Alcohol-free options for your Thanksgiving celebration. [Photo: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]
We know you're going all out this Thanksgiving, offering up turkey and stuffing (the most delicious vegan version ever) and maybe even a meat-free roast. You've got options for gluten-free guests and boozy drinks for the drinkers. But what about those who don't drink spirits? They deserve more than just a bottle of fizzy apple juice.
Many mocktails are pale imitations of the harder stuff, but we've been collecting recipes for a few favorite alcohol-free options, perfect for teetotalers or for sipping between rounds of something stronger.
Rosemary Tangelo Shrub
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
After measuring out the ingredients and combining them in the fridge, making this rosemary and tangelo shrub is pretty hands-off. It doesn't taste that way, though, with the floral rosemary providing a pleasant contrast to the tangelo's bright acidity. Enjoy it with sparkling water for a refreshingly tart pick-me-up.
Get the Rosemary Tangelo Shrub recipe »
Tangy Kumquat-Pear Juice
[Photograph: Maggie Hoffman]
Ok, it's technically juice, but the flavor is way more complex than you'd expect from simple squished fruit. The key: kumquats, peel and all, add a pleasant astringency that works just like the bitterness in, say, Campari. Adding some ginger gives it a punch, while subtle pear balances out the acid and spice.
Get the Tangy Kumquat-Pear Juice recipe »
Coffee-Cinnamon Horchata
[Photograph: Lauren Rothman]
Horchata is a Mexican drink made from soaked rice and almonds that are blended until creamy. This unusual version is sweetened with agave and spiked with earthy coffee and cinnamon.
Get the Coffee-Cinnamon Horchata recipe »
Light and Drizzly
[Photograph: Kevin Liu]
A mix of spicy ginger syrup and astringent allspice syrup means this booze-free spin on the Dark and Stormy stands up to an array of richly flavored Thanksgiving dishes. For a completely booze-free drink, leave out the spicy tincture.
Get the Light and Drizzly recipe »
Mulled Cider Shrub
[Photograph: Anna Markow]
This mulled cider shrub doesn't require resting, so it's easy to whip up as guests arrive. The mix of spices and apple cider would make for something sweet, but here it's balanced with tangy cider vinegar. Combine with a splash of soda to serve.
Get the Mulled Cider Shrub recipe »
Barrel-Aged Cherry Soda
[Photograph: Kevin Liu]
The secret to an unforgettable mocktail? Treating it like you would a cocktail. For this drink, cherry juice and soda get mixed with a wood-aged simple syrup to provide the rich vanilla notes you associate with good bourbon. Prepare for this to become a new classic on your Thanksgiving table.
Get the Barrel-Aged Cherry Soda recipe »
Gingery Sweet Potato Apple Juice
[Photo: Lauren Rothman]
This sweet and spicy juice captures the flavors of Thanksgiving in a glass. Sweet potatoes make this juice extra frothy while ginger adds a pleasant kick to the delicate sweetness of fresh apple juice.
Get the Gingery Sweet Potato Apple Juice recipe »
The Bird Dog
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
This riff on the Salty Dog is all about the fresh grapefruit juice, but it gets its punch from hot sauce and dark brown sugar. A salty rim balances the drink's sweetness.
The Amber Palmer
[Photograph: Linda Xiao]
There's no lemonade here. Instead, this complex mocktail gets bold flavor from grapefruit juice whirred with fresh rosemary, and tannin from a mix of black and green teas. Seltzer and fresh mint pick it all up.
Get the Rouge Tomate's Amber Palmer recipe »
Sparkling Sumac Lemonade
[Photograph: Yossy Arefi]
A pinch of sumac gives drinks a tartness that's a bit unusual and intriguing. Here, it's simmered into a simple syrup then combined with seltzer and lemon for a bubbly mocktail that provides a refreshing break after a heavy Thanksgiving meal.
Get the Sparkling Sumac Lemonade recipe »
Orange, Rosewater, and Mint Sparkler
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
The key to a complex nonalcoholic drink is bringing together a few different complementary flavors, such as the gently floral rosewater in this concoction, paired with sweet-tart orange and an explosion of fresh mint.
Get the Orange, Rosewater, and Mint Sparkler recipe »
Kumquat and Fennel Smash
[Photograph: Robyn Lee]
Fennel's licorice notes add a delicate savory side to the brightness of kumquat in this muddled drink—it's a bit like adding absinthe or Chartreuse to a cocktail. Lightly bitter tonic water and tart lemon round out the sophisticated flavor of this one.
Get the Kumquat and Fennel Smash recipe »
Fizzy Pear Ginger Punch
[Photograph: Carrie Vasios Mullins]
Pear juice gets a kick from spicy ginger in this nonalcoholic autumn punch. The pear's sweetness is balanced with fresh lemon, and you can garnish each drink with a little chewy candied ginger.
Get the Fizzy Pear Ginger Punch recipe »
Black Peppercorn Limeade
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
Black pepper can add character to more than just savory dishes. Here, you'll simmer peppercorns with sugar and water for a simple syrup with a kick. When drizzled into fresh limeade, the pepper blossoms, emphasizing the drink's citrusy cool.
Get the Black Peppercorn Limeade recipe »
Spiced Mulled Cider
[Photograph: Max Falkowitz]
Making an excellent cup of mulled cider requires more than warming together apple cider and cinnamon sticks. We like to use a spice blend with warm cinnamon, earthy cloves, floral cardamom, and musky coriander for a nuanced and sophisticated drink.
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