Christmas is a time we tend to overindulge in a range of areas – with food and alcohol being the most popular. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your alcohol consumption over the holidays, try one (or all) of these festive mocktail recipes for a different alternative.  

Cranberry Sangria

Who doesn’t love Sangria? Try this non-alocholic summer punch like mocktail that will put you in the mood for some salsa dancing. 

Ingredients

1 cup of ice cubes

¼ of fresh pineapple, peeled and cut into thin wedges

1 passionfruit, pulped

½ orange, thinly sliced

500ml (2 cups) of low-sugar cranberry juice

500ml (2 cups) of low-sugar ginger beer

½ cup of fresh mint leaves

(optional) pomegranate arils to serve

Method

Place ice cubs in a serving jug, along with cranberry juice and ginger beer. Place pineapple, orange and passionfruit in mixture and stir. Pour into serving glasses and top with pomegranate arils and fresh mint leaves.

Watermelon ‘nojitos’

If you don’t have watermelon in Summer, are you even doing it right? Try out this mocktail recipe to harbour those watermelon cravings. 

Ingredients

1.5kg watermelon, peeled, chopped

2 limes, sliced

2 cups chilled soda water

1/3 cup lime juice

1 small bunch fresh mint, sprigs picked

1 tablespoon stevia

2 teaspoons finely grated lime rind

1 tablespoon of sugar to serve

Ice-cubes, to serve

Method

Using a blender, blend watermelon until smooth.

Place lime slices in a serving jug. Add soda water, watermelon and lime juice and stevia to jug and stir to combine. Add mint.

Dip rim of glasses in water. Sprinkle serving sugar and lime ring on plate. Dip the wet glass rims in the sugar and lime mixture.

Pour the watermelon mixture into each glass. Serve with an extra sprig of mint on top.

Ginger punch

This one is super simple if you’re looking for a quick refreshment.

Ingredients

1 cup orange juice

1 cup apple juice

2 tablespoons ginger beer cordial

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves

4 strawberries, hulled, roughly chopped

2 cups lemonade

Ice cubes, to serve

Method

Combine orange juice, apple juice and cordial in a large bowl. Top with chopped mint, strawberries, lemonade and ice. Stir to combine and serve.

Pineapple Passion

This refreshing option will have your taste buds in a fizz.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups of unsweetened pineapple juice

1/4 cup of lemon juice

2 tablespoons of stevia

3 passionfruits, pulped

2 litres soda water

Ice cubes, to serve

Method

Place pineapple juice, lemon juice and stevia in jug and stir. Add soda water, passionfruit pulp and ice cubes. Combine and serve.

Non-alcoholic and chilled mulled wine

If you’re craving this international favorite, try this chilled version for Summer instead.

Ingredients

500ml pomegranate juice

25g golden caster sugar

handful of frozen blackberries

250ml apple juice

1 cinnamon stick

1 star anise

4 cloves

3 black peppercorns

1 orange, quartered

Method

Put the pomegranate juice, sugar, blackberries and apple juice in a saucepan.

Add cinnamon, star anise, cloves, peppercorns and orange. Heat gently until simmering. Taste for sweetness, then strain into heatproof bowl or jug. Chill in the refrigerator. Serve with ice.

• Healthy Recipes & Food