Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail: A Festive Alcohol-Free Holiday Drink

A good holiday mocktail should look festive, taste grown-up and not feel like an afterthought. This sparkling cranberry mocktail does all three: tart cranberry juice, fresh orange and a hint of ginger, topped with something fizzy and garnished with a sprig of rosemary and a few floating cranberries. It is bright ruby red, refreshing and just sweet enough.

It is also one of the easiest drinks to serve to a crowd. The base is mixed ahead and chilled, and you add the sparkling water or ginger ale only when you pour, so every glass stays lively. Guests who do not drink alcohol, children and designated drivers get something as special as everyone else’s glass.

Why it works

• Tart meets sweet. Pure cranberry juice is quite sharp, so a little orange juice and a spoonful of honey or simple syrup round it out.
• Ginger and rosemary. Fresh ginger adds warmth while rosemary gives a pine-like holiday aroma that makes the drink taste more complex than it is.
• Fizz at the end. Adding sparkling water just before serving keeps the bubbles.

Tips

• Use 100 percent cranberry juice, not the sweetened cocktail drink, and control the sweetness yourself.
• Chill everything. Cold juice and cold sparkling water keep the drink fizzy and make ice last longer.
• Freeze cranberries in advance. Frozen cranberries work as ice cubes that do not water down the drink and look beautiful.
• Gently slap the rosemary against your hand before garnishing to release its aroma.

Make a pitcher for a party

For 8 servings, mix 4 cups cranberry juice, 1 cup orange juice, 3 tablespoons honey and 2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger. Chill for up to 24 hours, strain, then add 4 cups of cold sparkling water when serving. Pair it with a grazing board such as our Thanksgiving grazing board or a spread of appetizers.

Variations

• Pomegranate: use half pomegranate juice and top with seeds for a Yalda table; see our sparkling pomegranate mint punch.
• Apple cider: replace the orange juice with apple cider for an autumn version.
• Adults-only: guests can add a splash of vodka or prosecco to their own glass.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make it ahead?

Mix and chill the juice base up to a day ahead. Add the sparkling water only at the last minute.

Is it too tart?

Taste the base before adding fizz and add honey a teaspoon at a time. The sparkling water will mellow it slightly.

Serving ideas and presentation

Serve the mocktail in clear glasses so the ruby color shows. Rim the glasses with a little sugar by dipping the edge in juice and then in sugar, or thread three cranberries on a toothpick as a garnish. For a self-serve drinks station, set out a pitcher of the base, a bucket of ice, a bowl of frozen cranberries, a plate of orange slices and a jar of rosemary sprigs, plus a bottle of sparkling water. Guests build their own and it looks beautiful on a buffet.

Is it healthy?

Unsweetened cranberry juice is tart and low in sugar compared with most soft drinks, and this mocktail has about 90 calories per glass, mostly from natural fruit sugar and honey. If you want a lighter version, use half sparkling water and half juice, and reduce the honey. People who take blood-thinning medication or have kidney stones should check with their doctor before drinking large amounts of cranberry juice regularly.