Kid-Friendly Holiday Drink Embellishments and Garnishments

Holiday drinks and cocktails are made more festive with decorations and embellishments. Nonetheless, at many parties, kids drinks are often overlooked. Kids are typically served something simple like a basic punch or soda pop with very few if any garnishments. With kids however, the embellishments can be nearly as appreciated, if not more appreciated than the drink itself. Following are a few simple ideas to add flair and flavor to your kid friendly holiday drink choices. Set up various drink stations throughout the cocktail area to allow your guests to customize their beverages. It will be loads of fun.

Colored Sugar

Basic sugar can be made festive with just a little food coloring. You can buy decorative sugars from bakery supply shops, or make your own by mixing sugar and food coloring. Choose holiday colors like red and green, or metallics (which are readily available at bakery supply shops in both gold and silver) for more pizazz. These different sugars can be used to create sugar rims on glasses. To do this you'll need:

Paper plates filled with colored sugars (separate or mix colors if desired)
Bowl of lemon juice
Bowl of lime juice
Glasses

Assign someone to this station to make the process go more quickly. To begin, the guest will dip the rim of their glass in their choice of either lemon or lime juice. Shake off any excess juice, turn the glass upside down and dip it in the colored sugar. They should then press and twirl the glass to ensure full coverage. Voila! The glass is now more colorful and festive with the sugared rim. This process works best on glasses. If plastic cups are preferred because of younger children, consider dipping cups in honey, and then in sugar for a better hold.

Flavored/Colored Ice Cubes

Create flavored ice cubes with fruit drinks such as cranberry, or Minute Maid's limeade (which is a pretty green). These ice cubes will add color and fun to drinks along with additional flavor. Lastly, consider placing a gummy bear or edible flowers in ice trays to make little gummy bear or flowered ice cubes. These cute and creative ice cubes will make every drink extra special.

Other Garnishments

Provide other garnishments for your guests drinks such as crushed candy canes (this can also be used to rim glasses or as somewhat of a drink topping), rock candy swizzle sticks, glow in the dark stirrers and colored whip cream (also made with food colorings).