New Year's Eve Non-Alcoholic Beverages for Non-Drinkers

Whether they are your designated drivers, pregnant friends, underage guests, recovering alcoholics, or other non drinking guests, keep your non drinking guests happy with these fabulous mocktails.

Vienna Soother: Have a few to go cups with lids on hand so you can give your sleepy designated drivers a caffeinated treat to help them get your guests safely home. You can also show your thanks by purchasing a to go coffee cup as a thank you parting gift and fill it with this mocktail before you go. Add 4 ounces of strong coffee, 2 ounces of cream, a hearty drizzle of chocolate syrup, and a couple of dashes of cinnamon to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with plenty of ice and shake well. Strain the cocktail into a clear coffee mug or highball glass and top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

Nada Colada: This non-alcoholic alternative to the Pina Colada can be made to taste even more like the real thing by adding a little rum extract to the blender. Blend 2 cups skim milk, 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice frozen into ice cube trays, 1 tablespoon of vanilla, 1 tablespoon of coconut extract, and two tablespoons of vanilla in a blender until mixture becomes frothy. Pour into glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges.

Cinderella: When served in a martini glass, this cocktail is as pretty as a Cosmopolitan. The star shaped lemon and lime garnishes make this drink especially festive. Add one ounce each of strained fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice to a cocktail strainer. Top with two ounces of club soda and a dash of grenadine. Fill the strainer with ice. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Use a small star shaped cookie cutter to cut stars out of lime and lemon peels. Float the stars in the glass.

Appletini: Another beautiful cocktail to serve to your non-drinking friends. Add 2 ounces of good quality apple juice, fresh pressed if you can find it, ½ ounce of simple syrup, and ¼ ounce of fresh squeezed lemon juice to a cocktail shaker. Shake well. Rim a martini glass with sugar and strain the cocktail into it. Use a tiny star shaped cookie cutter to cut star shapes out of apple slices to float in the cocktail, as you did for the Cinderella. The lemon juice in the cocktail will keep the stars from browning.

Pomegranate Mimosa Your friendswon't miss the champagne with this pretty, trendy alternative. Pour ½ ounce of fresh pomegranate juice into a champagne flute and fill with sparkling apple cider. Drop a few whole pomegranate seeds into the glass for garnish. (Recommended brands: POM Wonderful pomegranate juice and Martinelli's Apple Cider)