25 Winter Mocktails To Get Cozy With

As someone who lives in Florida, I don’t really get much by way of seasonal change this time of year (there have been a few “cold snaps” this month, but don’t tell my friends back in Chicago that means…fifty degrees). As a result of my lack of winter weather, I’m deeply appreciative of the corny-cozy touches of a big throw blanket, a pair of fuzzy socks, and a steaming mug of something clovey and balanced. Enter: winter mocktails. If you’re not drinking alcohol — for whatever reason you have — you can still enjoy some warming, complex brews by the fire. Or, you know, by the fake fire you queue up on your television. (Actually, mocktails by a mockfire has a nice ring to it. WAIT: Mocktails by a mockfire while wearing a mockneck sweater…feel free to steal this theme idea for a gathering or early winter date night.) Here are a slew of options — some of them warm, some of them merely wintry in their flavors, some lending heat by way of spice. All of the following recipes are alcohol-free.

This post was originally written in January 2023 and republished in January 2024.


Not Toddies

Yep, you guessed it: These are winter mocktails that are riffs on hot toddies. Get your cottagecore vibes on with these warming, spice-filled drinks.

Green Tea Nonalcoholic Hot Toddy

Four-Ingredient Hot Toddy

Hot Apple and Cinnamon Toddy

Hot Ginger Turmeric Toddy


Hot Stuff

a.k.a. more hot winter mocktail options that go beyond the hot toddy for inspiration! Some of these are alcohol-free versions of classic hot cocktails, and some are just recipes for wonderfully reliable non-alcoholic hot drinks like savory cocoa and chai.

Hot Buttered Pineapple Mocktail

Pineapple isn’t something I usually associate with this season, and yet! This mocktail! It sounds so buttery, warming, and surprising.

Virgin Irish Coffee

Note: This recipe is made with Nespresso pods, but you could easily sub in regular espresso. Also, check out this recipe for alcohol-free Irish cream.

Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine

You can mull anything with the right mixture of warming winter spices!

Savory Spiced Hot Chocolate

Spicy hot chocolate is a go-to winter beverage for me.

Everyday Chai

Everyone in my family makes chai a different way, but this is a good starter recipe that you can then build on.

Hot Cranberry Juice

A mugful of hot cranberry juice
via Shutterstock

Spiced Vanilla-Bean Steamers

Turmeric and vanilla join forces to make this creamy drink.

Sweet Potato Latte

See also: ube latte! A personal favorite, and I can’t wait to try to make one at home.

Slow Cooker Pear Cider

Pear is one of the most under-rated fruit flavors imo! Pear cider deserves as much attention as classic apple.

Sweet and Spicy Hot Orange Drink with Chili and Lime

Tis the season for spicy drinks (for the record, I say this about every season).


Cold 4 Cold

Winter mocktails don’t have to be warm! If you live in a hot, seasonless place and still want to channel winter vibes while drinking something refreshing and cool in the winter sun or if you keep your place so toasty in the winter that you wanna sip something icy, here are some nonalc recipes full of citrus, spice, and minty goodness.

Winter Spiced Orange Mocktail

Non-Alcoholic Winter Sangria

Sangria isn’t just for summer! And sangria is easy to make alcohol-free. Go all in on the sliced fruits to make them feel extra fancy.

Winter Cranberry Spritz

Spritzes also often get associate with summer, but a nice nonalcoholic winter spritz is great to have on a cozy day in.

Non-Alcoholic EspressoMartini

A martini glass full of Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini
via Food52

Dragonfruit Delight Mocktail

The color on dragonfruit-based mocktails is so fun.

Sparkling Spice

A champagne glass of Sparkling Spice
via Sunset

Non-Alcoholic Champagne Punch

Really super simple! But that makes it ideal for batching for a gathering. If you don’t have an ice round, you can still create a cool ice effect by adding edible flowers or berries to normal ice molds.

Cold Fashioned

Spicy Jalapeno Mule Mocktail

In a pinch, I like to just muddle lime and jalapeño in club soda.

Spicy Margarita Mocktail

Use whatever your favorite hot sauce is to spicy this up and add a pop of color.


Make any good wintry mocktails lately? Shout em out in the comments!

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Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya is the managing editor of Autostraddle and a lesbian writer of essays, short stories, and pop culture criticism living in Orlando. She is the assistant managing editor of TriQuarterly, and her short stories appear or are forthcoming in McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Joyland, Catapult, The Offing, and more. Some of her pop culture writing can be found at The A.V. Club, Vulture, The Cut, and others. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram and learn more about her work on her website.

Kayla has written 885 articles for us.

11 Comments

  1. Lmao I do love that the savoury hot chocolate recipe says “If you don’t have a Vitamix, I totally understand, I was there once too.” Thank you for understanding that I live in a tiny apartment, random Internet recipe writer!

  2. Ooh I love these, thanks for the roundup Kayla!!

    My personal favorite mocktail is kind of like the NA mulled wine recipe, but served over ice! I use about an ounce each of pomegranate juice and apple cider (not sparkling, just the kind you get at an orchard), then top off with sparkling water (I like berry and grapefruit). Super easy & delicious without being too sweet.

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