Thanksgiving is all about good food, family and gathering around the table. And while most of the attention goes to the turkey, mashed potatoes and pies, I think the drinks deserve a little love, too!
I’m currently pregnant with baby number six, so alcoholic drinks are off the menu for me this holiday season. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy something a little more exciting than water or sparkling cider.
Mocktails are a fun way to make Thanksgiving feel special for everyone, including the kids. And the best part? You don’t need fancy ingredients, expensive equipment or a background in bartending to make them.
Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering or keeping things small this year, here are 10 easy Thanksgiving mocktails worth adding to your menu.
1. Apple Cider Mule
A fall twist on the classic Moscow Mule, without the alcohol. The ginger beer adds a little kick while the apple cider brings all those familiar fall flavors.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. apple cider
- 4 oz. nonalcoholic ginger beer
- ½ oz. fresh lime juice
- Ice
- Apple slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish
Directions: Fill a glass with ice. Add apple cider and lime juice, then top with ginger beer. Stir gently and garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.
2. Sparkling Cranberry Apple Mocktail
This one is pretty enough for the Thanksgiving table but easy enough that the kids can help make it.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. cranberry juice
- 3 oz. apple cider
- 3 oz. sparkling water or lemon-lime soda
- Fresh cranberries and rosemary for garnish
Directions: Combine cranberry juice and apple cider in a glass filled with ice. Top with sparkling water or soda and garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
3. Spiced Apple Cider Punch
Perfect for serving a crowd! Make a big pitcher ahead of time and let everyone help themselves.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 cups ginger ale
- 2 cups cranberry juice
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Apple slices for garnish
Directions: Combine the apple cider, cranberry juice, orange slices and cinnamon sticks in a large pitcher. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Add ginger ale just before serving to keep it bubbly.
4. Cranberry Orange Fizz
Cranberry and orange are such a good combination for Thanksgiving. This one is slightly tart, sweet and refreshing.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. cranberry juice
- 2 oz. orange juice
- 3 oz. club soda
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
- Orange slices for garnish
Directions: Combine cranberry juice, orange juice and maple syrup in a glass with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with an orange slice.
5. Caramel Apple Sparkler
If you love caramel apples, this is a fun dessert-inspired drink.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. chilled apple cider
- 4 oz. sparkling apple juice
- 1 teaspoon caramel sauce
- Ice
- Apple slices for garnish
Directions: Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of a glass. Fill with ice, add apple cider and top with sparkling apple juice. Stir lightly and garnish with apple slices.
6. Pomegranate Ginger Spritz
This is a great option for anyone who prefers something a little less sweet.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. pomegranate juice
- 4 oz. nonalcoholic ginger beer
- ½ oz. lime juice
- Ice
- Pomegranate seeds for garnish
Directions: Fill a glass with ice. Add pomegranate juice and lime juice, then top with ginger beer. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.
7. Pumpkin Pie Cream Soda
Yes, you can have pumpkin pie in drink form! This one is more of a dessert mocktail.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cream soda
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons half-and-half
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Whipped cream (optional)
Directions: Whisk together the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, half-and-half and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Slowly stir in the cream soda. Pour over ice and top with whipped cream if desired.
8. Maple Pear Sparkler
Pears don’t always get as much attention as apples and pumpkins in the fall, but they’re delicious in holiday drinks.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. pear juice
- 3 oz. sparkling water
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ oz. lemon juice
- Ice
- Thin pear slices for garnish
Directions: Combine pear juice, maple syrup and lemon juice in a glass with ice. Top with sparkling water and garnish with a pear slice.
9. Thanksgiving Shirley Temple
A holiday version of the classic Shirley Temple, with cranberry juice for a festive twist.
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. ginger ale
- 2 oz. cranberry juice
- ½ oz. grenadine
- Ice
- Maraschino cherries for garnish
Directions: Fill a glass with ice. Add ginger ale and cranberry juice. Slowly pour in grenadine and garnish with a cherry.
10. Sparkling Cranberry Lemonade
A little sweet, a little tart and super easy to make. This is a great option for kids who might not love some of the stronger fall flavors, and it looks festive without much effort.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz. lemonade
- 2 oz. cranberry juice
- 3 oz. lemon-lime soda
- Ice
- Fresh cranberries and lemon slices for garnish
Directions: Fill a glass with ice. Add lemonade and cranberry juice, then top with lemon-lime soda. Stir gently and garnish with fresh cranberries and a lemon slice.
Make it for a crowd: Combine 3 cups lemonade and 2 cups cranberry juice in a pitcher. Refrigerate until serving, then add 3 cups lemon-lime soda just before guests arrive.
Make Your Own Thanksgiving Mocktail Bar
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, consider setting up a little DIY mocktail station. It’s an easy way to let guests make their own drinks without adding another task to your already busy day.
Start with a few juices like apple cider, cranberry and pomegranate. Add some bubbly options like ginger ale, nonalcoholic ginger beer, lemon-lime soda and sparkling water.
Then set out a few garnishes:
- Fresh apple and orange slices
- Cinnamon sticks
- Fresh cranberries
- Rosemary sprigs
- Maraschino cherries
- Flavored syrups
You can even print out a few recipe cards so guests can mix their favorites.
For younger kids, keep things simple with apple cider and ginger ale or cranberry juice and lemon-lime soda. They’ll love having their own special Thanksgiving drink.
And don’t forget the glasses! You don’t need anything expensive. Mason jars, clear plastic cups or whatever you already have on hand will work just fine.
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be complicated to be memorable. Sometimes it’s the little things, like letting the kids make their own fancy drinks or raising a glass together before dinner, that become favorite family traditions.
Cheers to a happy Thanksgiving!
