails and Mocktails for Kids and Families

Peppermint (Schnapps) milkshakes

Feeling decadent? Try these boozy milkshakes from Homemade Food Junkie. With peppermint candy blended right in, you can leave out the Schnapps for the kids without missing out on the minty holiday flavor. Garnish with more crushed peppermint candy — or a candy cane! 

Hot toddy

Sometimes you just need a hot beverage to warm up your mittens. Make It Grateful has the answer with the lovely brown sugar citrus hot toddy. Cinnamon sticks, orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar and (for the grown-ups) a splash of whiskey are a concoction of true coziness. Bonus: This drink can soothe a sore throat and give you a boost of Vitamin C to fend off that winter cold!

Pom Cranberry mocktail

When you feel like something light and refreshing, this pom cranberry mocktail from This Worthey Life should hit the spot. This delicious cocktail made with cranberry juice, pomegranate and tonic water is irresistibly tangy. For the grown-ups, you can add a splash of vodka to make it a very festive vodka and tonic! 

Salted honey punch

Celebrations at Home put together a great riff on a whiskey sour by transforming the classic flavors of citrus and whiskey into a full-on punch. The secret is in the simple syrup. To make this cocktail non-alcoholic, replace the whiskey with apple juice and use regular cherries in syrup instead of drunken cherries.

Pear and sparkling cider cocktail

Style Me Pretty knows the importance of sparkling cider for the holidays. Equal parts pear nectar, apple cider and sparkling wine are topped with a splash of bourbon and fresh pear (use sparkling water for a kiddo version). A sugar-rimmed glass completes the party-ready aperitif.

Grapefruit ginger lemonade

This zingy mocktail from Slapdash Mom is a festive twist on lemonade. Add some grapefruit soda, bitters and ginger beer to lemonade for a delight and kid-friendly drink. Grown-ups can add a splash of rum or vodka to make it into a true cocktail. 

Chilly cherrytini

Try this non-alcoholic recipe for cherry martinis by U Try It. Naturally rich in antioxidants and one of the hottest super fruits, tart cherries make for a great refreshment starter. Shake up the tart cherry juice with Meyer lemon and white grape juice for a tarty party addition. Splash in a tad of vodka for a grown-up version.

Sparkling cranberry sangria

Everyone gather around the punch bowl! This recipe for sparkling cranberry sangria by The Sweetest Occasion will be by your side through the holidays and at every other festive occasion — wedding showers, graduations, retirements and more. Fresh fruit, ginger, lemon-lime soda and pinot grigio are the main ingredients for pitcher after pitcher of festive refreshment.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago, and updated in December 2021.