Holiday Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail Recipe
This festive Holiday Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail combines tart cranberry juice, bubbly cranberry sprite, and charming cranberry-orange infused ice cubes, all served in a sugar-rimmed glass. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this refreshing non-alcoholic drink offers a balance of sweetness and tang with beautiful garnishes like fresh cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary sprigs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Drink
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Mocktail Ingredients
- 52 ounces Cranberry Juice (Simply Cranberry Cocktail)
- 4 (12-ounce) cans Cranberry Sprite (or Sprite or seltzer water)
- Sugar (for rimming the glass)
- Ice Cubes (preferably cranberry orange infused, see instructions)
For Cranberry Orange Ice Cubes
- Water (enough to fill ice cube trays)
- Fresh cranberries (a couple per ice cube)
- Fresh orange slices (small slices for ice cubes)
Garnishes
- Fresh cranberries
- Fresh orange slices
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Prepare Cranberry Orange Ice Cubes: Fill an ice cube tray with water and add a couple of fresh cranberries along with a small slice of orange into each compartment. Freeze until the ice cubes are solid. Using larger ice cube trays enhances presentation and slows melting.
- Create a Sugar-Rimmed Glass: Dip the rim of each glass about ¼ inch into water or cranberry juice to moisten the rim. Pour granulated sugar into a shallow bowl and gently press the moistened glass rim into the sugar. Roll slightly to ensure an even coating on the entire rim.
- Assemble the Cranberry Mocktail: Fill each sugar-rimmed glass with the prepared cranberry orange ice cubes. Pour cranberry juice into the glass, filling about half or up to 75% depending on your sweetness preference. Top with sparkling cranberry sprite, regular Sprite, or seltzer to fill the glass, maintaining a roughly 50/50 or 75/25 juice to sparkling liquid ratio.
- Garnish and Serve: Skewer fresh cranberries on a cocktail pick and rest it across the rim of the glass. Add a sprig of fresh rosemary or mint for a festive touch. Add a fresh orange slice inside or on the rim to complete the presentation. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing holiday beverage.
Notes
- Type of Cranberry Juice: Choose 100% cranberry juice with no added sugar for a less sweet and more tart flavor. Cranberry juice with sugar added balances sweetness and tartness well. Cranberry juice cocktail blends multiple fruit juices and is the sweetest, ideal if you prefer a sweeter drink.
- The Simply Cranberry Cocktail Juice Drink is a favorite for its perfect balance of flavor and sweetness.
- Using cranberry orange ice cubes not only chills the drink but also adds visual appeal and subtle flavor enhancement.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the ratio of cranberry juice to sparkling beverage according to your preference.