Best DIY Thanksgiving mocktails and cocktails
Thanksgiving is almost here. Instead of serving your usual drinks this year, how about mixing it up? Use fresh fall flavors, like apples, cranberries, and pears, to celebrate all that the season has to offer. Need some inspiration? Here are ten Thanksgiving-inspired festive mocktails and cocktails to try:
1. Pumpkin spice mules
This yummy cocktail screams fall and is guaranteed to become a Thanksgiving staple quickly. This recipe yields two servings.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup pumpkin pie vodka
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- 1 12-oz can of ginger beer
- Pumpkin spice and cinnamon sticks for garnish
Directions:
- Fill two copper mugs with ice
- Divide the vodka and apple cider between the mugs
- Top the mugs off with ginger beer
- Sprinkle a little pumpkin spice on top
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick
2. Apple cider shandy
This nonalcoholic recipe calls for a twist on traditional apple cider — add lime juice and fruity garnish for some pazazz. This recipe makes two servings.
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces of green apple cider
- 6 ounces sparkling apple cider
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- green apple slices
Directions:
- Combine the green apple cider and sparkling apple cider in a glass
- Top it off with fresh lime juice and garnish with green apple slices
3. Pecan pie martinis
This delicious cocktail tastes just like a boozy version of homemade pecan pie. This recipe makes three servings.
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces rumchata
- 6 ounces creme de cocoa
- 3 ounces bourbon
- 3 tablespoons caramel, melted
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- Cool whip
- Cinnamon
Directions:
- Place the melted caramel and chopped pecans on separate plates
- Dip the rim of each glass first into the caramel and then into the chopped pecans to coat
- In a large cocktail shaker, combine the rumchata, creme de cocoa, and bourbon
- Fill with ice and shake until cold for about 30 seconds
- Pour into martini glasses and top with cool whip and a sprinkle of cinnamon
4. Hot spiced tea
When the temperature starts to drop, it’s time to reach for something hot. This spiced tea is made using fresh cinnamon sticks, chai tea, and cloves to give off major holiday vibes. This recipe yields 16 servings.
Ingredients:
- 6 chai tea bags
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Directions:
- Bring four cups of water to a boil in a large pot, and then remove from heat
- Add the chai tea bags and let seep for a few minutes
- Discard the tea bags, and stir in cloves, cinnamon sticks, and 8 cups additional water
- Bring mixture to a boil over high, and reduce heat to medium
- Simmer until sugar dissolves and mixture is fragrant (about five minutes)
- Remove spices using a fine mesh strainer and discard
- Stir in pineapple, orange, and lemon juices
- Serve immediately in mugs
5. Cranberry mimosas
Nothing says the holidays like cranberries! This Thanksgiving cocktail combines fresh cranberries with champagne. This recipe yields one serving.
Ingredients:
- 1 lime, halved
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup sweetened cranberry juice
- 1 bottle champagne
- 12 fresh cranberries
- 4 small sprigs of fresh rosemary
Directions:
- Rim the champagne flute with lime and dip it in sugar
- Pour 1/4 cup cranberry juice into each glass and top with champagne
- Poke a hole through the fresh cranberries using a toothpick
- Thread the rosemary skewer through the cranberries and garnish the mimosa
6. Pear, pumpkin, and ginger juice
This nonalcoholic drink screams everything fall with seasonal fruits (plus it’s loaded with antioxidants). This recipe serves two people.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup pumpkin, peeled and deseeded
- 1 ripe pear
- 8 ounces orange juice
- 1 inch sliced ginger
- 1/2 cup water
Directions:
- Cut the pumpkin into small chunks
- Place the pumpkin in a blender along with the pear, orange juice, ginger, and 1/2 cup of water
- Blend until smooth and then pour into glasses
7. Apple cider sangria
Fall is officially apple season. Celebrate Thanksgiving with this spiced apple sangria that combines fresh apples with oranges. This recipe yields eight servings.
Ingredients:
- 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced
- 1 Honeycrisp apple, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 12-ounce can of ginger beer
- 1 bottle of white wine
Directions:
- Fill a large pitcher with sliced fruit
- Add the apple cider, ginger beer, and white wine
- Stir the mixture and pour into serving glasses
8. Sparkling cranberry limeaide
This is the perfect refreshing mocktail for Thanksgiving — the cranberry and lime flavors complement each other perfectly. This recipe makes 16 servings.
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces frozen limeaid concentrate
- 64 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 liters Sprite
- Fresh cranberries
- Lime slices
Directions:
- Add the limeaid concentrate to a large pitcher
- Pour in the cranberry juice and stir together
- Pour in the soda and give another stir
- Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime slices
- Serve immediately
9. Pear and thyme fizz
This sophisticated yet tasty and unique fall cocktail uses apples, pears, and thyme. This recipe yields six servings.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups apple juice
- 1 pear, thinly sliced
- 12 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur
- 1 bottle of sparkling wine
Directions:
- In a large pitcher, combine the apple juice, pears, thyme, and liqueur
- Stir together and refrigerate for four hours
- Divide between six champagne flutes, discarding the thyme
- Fill the remainder of each glass with champagne
- Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh thyme
10. Pear apple cider
This nonalcoholic drink is a twist on classic apple cider, adding extra depth with pears. This recipe makes eight servings.
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe pears, sliced
- 3 apples, sliced
- 1/2 gallon pear juice
- 1/2 gallon apple juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cloves
Directions:
- Place the sliced pears and apples at the bottom of a big pot
- Add all the remaining ingredients into the pot and stir
- Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes
- Use a strainer to remove the pears, apples, cinnamon sticks, and cloves
- Serve warm
References
- “36 Festive Thanksgiving Cocktails to Liven up the Table,” Delish, October 1, 2019.
- “Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes,” Food & Wine, n.d.
