Festive New Year’s drinks are delicious sans alcohol

Holidays bring an abundance of sweet treats, parties and decadent feasts. New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate the past year and look forward to what the new year will bring. These light and nonalcoholic festive drink alternatives still have the same holiday spirit to keep your designated drivers and health-conscious guests happy and satisfied.

The New Year’s Sparkler mixes sparkling apple cider and cranberry juice to create a perfect alternative to champagne when toasting. The Lychee Mojito Mocktail is full of flavor, and the Vanilla Chai Hot Toddy is a great nonalcoholic, after-dinner drink that will help to keep you warm.

Have a safe and happy new year!

NEW YEAR’S SPARKLER

4 cups sparkling apple cider

1 cup cranberry juice

1 tablespoon sugar (or sugar substitute)

Crushed ice

Lemon, cut into wedges for garnish

Mint leaves for garnish

Combine sparkling apple cider, cranberry juice and sugar. Serve in wine glasses over ice. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon wedge. Serves 6.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 110 calories, no fat or cholesterol, 25 mg sodium, 28 g carbohydrate, no fiber, 25 g sugar, no protein

LYCHEE MOJITO MOCKTAIL

8 teaspoons sugar

16 fresh mint sprigs

12 tablespoons lime juice

1 20-ounce can lychee (juice and fruit)

2 cups club soda

Ice

In large pitcher place sugar, mint, lime juice and lychee juice. Crush mixture with muddler (bartending tool, used like a pestle to mash herbs and fruit to release flavor) and add club soda. Serve in tall glass over ice. Garnish with 1 lychee per glass and mint leaves. Serves 4-6.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving (based on 4 servings): 180 calories, 46 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 9 g sugar, 1 g protein, no fat, cholesterol or sodium

Approximate nutritional information, per serving (based on 6 servings): 120 calories, 30 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 1 g protein, no fat, cholesterol or sodium

VANILLA CHAI HOT TODDY

1 cup chai tea concentrate mix (found at most grocery stores)

1 cup milk or soy milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cloves (whole)

2 cinnamon sticks

Mix chai tea concentrate and milk and vanilla in sauce pan on medium-high heat. Add cloves and 1 cinnamon stick and heat mixture through (8 minutes), stirring constantly to prevent burning. Remove from heat and pour chai mixture into coffee mug. Garnish with cinnamon stick and serve. Serves 1.

Approximate nutritional information, per serving: 350 calories, 12 g fat, 5 g saturated fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, 43 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 31 g sugar, 15 g protein

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More Hawaiian Electric Co. recipes are available at www.heco.com.