5 Easy-To-Prepare Christmas Mocktails

Image taken from:http://offbeatandinspired.com/2014/11/04/cider-thyme-tonic-mocktail/

A charming concoction from OffbeatandInspired.com, this herb-infused treat brings out the diversity and warm flavours of apple cider – serve cold and have a good thyme!

Recipe:

12 oz apple cider
2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 oz thyme simple syrup (recipe below)
1 bottle (9.3 ounces) tonic water
Additional thyme and lemon slices for garnish

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients except tonic water to a pitcher and stir until fully incorporated.

2. Add ice to four glasses, filling each about halfway.

3. Divide the cider mixture evenly among the glasses. Top with tonic water. Stir gently.

4. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and enjoy!

Thyme Simple Syrup recipe:

0.5 cup granulated sugar
0.5 cup water
2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Turn heat to low and stir until sugar dissolves.

2.Simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until syrup coats the back of a spoon.

3. Remove from heat. Take out the thyme sprigs and allow syrup to cool completely before using.

4. Store leftover syrup in a jar in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks.

Mulled Apple Juice

We can always count on BBCGoodFood.com for exquisite takes on our favourite food and drinks, and this one is no exception – simple, elegant, and warms you up from the inside.

Ingredients

1 litre apple juice
strips of orange peel
1 cinnamon stick, plus extra to garnish, if you like
3 cloves

Sugar or honey, to taste

Method

1. Simmer the apple juice with the strips of orange peel, cinnamon stick and cloves for about 5-10 mins until all the flavours have infused. Sweeten to taste.
2. Serve each drink with a little orange peel and a piece of cinnamon stick, if you like.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Another hit from BBCGoodFood.com, this festive favourite will elevate anyone’s mood with a single sip. Perfect for kids at daytime house parties, as peppermint is known to keep them awake!

Ingredients
200g bar plain chocolate, broken into chunks
600ml milk
150ml pot single or double cream
Sugar to taste
6 peppermint candy canes, to serve

Method
1. Put the chocolate in a pan with the milk. Gently heat, stirring until all the chocolate has melted. Continue heating until the milk is steaming, then remove from the heat and stir in the cream.

Divide the hot chocolate between 6 mugs, add sugar to taste and hang a candy cane on the edge of each. Pass the mugs round and let everyone stir their hot chocolate with their candy cane – letting as much of the sweet peppermint dissolve as they fancy.

Nothing says the holidays are here quite like a festive mocktail, so we hope you’ll enjoy making these for your family and guests. It’s a good idea to stock up and keep ingredients handy, as we’d expect many guests will be dropping by to visit. Find everything you need at Ben’s Independent Grocer, and until next year – Happy Holidays!