Non-Alcoholic Drinks for New Year's Eve

Having a get-together for New Year's Eve? Unsure of what drinks to serve? Need choices for the designated drivers? Or are you having a family party and need beverages for the little ones? Here are a few non-alcoholic recipes for you to try!

Fruit Punch is a popular option for parties. Invest in an inexpensive punch bowl and you're set.

Punch in a Cloud

This punch recipe is super easy. You only need two ingredients:

2 qts. Sherbet

3 2-liter bottles of 7-UP or Sprite

Any variation of sherbet will work. Available flavors include lime, raspberry, and orange, or my favorite, rainbow sherbet (a combination of the three).

Put half of the sherbet into your punch bowl; add 7-UP slowly. Don't stir. Scoop the remaining sherbet out and gently place it on top of the punch, so it floats. It will look like a floating "cloud".

Here is another punch recipe, equally delicious, but it requires a few more ingredients.

Christmas Punch

You'll need:

1 lg. can Hawaiian Punch

1 lg. can apricot juice

6 oz. frozen pink lemonade

2 cans pineapple juice

1 qt. ginger ale

1 qt. rainbow sherbet

Pour the juices, Hawaiian Punch, and ginger ale into your punch bowl and stir. Add the frozen pink lemonade and break it apart so there are big chunks of slushy ice floating around. Lastly add the sherbet by dropping scoops so it will float.

Is it cold where you live? If there will be snow on New Year's Eve, then you may want a warm drink to keep your guests cozy. Here is a suggestion for you.

Spiced Cider

You'll need:

¾ c. brown sugar, firmly packed

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. orange zest

1 tsp. allspice

½ tsp. nutmeg

Mix these ingredients together and combine with one cup apple juice and ¼ cup water. Bring to boil over medium heat; reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. This only serves 1 person, so you'll want to adjust the ingredients to fit however many people you are serving. Or you can prepackage the dry ingredients and keep hot water in a carafe and apple juice in the fridge. You can instruct your guests to serve themselves as desired.

Experiment with these choices to find the one you like best, or serve all three. Have a rockin' end of 2008!