The teetotaler's guide to the best non-alcoholic holiday drinks

Just because you don't drink alcohol doesn't mean you can't enjoy a festive holiday drink. There are plenty of non alcoholic drinks for New Years and the other winter holidays and even sugar free non alcoholic drinks if you are watching your weight, are diabetic, or simply want to avoid sugar. We've collected several of the best to ring in the holiday season.

Hot and Cozy Non Alcoholic Drinks for New Years

The appropriately named Sleigh Driver is one of the best non alcoholic drinks for the holidays' designated drivers, ensuring the reindeer don't crash into a porch. The recipe from EatingWell Magazine is a toasty take on hot apple cider.

Combine 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, one 2-inch piece of peeled and sliced ginger and one pear in a pot or saucepan, bringing the mixture to a boil. Strain the ginger and pear out of the mix and put the liquid back in the pot. Heat the mixture on medium-high after adding 2 quarts apple cider, two chopped pears, one sliced lemon, and 1 tablespoon allspice. Stir occasionally as it remains heating for 15 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium low and add 1 cup fresh cranberries and 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve.

Spiced hot chocolate is also in the cozy, non alcoholic drinks for New Years category with another recipe from EatingWell Magazine. Simply prepare 4 cups of cocoa of your choice using low-fat milk and adding 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Serve as 1-cup portions, each with its own personal cinnamon stick.

Sassy and Splashy Non Alcoholic Drinks for New Years

The Razzmopolitan from Kraft.com combines 5 cups of cold water with 2 cups of a low-calorie cranberry raspberry drink, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice and a packet of orange drink mix. Kraft suggests Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange drink mix, although any powdered packet that yields 2 quarts when mixed will work. All you need to do is mix all the ingredients into an ample pitcher and serve over ice.

Sugar Free Non Alcoholic Drinks for New Years

You can create a fruity slush that falls into the sugar free non alcoholic drinks category using your favorite flavor of sugar free Kool Aid or Crystal Light drink mix. Simply mix enough of the powder with water to make about 2 cups of the beverage and pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Mix one packet of the same flavor sugar free drink mix with 1 1/2 cups water in a blender. Add the flavored ice cubes and pulse to create a sassy slush.

With 3 grams of sugar per serving, Kraft's Mint Julep is close to the category of sugar free non alcoholic drinks. The super-simple concoction consists of boiling 8 cups of water then mixing the hot water into a heat-proof pitcher with a packet of sugar free lemonade or pink lemonade powder. The packet should yield 2 quarts. Let the mixture sit for about one hour after adding 1 cup whole mint leaves. Strain out the mint leaves and serve over ice.

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