Alcohol-free New Year's Drinks

by Laura Torres | More from this Blogger

29 Dec 2005 11:55 AM

Break out a bit of the bubbly with your kids this New Year's Eve. These sophisticated punches (and one no-brainer punch) will please your kids as well as adults. Set out the chips and dips, crackers and cheese and other finger foods along with the punch and you've got a party!

If you don't have a punch bowl, you can use a large serving or salad bowl, or I found some big plastic punch-size bowls at the dollar store that were festive and would work perfectly. A ladle can be a punch scoop, and short, clear plastic cups can stand in for punch cups.

MockChampagne Punch

2/3 cup sugar 2/3 cup water 1 cup grapefruit juice 1/2 cup orange juice 3 Tbls. Grenadine 1 bottle ginger ale, chilled

Combine the sugar and water in a 1-quart pan and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Boil for 10 minutes. Cool. Combine the sugar syrup, grapefruit juice and orange juice. Chill thoroughly. Pour into punch bowl. Add grenadine and ginger ale just before serving.

Cranberry Sparkle

4 cups cranberry juice, chilled 2 cups fresh orange juice 48 ounces lemon-lime soda

Chill all ingredients. Pour into punch bowl and serve.

This one is the easiest punch ever, and not so sophisticated, but its always a hit. My Grandpa used to make this for the grand kids, and we simply called it "Grandpa's punch."

Grandpa's Punch

1 2-liter bottle lemon-lime soda or ginger ale 1 pint lime sherbet

Chill the soda and pour it into a punch bowl. Scoop the ice cream into several scoops and float them on top of the soda. When serving, scoop a little of the ice cream into the cup.

Learn more about Laura Torres

Laura Torres is the best-selling author of many books for kids and teens, and a party planner. Check out her website at lauratorres.com.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger