1. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, bring 1 cup water, sugar, and ginger to a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar.
2. Remove simple syrup from heat, cover, and steep for about 30 minutes.
3. Over a medium bowl, pour syrup through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing minced ginger against the sieve with the back of a spoon to extract flavor.
4. Discard ginger. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until well chilled.
5. Evenly distribute peach slices among 8 tall glasses. For each glass, lightly press peaches with the back of a wooden spoon to release their juice.
6. Pour about 2 tablespoons chilled syrup over peaches. (Store remaining syrup in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.) Add ice cubes; then top with seltzer.
7. Stir to distribute syrup, peach juice, and seltzer evenly. Garnish with 2 mint leaves.

Shirley Temple Holiday Inspired Mocktail

This Shirley Temple recipe is great for holiday parties with family, expectant mothers, or designated drivers! It’s the ultimate Kiddie Cocktail! Long after turning 21, I still find myself ordering Shirley Temples at restaurants. If you like sweet drinks, there is just nothing better!

Instructions

1. Pour 1 ounce Grenadines over ice in a glass.
2. Top with 8 ounces lemon-lime soda.
3. Garnish with maraschino cherries if desired.

-let’s be honest. I am dumping 8 cherries in my drink, at least! I’ll have some Shirley Temple with my maraschino cherries, thank you very much!

Cider, Thyme + Tonic Holiday Inspired Mocktail

Ingredients:

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

Instructions:

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.
4. Top with tonic water. Stir gently.
5. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and enjoy!

*Thyme Simple Syrup

• 5 cups of granulated sugar
• 5 cups of water
• 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan.
2. Turn heat to low and stir until sugar dissolves.
3. Simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until syrup coats the back of a spoon.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Take out the thyme sprigs and allow syrup to cool completely before using.
6. Store leftover syrup in a jar in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks.

Winter Spice Lemonade Holiday Inspired Mocktail

Level: Easy

Total: 25 min (includes cooling time)

Active: 10 min

Yields: 8 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3-star anise pods
• One 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
• 6 cups seltzer, chilled
• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice (from 6 to 8 lemons)

Directions

1. Combine the sugar, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, ginger and 1 1/2 cups water in a small pot.
2. Bring to a boil, remove from the heat and let sit to cool to room temperature.
3. Strain.
4. Combine the strained simple syrup, cold seltzer and lemon juice in a large pitcher.
5. Stir and pour into glasses filled with ice.

Who doesn’t love a delicious warm hug in the tummy? Well next to the Shirley Temple, this red velvet mocktail is clearly my favorite warm drink. Curious for the recipe, well, me too. Keep reading.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of skim {or 1% milk}
• 1/2 cup of chopped bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate {chocolate chips work well}
• 1 – 1 1/2 tsp red food coloring
• 1 tsp vanilla
• for the whipped cream:
• 1/4 cup of heavy cream
• 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk over medium.
2. Whisk in the chocolate, and stir until melted.
3. Stir in the food coloring and the vanilla.
4. Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla.
5. Serve the hot chocolate topped with whip and chocolate shavings.

There you have it my Lately lovers, my top 5 picks for this Holiday Inspired Mocktails to add joy, cheer, and merriment in your holiday festivity that can be enjoyed with all members, from kids, family to friends and colleagues. Let me know your favorite down on the comment section below. If it wasn’t so obvious, I am leaning towards the Classic Shirley Temple Holiday Inspired Mocktail. Happy Holidays.