Who said that not drinking alcohol had to be boring? There are so many ways to have fun without the toxins in your body. Whether you just want one clean weekend, or you are looking at making alcohol-free living a permanent part of your life, you do not have to worry about what your friends will think.
At no point will you need to miss out on parties or look like the bore. Non-alcoholic drinks can even seem like the real deal. The best part is they taste better since you do not have the dehydrating effect from the alcohol. The next morning you will feel fresh and ready for action, unlike all your friends who drank the alcoholic versions.
However, just how do you make fun non-alcoholic drinks for your weekend parties? Here are seven that you will want to try out immediately.
Start with the Pink Punch Recipe
The first on the list is a delicious pink punch. You will get the taste of summer in a bowl. Make everything beforehand, except for adding the ginger ale. This is best added just before you all enjoy this delicious alcohol-free drink.
Make sure all the juices are chilled. You will be able to avoid adding too much ice, which just ends up diluting your drink.
Ingredients:
- 2tbsp sugar
- 3 cups of cold water
- 2 bottles of cranberry and raspberry juice
- 1 can of pineapple juice
- 1 can of pink lemonade, frozen but thawed
- 1lt of ginger ale
Method:
- Place the water and sugar in a punch bowl and combine until the sugar dissolves
- Add all the juices, except the ginger ale, and mix to combine everything
- Add the ginger ale, stirring gently to avoid losing too much fizz
Serve as soon as the ginger ale has been added. Decorate the glasses of punch with some lemon slices and add a little-crushed ice into the mix. You can also add an ice mold to the top if you want to go out of your way to impress.
This is a refreshing mocktail that your friends will want time and time again. Expect a few requests for summer at your house. It is something even your kids will enjoy in the house.
Make Your Own Non-Alcoholic Long Island Ice Tea
Long Island Ice Tea is a popular cocktail in bars. What if you could get the taste of it without the alcohol? Enjoying your night with this mocktail is possible. It is the perfect option for large families and when kids want to enjoy something that looks like a grown-up drink.
This is not just going to be a mocktail for weekend parties. You will want a batch of this in the fridge throughout the summer for a refreshing and cooling drink.
Ingredients:
- 7.5 cups of sugar
- 2 cups of instant tea
- 5 envelopes of lemonade soft drink mix
- 1 cup of warm water
- Cold water
Preparing the tea:
- Dissolve the team mix in a cup of warm water, making enough for 1 and 2/3 cups
- Place the mixture into a gallon container and fill up to the gallon mark with the cold water
- Place in the fridge, covered, until you are ready to use t
Method:
- Mix the sugar with the lemonade and tea in a large bowl
- Store in five batches in airtight containers for up to six months
You will need to plan to make sure you can enjoy this delicious tea. It is well worth the wait when you have it. Think of it like making your alcohol, which takes months to ferment! The difference is you will have a tasty, non-alcoholic, punch to enjoy.
Enjoy a Cranberry Kiss
How about something tarts for your weekend parties. The cranberry juice in this will help to give you a slight kick, while the orange juice will add the sweetness to the mixture. This will not take too long to make, and you can easily make extra to ensure you have enough for your weekend party.
Ingredients:
- 6 cups of cranberry juice
- 1 ½ cups of orange juice
- 3 cups of ginger ale
- Ice cubes
Method:
- Combine the two fruit juices in a pitcher
- Add the ginger ale
- Serve everything over ice
Like with the first recipe, you want to add the ginger ale just before you serve. It is best when it is all drank fresh. You will get around 14 servings from this one recipe, so consider adding more! Your friends will want to know your non-alcoholic secrets.
Create a Delicious Strawberry-Rhubarb Punch
Rhubarb is delicious in a pie or crumble, but that is not the only way you can enjoy it. The next time you stock up on it, make sure you get the rest of the ingredients for this delicious mixture. It is a taste of summer and fall in one and is perfect for weekend parties throughout the year.
Ingredients:
- 8 cups of rhubarb, fresh or frozen, chopped
- 8 cups of water
- 2 ½ cups of sugar
- 2tbsp strawberry flavored gelatin powder
- 2 cups of boiling water
- 2 cups of pineapple juice
- ¼ cup of lemon juice
- 6 cups of ginger ale, chilled
Method:
- Using a Dutch oven, add the rhubarb to water and bring it to the boil
- Reduce the heat and simmer the rhubarb while uncovered for 10 minutes
- Drain off the liquid, reserving it for later
- In a large bowl, add the sugar and gelatin to the boiling water
- Add the two fruit juices, stirring to combine
- Add the rhubarb liquid, stirring to combine
- Place in the fridge to chill and then add the ginger ale
Make sure you add the ginger ale just before you serve again. Left too long and the ginger ale will go flat.
If you are going to use frozen rhubarb, let it completely thaw before the use. Do not press out the liquid, but do place in a colander to let the excess liquid drip away.
