’Tis the season for gathering with friends and family, and a growing trend during this season is serving fun and delicious “mocktails” at social events.

A mocktail is simply a blend of juices and other flavoring ingredients that may imitate a traditional cocktail, but without the spirits. Mocktails may even offer a health advantage by providing great taste without the calories from alcohol, added sugars and sodium.

To create your own festive mocktails this holiday season try using IZZE sparkling juices. IZZE sparkling juices come in a variety of delicious flavors like grapefruit, peach, apple, pomegranate, and blackberry.

They are great served by themselves chilled and served over ice, and also make a delicious addition to holiday punches.  These sparkling beverages are a blend of pure fruit juice and sparkling water, containing 70 percent juice.  They have no added sugars, and can be found in our Healthmarket.

If you are looking to put spirit-free beverages front and center at your holiday celebrations this year try these sparkling combinations:

 Berry Bubble Bath

Serves 2 (6-ounce) beverages 

All you need

•4 oz Izze Sparkling Grapefruit juice beverage

•2 oz Izze Sparkling Blackberry juice beverage

•4 oz Kristian Regàle Sparkling Pear Juice

•2 oz low-fat strawberry flavored milk

•Fresh strawberries for garnish, if desired

All you do

1. In a cocktail shaker combine sparkling grapefruit and blackberry beverages.

2. Next add the pear sparkling juice beverage and strawberry milk. Gently mix contents to blend. Avoid shaking hard or there will be a bubble explosion! (May improvise a shaker by taking a plastic cup with a lid; gently mix the ingredients by using a side-to-side teeter-totter-type motion.)

3. Pour into an 8-ounce stemmed champagne glass or holiday tumbler. Garnish the rim with a strawberry and serve immediately.

Nutrient Facts: Per serving:  80 calories, 17 g carbohydrates (0 g dietary fiber, 17 g sugars) ,1 g protein, 0.5 g fat, 25 mg sodium

 Fuzzy Pear

Serves 2 (6-ounce) beverages

All you need 

•8 ounces Kristian Regàle Sparkling Pear Juice

•4 oz Izze Sparkling Peach juice beverage

•Fresh nectarine or peach wedge and mint leaf for garnish, if desired

All you do

Combine sparkling pear juice and sparkling peach beverages in a cocktail shaker and mix gently.

Pour into an 8-ounce stemmed champagne glass or holiday tumbler. Garnish the rim with a nectarine or peach wedge and mint leaf. Serve immediately.

Nutrient Facts: Per serving:  60 calories, 15 g carbohydrates (0 g dietary fiber, 15 g sugars) 0 g protein, 0 g fat, 5 mg sodium

Source: Hy-Vee dietitian/chef team

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.