15 Thanksgiving Drinks for Kids to Love

Every one of these thanksgiving drinks for kids uses ingredients already in most kitchens at holiday time: apple cider, cranberry juice, milk and a can of soda. None need a blender you don't already own, and most come together in under 10 minutes flat. They're built to look festive next to the grown-ups' cocktails, so kids get their own special glass instead of plain juice.

Fill a tall glass with ice, then pour in 180 ml (¾ cup) apple cider and 120 ml (½ cup) cranberry juice cocktail for a tart-sweet balance kids actually like. A squeeze of fresh orange juice, about 15 ml (1 tbsp), brightens the whole glass without adding real sourness. Swap in cranberry-apple juice blend if that's what's already in the fridge — it works just as well and skips a step.

This is the one to make in bulk: combine 950 ml (4 cups) chilled apple cider with 350 ml (12 oz) lemon-lime soda in a large pitcher right before serving so the fizz stays lively. Float thin apple and orange slices on top for a cider-house look kids love spotting in their glass. Keep the soda cold and add it last — pouring warm soda into cold cider flattens the bubbles fast.

This mimics the coffee-shop pumpkin steamer without any espresso: heat 240 ml (1 cup) whole milk with 30 ml (2 tbsp) pumpkin puree and 15 ml (1 tbsp) maple syrup until steaming but not boiling, about 3 minutes. Whisk in a pinch of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, then froth with a milk frother or whisk vigorously for 20 seconds. Top with a light dusting of cinnamon so it looks just like the real thing.

Blend 2 scoops (about 250 g/1 ¼ cups) vanilla ice cream with 60 ml (¼ cup) pumpkin puree, 15 ml (1 tbsp) maple syrup and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice until thick and smooth, roughly 30 seconds on high. Loosen with a splash of milk, 30-60 ml (2-4 tbsp), if it's too thick to pull through a straw. A swirl of whipped cream and a crushed gingersnap on top turns it into dessert-in-a-glass.

Stir 120 ml (½ cup) cranberry juice with 60 ml (¼ cup) fresh orange juice in a glass, then top with 120 ml (½ cup) chilled sparkling water for a lighter, less sugary option than soda-based punches. The orange juice softens the cranberry's tartness so kids don't need extra sugar. Serve over plenty of ice with a cranberry-and-orange skewer for a drink that looks as good as it tastes.

Warm 240 ml (1 cup) whole milk gently on the stove or in the microwave until it just steams, about 60-90 seconds, watching closely so it doesn't scorch. Stir in 10 ml (2 tsp) maple syrup and a pinch of ground cinnamon until fully dissolved. This is the drink to reach for once the little ones are winding down after the big meal — no caffeine, just warmth and comfort.

Pour 180 ml (¾ cup) cold apple cider into a glass, drizzle in 15 ml (1 tbsp) caramel sauce, then top with a scoop (about 60 g/⅓ cup) of vanilla ice cream. Let it sit for a minute so the caramel swirls through the cider before the ice cream fully melts. This one is best assembled right before serving, as the fizz-free cider float loses its charm if it sits too long.

Blend 240 ml (1 cup) frozen cranberry juice cubes (freeze the juice in an ice cube tray the night before) with 60 ml (¼ cup) fresh orange juice and 15 ml (1 tbsp) sugar until slushy, about 45 seconds. Add a splash of regular cranberry juice, 30 ml (2 tbsp), if the blender needs help getting it moving. Serve immediately with a wide straw so it doesn't melt into a puddle before the kids get to it.

Mix 180 ml (¾ cup) apple juice with 120 ml (½ cup) chilled sparkling water and a few drops of lemon juice — that's the whole recipe, and it takes under 2 minutes to build a jug of it. It's the one to make when you're already juggling the turkey and need a drink that basically makes itself. Add a cinnamon stick to the pitcher for a warm, festive aroma without any extra ingredients.

Blend 120 ml (½ cup) pumpkin puree with 240 ml (1 cup) milk, 1 frozen banana, 15 ml (1 tbsp) honey and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice until completely smooth, about 40 seconds. The frozen banana gives it a milkshake-thick texture without needing any ice cream, making it a slightly better-for-you option among the sweeter drinks here. Pour into cups right away, as pumpkin smoothies thicken further the longer they sit.

Simmer 950 ml (4 cups) apple cider with 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 whole cloves and 2 orange slices over low heat for 10-12 minutes, just until fragrant and steaming — no alcohol involved, just gentle spice. Strain out the whole spices before pouring into mugs so nothing gets stuck between little teeth. This is the drink that makes the whole kitchen smell like Thanksgiving while it simmers.

Combine 120 ml (½ cup) cranberry juice with 120 ml (½ cup) chilled ginger ale over ice for a fizzy, gently spiced mocktail with a little more kick than a plain fizz. The ginger ale's warmth pairs naturally with the cranberry's tartness, so no extra sugar is needed. Drop in a few fresh or frozen cranberries so they bob to the top like tiny festive ice cubes.

Pour 120 ml (½ cup) orange juice into a glass first, then very slowly pour 120 ml (½ cup) cranberry juice over the back of a spoon so it sinks and creates a layered sunset effect instead of mixing. Chilling both juices beforehand helps the layers hold their line for longer once the drink is poured. It's more of a show-off trick than a flavour change, so let kids stir it themselves once they've admired the layers.

Pour 300 ml (10 oz) cold root beer over a scoop (about 60 g/⅓ cup) of vanilla ice cream in a tall glass for a bolder, more grown-up-tasting float than the fruity options on this list. Let it foam up for a few seconds before handing it over, since that's half the fun for kids. This one's best for older kids who like a stronger flavour than the cranberry and apple drinks here.

Steep a chai tea bag in 60 ml (¼ cup) just-boiled water for 3 minutes, then stir in 180 ml (¾ cup) warmed milk and 10 ml (2 tsp) vanilla syrup or maple syrup for a smooth, mildly spiced sipper. Straining isn't necessary if you're using a tea bag rather than loose leaves, which keeps this one genuinely quick. It's a gentler, less sugary alternative to the milkshake-style drinks for kids who prefer something less sweet.

Chill every base liquid — cider, juice, milk — before you start; warm ingredients flatten fizzy drinks and melt ice-cream floats before they're even served. Taste as you go and adjust sweetness gradually, since kids' palates for tartness vary a lot more than adults expect. For any drink using soda or sparkling water, always add it last and pour gently down the side of the glass to keep the bubbles from fizzing out immediately.

Freeze cranberries, mint leaves or thin citrus slices into ice cubes ahead of time so every glass looks decorated without any extra work at serving time. Rim glasses with a little sugar or crushed graham cracker for the creamier, milkshake-style drinks to add a festive, dessert-like touch. Label each pitcher with a small handwritten tag so kids can pick their own favourite without asking what's in every jug.

The juice-and-soda punches (cranberry apple, sparkling cider, orange cranberry fizz) can have their juice bases mixed and refrigerated up to 2 days ahead — just hold back the fizzy component until you're ready to serve. Mulled cider keeps well in a slow cooker on the warm setting for up to 3 hours, which frees up stovetop space for everything else. Milkshakes, floats and smoothies don't hold up to make-ahead prep, so blend those in the final 10 minutes before the table sits down.