Friendsgiving Drinks: 10 Functional Mocktails Everyone Can Enjoy
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Friendsgiving drinks add a festive touch to your celebration without relying on alcohol. From classic holiday mocktails to creative functional options, there are plenty of ways to make your gathering feel special.
Picture this: you're surrounded by good friends, laughing over a table full of delicious food. While the turkey and sides are definitely the stars of the show, the right drinks can really enhance the festive atmosphere. A selection of fun, tasty mocktails lets everyone join the celebration and create unforgettable memories together.
Key Takeaways
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Easy Friendsgiving mocktails like Cranberry Moscow Mule and Ginger Pear Fizz take just 5 minutes to prepare.
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Non-alcoholic Apple Cider Sangria combines apple cider, white grape juice, fresh fruit, and sparkling water for a crowd-friendly drink.
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Cranberry Orange Kava Cooler is an adult-only functional mocktail made with cranberry juice, orange juice, and a ready-to-drink Kava beverage.
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A Friendsgiving mocktail station can include fruit juices, sparkling mixers, ice, seasonal garnishes, and clearly labeled functional beverages.
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To prepare Friendsgiving drinks for a crowd, mix juice bases ahead of time, add carbonated ingredients just before serving, and offer both warm and chilled options.
10 Easy Friendsgiving Mocktail Recipes to Try This Year
Here are 10 easy non-alcoholic Friendsgiving drinks that can become the star of your feast!
1. Cranberry Moscow Mule
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
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½ cup cranberry juice
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1 cup non-alcoholic ginger beer
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2 tbsp fresh lime juice
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¼ cup sparkling water
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Ice cubes
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Fresh cranberries and lime wedges for garnish
Steps:
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Fill two glasses or copper mugs with ice.
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Divide the cranberry juice and lime juice between the glasses.
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Add ginger beer and sparkling water, then stir gently.
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Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime wedges.
Tip: Chill the ginger beer beforehand so the drink stays cold without needing too much ice.
2. Apple Cider Sangria
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
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3 cups apple cider
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2 cups sparkling water
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1 cup white grape juice
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1 apple, thinly sliced
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1 orange, sliced
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½ cup fresh cranberries
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2 cinnamon sticks
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Ice cubes
Steps:
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Add apple cider and white grape juice to a large pitcher.
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Stir in the sliced apple, orange, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks.
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Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the fruit and spices infuse.
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Add sparkling water and ice just before serving.
Tip: Prepare the cider mixture the night before and refrigerate it. Add sparkling water when guests arrive to keep the drink bubbly.
3. Pomegranate Rosemary Spritzer
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
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¾ cup pomegranate juice
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½ cup Hop water
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2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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2 rosemary sprigs
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Ice cubes
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Pomegranate seeds for garnish
Steps:
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Fill two glasses with ice.
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Divide the pomegranate juice and lemon juice between the glasses.
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Pour hop water over each drink and gently stir.
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Garnish with rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds.
Special Tip: Want to add a functional twist? Try Drink Vibes' hop-based Glow Getter beverage in place of regular hop water. Check the product label for additional functional ingredients before serving.
4. Maple Old Fashioned Mocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
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1 cup orange-flavored sparkling water
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2 tsp pure maple syrup
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2 orange slices
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2 pitted cherries
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2 tsp fresh lemon juice
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Ice cubes
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Orange peel for garnish
Steps:
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Place an orange slice and a cherry in each glass.
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Add maple syrup and gently muddle the fruit.
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Add lemon juice and ice.
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Top with orange-flavored sparkling water, stir, and garnish with orange peel.
5. Cranberry Orange Kava Cooler
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
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2 oz cranberry juice
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1 oz orange juice
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Ready-to-drink Kava beverage
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Ice cubes
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Orange slice and fresh cranberries for garnish
Steps:
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Fill a glass with ice.
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Pour in cranberry juice and orange juice.
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Add the Kava beverage according to the manufacturer's serving directions and stir gently.
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Garnish with an orange slice and fresh cranberries.
Special Tip: Drink Vibes offers a ready-to-drink Kava Hot Tropic tonic, which you can easily add to this recipe for a refreshing taste.
6. Ginger Pear Fizz
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
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1 cup pear nectar
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1 cup ginger ale
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2 tbsp fresh lime juice
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½ ripe pear, thinly sliced
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Ice cubes
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Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish
Steps:
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Fill two glasses with ice.
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Divide the pear nectar and lime juice evenly between the glasses.
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Add ginger ale and stir gently.
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Garnish with pear slices and a sprig of thyme.
Tip: Brush the pear slices with a little lemon juice before serving to help prevent browning.
