Let’s be honest, 2020 was one of the hardest years for a lot of families and I think a great way to say goodbye to 2020 is to make some delicious cocktails and cheers 2020 out the door! Just because we cannot gather with friends and family this New Years Eve does not mean we cannot stay at home and either dress up or stay in some comfy clothes and enjoy some bubbly cocktails. I have also included ways to make these cocktails family-friendly, so every member in your house can enjoy the New Years celebrations too!
Photo courtesy of The Food Network
1. Champagne Cocktail from The Food Network
Don’t be turned off by the word Champagne. When people think of Champagne, they think of an expensive bottle of alcohol, but there are some really great options that are a lot more affordable. If you want to do something that is non-alcoholic, you could always get some sparkling juice from any grocery store, omit the bitters, and add whatever kind of garnish you want.
Ingredients:
- 4 sugar cubes
- 1 bottle Angostura bitters
- 1 bottle Champagne, very cold
- Lemon twists for garnish, optional
Photo courtesy of The Food Network
2. Red Wine Spritzer from The Food Network
If you are a fan of red wine, why not jazz it up a little bit and make it into a sparkling cocktail with blackberries and raspberries! To make this alcohol free, substitute the red wine with some grape juice – if you have kids, using grape juice makes them feel special because their drinks look like mom and dads!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pint blackberries
- 1/2 pint raspberries
- 1 bottle (750 mL) dry red Italian table wine
- 1 quart sparkling water or seltzer, chilled
Photo courtesy of Delish
3. Giggle Juice from Delish
I mean, the name says it all…we all are leaving 2020 laughing thinking “What in the world was that?”. I think we all could use a good giggle thinking about the year that was. To make this one kid-friendly, omit the Moscato and vodka.
Ingredients:
- Lemon wedge, for rimming glasses
- Sugar, for rimming glasses
- 1 (750 mL) bottle Moscato
- 3 cups pink lemonade
- 1 can lemon-lime soda (sprite or 7-up)
- 1 cup vodka
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
- 1 lemon, sliced into half-moons
- Ice
Photo courtesy of Delish
4. Rumchata Hot Cocoa from Delish
Living in Alberta, we never know what our New Years Eve weather is going to be like. If you are just enjoying a nice evening at home watching movies with your family, this cocktail is perfect for you and will help keep everyone in the house warm and cozy! To make this one family-friendly, omit the Rumchata.
Ingredients:
- 2-1/2 cups whole milk
- 1.4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 6 oz. chocolate chips (or chopped bittersweet chocolate)
- 1/2 cup Rumchata
- 1/3 cup warm caramel
- Whipped cream, for serving
- Cinnamon sugar, for garnish
- Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Photo courtesy of The Food Network
5. Apple Cider Shandy from The Food Network
I cannot forget the beer drinkers out there. I am personally not a fan of beer, but my husband is and when we were in Chicago a few years ago he had a beer called Summer Shandy and he LOVED it, so I thought this was a unique twist on your beer. If you are wanting to make this an alcohol free cocktail, just omit the beer.
Ingredients:
- 4 (12 oz.) bottles lager beer, chilled (Heineken is good)
- 1 (25.4 oz.) bottle sparkling apple cider, chilled
Please remember to enjoy your New Years Eve responsibly, and in 2020 that doesn’t just go for enjoying your cocktails responsibly, but it also means to respect public health measures and keep your celebrations to members of your immediate family (or follow your provinces’ public health recommendations). We want everyone to start 2021 off healthy and safe!
Goodbye 2020 and HELLO 2021! Happy New Years.
