Sparkling Ginger Cranberry Mocktail
Serve up a Sparkling Ginger Cranberry Mocktail at any celebratory event! This sparkling nonalcoholic drink, featuring just two ingredients, is great for adults and kids. Makes 1 drink, but can easily be made as a pitcher.
Love festive nonalcoholic drinks? You absolutely need to try Blood Orange Mocktail Mule, Arnold Palmer Iced Tea Lemonade Mocktail and Sweet Sunrise Mocktail!
This post first appeared at Julie’s Eats and Treats, where I was a contributor.
In true Erin fashion, I never even heard of a mocktail until I was pregnant with our first child.
One of my friends (probably Susannah, if I’m really thinking about it) asked me what I planned to drink when I went out for dinner and drinks that evening, and I told her, “Water. Obviously. Or maybe a Coke?”
“Why not ask the bartender to make you a mocktail?”
And thus, my obsession was born!
While I love a good cocktail, there’s something nice about having a non-alcoholic drink. This inclusive option is a great alternative for all, not just mamas to be.
And for New Year’s Eve festivities this year, I wanted to offer a drink that everyone can enjoy! (Honestly, though, this refreshing drink is fabulous for holiday gatherings throughout the season, not just New Year’s. You could even mix this up to observe Dry January.)
So why not feature some of my favorite seasonal flavors?
Why I love this mocktail recipe:
This delicious drink combines some of my favorite flavors: the tartness of cranberries with the bubbles of ginger beer.
It’s a two-ingredient recipe that involves unsweetened cranberry juice and ginger beer… and you can make a sweet-tart orange sugar rim, if you’re feeling fancy. (And honestly, that is perfect for special occasions.)
You can add a splash of apple juice, fresh lime juice or fresh orange juice, too, if the cranberry is too tart or the ginger beer is too spicy. (Personally, I love them as they are, but our tastebuds could be different.)
This versatile hdrink is absolutely fabulous for a celebration, be it a holiday party, an actual holiday or just because.
More drink recipes for the holiday season: Winter Sparkling Champagne Sangria | New Year’s Eve Cranberry Sparkler Mocktail | Pomegranate French 75 | Pomegranate Ginger Orange Sparkling Mocktail | How to make a Grape Shrub Mocktail
What do I need to make this Cranberry Mocktail?
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- Sharp knife to slice the orange wedges
- Zester, for the orange zest
- Jigger or liquid angled measuring cup
- Cocktail glasses
- Black and gold patterned paper straws
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
In addition to these tools to make this nonalcoholic drink, you’re going to need a few simple ingredients, as well.
- Granulated sugar — also known as white sugar, this is going to be used for the rim of the drink.
- Orange — for its zest! And a little bit of its juice to help the sugar rim stick.
- Unsweetened cranberry juice — NOT cranberry cocktail, so look for the label to read ‘pure cranberry juice’
- Ginger beer — this bubbly beverage adds a nice kick to our mocktail.
How to make a Cranberry Mocktail
First and foremost, we’re going to make the orange sugar. That means we’ll need to mix up granulated sugar with orange zest. You can do this on a plate or in a bowl. Just make sure there’s enough surface area to where you’ll be able to dip the glass into it.
To rim the glass with the orange sugar, run an orange wedge around the rim of the glass. Dip it into the orange sugar until coated.
Once the rim is ready, pour the unsweetened cranberry juice with ginger beer directly into the glass and stir.
Add some fresh cranberries for garnish, and enjoy your Ginger Cranberry Mocktail immediately!
How to turn this into a pitcher drink:
To make a pitcher of these cranberry mocktails, combine the following in a pitcher and stir:
- 12 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice
- 24 oz. ginger beer
Garnish with fresh cranberries (or frozen cranberries to keep the pitcher cold), and serve immediately.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
This Ginger Cranberry Mocktail is the perfect sipper to serve at winter celebrations and gatherings. (Looking at you, Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.)
Why do I think it’s great for entertaining? It’s incredibly simple to make (no cocktail shaker OR blender necessary), but it’s also a festive color.
Also, the addition of orange sugar to the glasses make them look as if they’re frosty!
Here are a few tips and tricks for making these festive mocktails for a gathering:
- Make ’em in a pitcher. I’ve included the Ginger Cranberry Mocktail recipe below for you to simply pour everything into a pitcher and serve it even more easily!
- Let your guests mix their own. Print out the recipe, put it in a frame and set it on a flat surface with the ingredients so people can make and garnish their own cranberry mocktails.
- Make the orange sugar in a batch… and make it early. This is by far the most time-consuming part of this drink recipe, and you can make this 1-2 days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
A mocktail is a nonalcoholic mixed drink! So there is no alcohol in a mocktail.
Ginger beer is naturally sweetened, carbonated and naturally fermented. This brewed drink is considered non-alcoholic because their alcohol content is so low. (Ginger beer is similar to a kombucha with the fermenting and has suuuuuuper low alcohol content.) When poured into a glass, ginger beer bubbles and fizzes like a beer would.
Ginger beer has been brewed and fermented. Because of the way it is made, the ginger flavor is robust.
Ginger ale is carbonated water flavored with ginger. It’s generally lighter in color and has a much mellower flavor.
You can serve kids this mocktail as it is, though I’d advise taste testing it first. Depending on the ginger beer you use, it could be too spicy for a child.
If your ginger beer is strong, consider adding orange or apple juice to mellow it out and add a little sweetness. (Our 3.5-year-old wants you to know she enjoyed hers with a splash of apple juice.)
You could also swap the ginger beer for ginger ale if serving your kids this cranberry mocktail.
More winter drinks to try:
If you’re looking for a sangria recipe, try Winter Sangria or Sparkling Grapefruit Sangria.
Love cranberries? Sip one of these Cranberry Bellinis, mix a Hot Spiced Cranberry Orange Cocktail or Cranberry Moscow Mule (Yule Mule).
If you love bubbles, give this Berry Champagne Cocktail Trio a try.
Now who’s ready to mix up one of these gorgeous nonalcoholic mixed drinks?
Scroll on down to learn how easy and effervescent this cocktail is for any kind of wintertime celebration.
Sparkling Ginger Cranberry Mocktail
Ingredients
Mocktail (Makes 1 drink)
- 2 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice
- 4 oz. ginger beer
- Fresh cranberries for garnish
Orange Sugar (Enough for FOUR Drinks)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
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Instructions
- On a small plate, combine the sugar with the orange zest. Stir them together until combined, and set aside.
- Slice an orange with a sharp knife, and cut into a wedge.
- Run the wedge around the rim of your glass. Make sure the entire rim is damp, as the orange sugar won’t stick if it’s not.
- Dip the rim into the orange sugar on the plate, moving the glass until all parts are coated.
- Using a jigger or a liquid measuring cup, measure out the cranberry juice and pour into the glass.
- Pour the ginger beer on top of the cranberry juice, and stir.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries, and enjoy immediately!
Notes
How do I turn this into a pitcher mocktail?
To make a pitcher of these cranberry mocktails, combine the following in a pitcher and stir:- 12 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice
- 24 oz. ginger beer
Nutrition
Have you ever tried a mocktail before?
What are your feelings on ginger beer vs. ginger ale
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
This looks so good! What a great drink to have for a holiday get together!
Thanks, Suzanne! This mocktail is one of our favorites for this time of year. It’s festive AND delicious!