7. Grapefruit Shrub Hop Spritz
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
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½ cup fresh grapefruit juice
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2 tbsp grapefruit shrub syrup (prepared with apple cider vinegar)
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1 cup hot water
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1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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Ice cubes
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Grapefruit slices and rosemary sprigs for garnish
Steps:
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Fill two glasses with ice.
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Divide the grapefruit juice, shrub syrup, and lemon juice between the glasses.
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Pour in the hop water and stir gently.
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Garnish with grapefruit slices and fresh rosemary.
8. Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
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½ cup unsweetened cranberry juice
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1 cup ginger kombucha
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2 tbsp fresh lime juice
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½ cup sparkling water
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Ice cubes
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Fresh cranberries and lime slices for garnish
Steps:
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Fill two glasses with ice.
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Divide the cranberry juice and lime juice between the glasses.
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Add the ginger kombucha and sparkling water to each glass.
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Gently stir, then garnish with fresh cranberries and lime slices.
9. Pineapple Ginger Ketone Mocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
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2 oz pineapple juice
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½ oz fresh lime juice
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½ tsp freshly grated ginger
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BHB Ketone beverage
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Ice cubes
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Pineapple wedge for garnish
Steps:
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Add pineapple juice, lime juice, and grated ginger to a shaker with ice.
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Shake briefly, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
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Add the Ketone beverage according to the manufacturer's serving directions.
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Stir gently and garnish with a pineapple wedge.
Special Tip: Use Drink Vibes’ BHB Ketone Energy drink to add a tasty twist to your recipe.
10. Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Wassail
Prep Time: 10 minutes, plus 2–3 hours cooking
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
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6 cups apple cider
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2 cups orange juice
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2 cinnamon sticks
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4 whole cloves
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1 orange, sliced
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1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
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2 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Steps:
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Pour apple cider and orange juice into a slow cooker.
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Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange slices, ginger, and maple syrup (if using).
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Cover and cook on low for 2–3 hours, until hot and the spices have infused.
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Remove the whole spices and serve warm in heat-safe mugs.
Tip: Keep the wassail on the slow cooker's warm setting during the gathering, following your appliance's food-safety instructions.
Tips for Making Friendsgiving Mocktails for a Crowd
Preparing Friendsgiving drinks for a crowd is easier with a little planning. Here are a few simple tips:
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Mix juices and syrups ahead of time to save preparation time.
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Add sparkling ingredients just before serving to maintain the fizz.
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Prepare sangria and punch in large pitchers for easy serving.
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Set up a mocktail station with glasses, ice, mixers, and garnishes.
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Keep Kava and Ketone-based drinks separate and clearly labeled.
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Use cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks for festive garnishes.
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Include both warm and chilled drinks for more variety.
Final Thoughts
As you gather with friends this Friendsgiving, remember that tasty mocktails can add to the joyful atmosphere. So, bring out your favorite glasses, add a few festive garnishes, and raise a toast to good friends, great food, and another Friendsgiving worth remembering. Cheers!
Want more recipes for fall gatherings? Check out our guide to Non-Alcoholic Drinks For Fall Gatherings for seasonal inspiration.
FAQs
What makes a mocktail functional?
A functional mocktail contains ingredients marketed for purposes beyond basic refreshment, such as prebiotics, botanical extracts, or Ketones. Its specific properties depend on the ingredients and formulation.
Can you make Friendsgiving mocktails without a cocktail shaker?
Yes. Most mocktails can be prepared using a pitcher, mixing spoon, or regular glass. A cocktail shaker is mainly useful for combining ingredients that require vigorous mixing.
How do you keep mocktails from being too sweet?
Use unsweetened juices, reduce added syrups, or balance sweetness with fresh lemon or lime juice. Plain sparkling water can also help dilute overly sweet mixtures.
How can you make Friendsgiving mocktails look more elegant?
Try using decorative glass rims, edible flowers, fruit skewers, or large ice cubes. Matching the presentation to your Friendsgiving table decorations can make even simple drinks look special.
Are all non-alcoholic mocktails completely alcohol-free?
Not necessarily. Some alcohol-free spirits, bitters, kombucha, and fermented mixers may contain trace amounts of alcohol. Check labels for 0.0% ABV if guests require drinks with no alcohol.
How long can homemade mocktails stay fresh in the refrigerator?
For best quality, prepare fresh juice-based mocktail mixtures within 24 hours. Keep them refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below, and don't leave perishable ingredients at room temperature for more than two hours.
Disclaimer: These recipes are for informational purposes only. Functional beverages containing Kava, ketones, or other botanical ingredients may not suit everyone. Check product labels, follow manufacturer instructions, and consult a healthcare professional if needed.
