Festive and Kid-Friendly Holiday Drinks

I don’t know about yours, but my kids are all about getting in the holiday spirit! When it’s Christmas, they love all things Christmas! They want to watch every holiday movie (three times), bake every holiday cookie, and they insist on a warm glass of hot cocoa as often as possible. I have been feeling like we were in a hot cocoa rut so I compiled a list of some of the prettiest, tastiest, most festive and kid-friendly drinks I could find and I am sharing them with you!

Grinch Punch

You may not be proud of the primary green ingredient in this recipe, but your kids will think you are the Spirit of Christmas, in the flesh, if you make this so I say go ahead … There are definitely so many ways you can vary this one up to suit you but here are the basics …

  • 1 half gal Lime sherbet or Vanilla Ice Cream
  • 1 gal Hawaiian Punch Lemon-Lime Splash
  • (1) 2 liter sprite

Spoon the sherbet in the largest bowl you can find. Pour half of the sprite and half of the Hawaiian punch over the sherbet. Stir, combine. Blow their minds. (Annnnnd then save this recipe for their Minecraft birthday party next year).

Creamy White Christmas Punch

Okay, this one was a no-brainer for me, because, well, I love punch, and it looks like snow … ! It even tastes exactly like what we really want snow to taste like (and nothing like it actually does, eww).

Using simple ingredients you already have around your house (evaporated milk, almond extract, ice cream), you can have this snowy little thing ready in no time! It is absolutely delicious! Check out the recipe HERE.

Slow Cooker Hot Cocoa 

So honestly, hot chocolate could have its own blog post. But I’m just going to get you started.

holiday drinks1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 can sweetened condensed milk
6 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pour the milk in a slow cooker and let it warm up. Once it’s warm, add all the other ingredients and mix them up real well. Cover and cook on low for about 2 hours, or until all the ingredients have cozied up real nice with each other. Add whatever other goodness you want (peppermint, caramel, cayenne, cinnamon), and of course marshmallows, and serve.

Or try this vegan hot cocoa recipe from our very own contributor Tara

Vegan Peppermint Hot Cocoa

1 c Unsweetened vanilla or regular almond milk
1 tsp Unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey’s works!)
1/8 c Enjoy Life dairy-free semisweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp sugar

Warm on the stovetop on low until everything is melted together, stirring constantly.

Add a drop of peppermint oil and stir with a candy cane.

Christmas Punch

How about a classic, Christmas Punch?

This one is from one of our New Orleans Moms Blog contributors, Myndee.

So classic and simple with 2 ingredients, you can probably go make it right now! It is perfect for a last minute addition to any Holiday party! 

Snowman Smoothies

A cute twist on a daily smoothie. Make it a Snowman Smoothie!

  • 1 banana (cut in small pieces and frozen)
  • 1 Cup milk
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup shredded coconut
  • a few drops of vanilla extract
  • maple syrup or honey to taste

To decorate:

  • clear or white plastic/paper cups
  • black & orange marker pens (I used sharpies)
  • canned whip cream
  • colored sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Draw your snowman faces on the cups using the sharpies
  2. Add frozen banana pieces, milk, Greek yogurt, oats, coconut and vanilla extract to a blender. 
  3. Blend together until completely smooth, then taste and add a little maple syrup or honey to sweeten if you choose.
  4. Pour into the prepared cups and top with whipped cream and sprinkles on top.

Caramel Apple Cider

What’s the only thing better than Apple Cider? Caramel Apple Cider! This drink makes me very happy … both because caramel and because crock-pot. This will leave your house smelling like a big hug. You’re welcome! 

What you need …. first, Apple Cider. Feeling adventurous? Make your own! HERE is a wonderful recipe for doing just that. If you are not feeling up to it, feel free to just buy a couple quarts of the apple cider.

Pour apple cider in the crock pot, with 1/2 cup brown sugar and 2 tsp vanilla extract. Cover crock-pot and cook on low for 3 hours. Add 1/2 cup caramel sauce (you know, the yummy kind you pour all over ice cream). Cook for 30 more minutes. Then you serve. I wonder what last longer? The caramel apple cider or the amazing smell in your house … hmmmm.

PS. I strongly encourage you to throw whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and sliced oranges in the crock-pot for extra flavor … you won’t regret it! (strain before serving, of course)

P.P.S. For a tasty ice cream treat (hey, you never know when it’s going to be warm in these parts this time a year), give this Apple Cider Float a try! Oh my!

Salted Caramel Eggnog

Ohhh caramel anything has me looking up with bright, twinkling eyes! And to be honest … I didn’t really know you could actually make eggnog. I kinda thought it only came in the bottle once a year … maybe the elves made it. But apparently you can and it’s pretty easy too! Check out this recipe from The Cookie Rookie and see for yourself! (Hint: If you aren’t into salted caramel, you can still just make the homemade eggnog). 

And last but not least … a simple mocktail!

Here is a favorite from one of our contributors, Ashley! Complete with a homemade rosemary simple syrup and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice … this refreshing drink is perfect for those winter NOLA days that are, well, not so wintery. Check it out, here Grapefruit & Rosemary Mocktail

I hope you saw something you want to try out … Enjoy! 

Jaime Mitchell
Jaime was born and raised in Monroe, LA where she studied Biology/Chemistry at the University of Louisiana. After graduating in 2004, she headed to NOLA where she didn’t know a single soul! Soon after, she met her husband Sonny and together they are biological, foster, and adoptive parents to 3 (or more) amazing human beings. She recently graduated with her Masters, works in Sales & Marketing and serves as a Chaplain for the JPSO. In addition to love for her family and those who are grieving, Jaime gets pretty excited about foster/adoption, photography, cooking, podcasts and camping road-trips with her family. 

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