You can use the rhubarb for a pie or crumble later if you want. This is a delicious and simple way to add dessert to your party.
Create a Dr. Pepper and Cherry Punch
You do not just have to use ginger ale for your punches. While it makes an excellent base, other sodas also work. You can also mix the ginger ale with other sodas to create a sweet and delicious punch.
One of the things about Dr. Pepper is that you mask the idea of no alcohol entirely. Those who are not too certain about having fun without the toxins will not even know the difference. Encourage them to try it before they even know the truth. You will soon have them roped in.
Ingredients:
- 2lts of Dr. Pepper
- 1 bottle of cherry juice
- 1lt of ginger ale
- 1 jar of undrained maraschino cherries
- 1 cup of pomegranate arils (seeds)
- Crushed ice
Method:
- Combine the soda, juice, and ginger ale in a bowl
- Add the cherries and mix thoroughly
- Add the ice to the punch bowl to fill it and then sprinkle the arils over the top
You can serve these directly in glasses if you would like. However, a punch bowl is great for parties to make it easier for people to grab more as and when they need to. They will go back for more!
Recreate Sangria with a Non-Alcoholic Twist
When it comes to Mexican night, you want to make sure you have Sangria on tap. However, is there a way to make it non-alcoholic? Of course, there is! This is a recipe to die for.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of passion fruit juice
- 8 cups of ginger ale
- 1 kiwi, chopped
- 1 orange, chopped
- 1 star fruit, chopped
- 1 lime, chopped
- ½ cup of cranberries
Method:
- Fill your pitcher with ice and then add the juice and ginger ale
- Add the fruit pieces
- Store everything in the fridge until you are ready to serve to keep it chilled
If you want to skip the ginger ale (and the calories it brings), you can opt for sparkling water instead. One of the benefits of sparkling water is the mixture of flavors you can get. Look out for lemon, lime, or just plain sparkling water for best results.
Make a Refreshing Limeade Mocktail
Limeade is one of the best summer creations in the world. It is refreshing and tasty, leaving you feeling ready for another day. Rather than getting the store-bought limeade, why not make your own? This mocktail will give you a rainbow in a glass. It uses real fruit, giving it a colorful, delicious look.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of blackberries
- 1 cup of kiwi, diced
- 1 cup of pineapple, diced
- 1 cup of mango, diced
- 1 cup of strawberries, chopped
- 3/4 cup of limeade concentrate, thawed4 cups of lemon-lime soda
Method:
- Place all the fruit into a pitcher in layers
- Drizzle the limeade concentrate over the top and add the soda
You can replace the lemon-lime soda with some ginger ale or sparkling water if you would like. You will get a slightly different taste, but all will be just as refreshing. Try out sparkling waters with complimentary tastes to the fruits. Strawberry, lime, or lemon flavored waters are often the best options. However, do be aware of the added sugar that the flavors have.
Do not forget to make this for the kids during the summer months. It is perfect for a kid’s outdoor party since it is packed with nutrients and delicious liquids. Most of the kids will want to pick out the fruits without even thinking about how they are healthy for them. They just know the combination tastes good.
Why Would You Want a Non-Alcoholic Party?
There will be many questioning the need for these recipes. Well, there are many reasons to need non-alcoholic drinks. The first is for all the designated drivers. They will be fed up with just drinking cola or another soft drink at the bar. They will want to feel like they are enjoying an alcohol-fuelled night like their passengers.
Then there are those who want to look after their health. Alcohol damages the liver when drank in excess. Experts believe it is harmful in pregnancies and it does not mix well with medications. However, you do not want to miss out on a weekend party because you have opted for a night without drinking. These mocktails give you the chance to feel like you are still part of the fun; that you are still part of the group.
Of course, there will be others at the party wanting to avoid alcohol. Alternatively, they may have decided that they have drunk enough, and it is time to opt for non-alcoholic drinks. They may not want friends to know or may want something more thirst quenching than soda. The drinks that are full of fruit are an excellent way to offer something for them.
Moreover, finally, you have options for the kids and family parties. You can throw those Saturday and Sunday afternoon BBQs in the middle of the summer without worrying about having something tasty for the younger members.
Nobody Will Ever Know!
The tastes of all the mocktails above will mask the fact that you do not have alcohol in there. If you are looking for a way to trick people into not drinking a lot of alcohol, this is the way to do it. Of course, you could just be honest. Everyone will enjoy the drinks and realize they can have a world of fun without the need for alcohol.
Make a few bowls of the punches for your weekend parties. You can have something that all will enjoy, whether they want thirst-quenching limeade or prefer something with a taste of Long Island. Most of the mocktails will be ready in minutes, so you can quickly make more if you need to in the kitchen. You will likely find everyone chooses them over the beers and ciders he or she have brought.
