Drink Recipes That Sleigh: Make a Spirit-Free Drink at Home

Get into the holiday spirit without spirits at all! Lehigh Valley Health Network and the Lehigh Valley DUI/Highway Safety Task force hosted the Spirit-Free Mix-Off on Thursday, Dec. 19, at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, and it was another hit. The annual event promotes holiday safety by featuring seasonal mocktail recipes served by local media personalities.

Remarks were provided by Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan, and media participants included CAT Country Radio, B104 Radio, WFMZ-TV 69 News and WLVT-TV PBS39.

More than 300 colleagues and visitors voted for their favorites, and the Peach Bellini recipe secured the top spot in the popular vote competition.

Want to try a mocktail for yourself? Try one of the recipes below.

Horchata

Ingredients (makes 12 cups)

1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
12 oz can evaporated milk
12 oz can sweetened condensed milk
8 cups of warm water, divided
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
ground cinnamon to garnish
sugar to taste

Instructions

1. Place the rice in a colander and rinse under cold water.
2. Place the rice, cinnamon stick and 4 cups of water into a bowl.
3. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Puree half of the rice mixture and half of the water and some of the cinnamon stick in a blender until it is smooth and forms a water paste for about 4 minutes.
5. Use a fine strainer or some cheese cloth and pour the mixture over a pitcher.
6. Repeat this process for the rest of the rice, water and cinnamon mixture.
7. Stir in the canned milks, vanilla and the additional 4 cups of water.
8. Shake or stir well and serve over ice.

Sparkling Holiday Punch

Ingredients (makes 10 cups)

2 cups cranberry juice
2 cups orange juice
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups sparkling apple cider
2 cups ginger ale
aromatic garnishes: cinnamon sticks, star anise, fresh rosemary sprigs
fresh garnishes: orange slices, fresh or frozen cranberries, pomegranate seeds
simple syrup (optional to taste)

Instructions

1. Combine cranberry, pineapple and orange juice and the aromatic garnishes and chill.
2. Transfer the chilled juices to a punch bowl. Add the sparkling apple cider and ginger ale.

Float orange slices and cranberries on top. Sweeten with simple syrup to taste.

Peach Bellini (4 servings)

Ingredients

2 peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
2 cups peach juice
2 cups sparkling apple cider
½ cup fresh raspberries
mint garnish

Instructions

1. Place the fresh peach slices and peach juice in a blender and puree until smooth.
2. Add the sparkling apple cider to the blender and pulse once or twice to just combine the juice and cider. You do not want to overmix or the cider will lose its effervescence.
3. Pour the peach bellini into glasses filled with ice.

Garnish with a raspberry and mint leaf. Enjoy cold!

Peppermint Hot Chocolate (1 large mug)

Ingredients

1 cup milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
pinch of salt
3 ounces finely chopped semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
whipped cream, marshmallow and crushed candy canes for garnish

Instructions

1. In a pot, whisk together milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla and peppermint extracts and salt. Heat over low to medium heat until bubbles start to form around the side of pan.
2. Reduce heat, add chocolate and extracts and whisk until melted, glossy and slightly thickened, about one to two minutes.
3. Pour into a large mug and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.