Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail
Sip on freshness this holiday season with this Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail. This refreshing cranberry mocktail is a non-alcoholic drink that is great for special occasions such as Christmas holiday parties, New Year’s Eve, or even Valentine’s Day. The delicious flavors are a blend of cranberry grape juice, club soda, and muddled fresh fruits. If you’re looking for mocktails with cranberry juice, this one is a must-try!
Original Post: November 2022 | Post Updated: October 2025
Everyone loves a festive drink for the holidays and the vibrant red color of this holiday cranberry mocktail is eye-catching. I wanted to create a delicious drink that had a bit of fizz and also would be a great option for kids. I’ve been creating mocktails for years like my Sparkling Lemonade Mocktail and my White Sangria Mocktail. Whether you are watching your health goals or simply want to drink less alcohol during the holidays, non-alcoholic drinks are the way to go.
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Why this Cranberry Mocktail recipe works
- Adaptable and easy: This Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail recipe is easy to make with simple ingredients and is adaptable if you would like to add liquor like in my Stone Fruit Sangria.
- Family friendly: This refreshing drink is something the whole family can enjoy.
- Festive: Ideal for baby showers, holiday gatherings or any special occasion. It also pairs perfectly with appetizers like Braised Italian Ground Bison Meatballs with Marinara , 10 Minute Garlic Steak Bites, Spinach and Feta Empanadas with Chicken and Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders.
Ingredients needed
- Fresh fruits. Orange slices, lemon and strawberries. Blood oranges are a good substitute for fresh orange juice.
- Club soda. You can use any kind of plain carbonated water or sparkling water.
- Cranberry grape juice. You can use regular cranberry juice, homemade cranberry juice or reduced sugar cranberry juice.
- Cane sugar. This is for additional sweetness and also for the rim of the glass. You would also use a simple syrup to sweeten.
- Ice cubes. Crushed ice works too.
- Dried oranges. Dried oranges are used as a garnish and really makes this a festive holiday drink.
How to make a Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail
Step One: Sugar the rim of your glass by running the lemon wedge around the rim and then coat the rim with sugar.
Step Two: Using a cocktail shaker, add ice. Squeeze the orange and lemon juice from the wedges and put them on top of the ice. Add the strawberries and then muddle the fruit.
Step Three: Add the club soda, fruit juice and sugar. Shake well and pour into your cocktail glasses. Garnish with dried orange wedge.
Helpful tips
- A Mocktail is basically a non-alcoholic drink that consists of fruit juices and sodas. If you ever want to order one in restaurants, you would order a “virgin” version of the alcoholic drink.
- Since there is no liquor in this drink, it’s perfect for anyone who is pregnant, people who are under age, and anyone who simply wants a pretty drink in their hand but doesn’t like liquor or they are allergic to liquor.
- Serve Cranberry Mocktail recipes in a fancy glass. It really gives it all the feels! You can use coupe glasses which make them super elegant or a highball glass or lowball glasses . Or serve in a punch bowl or pitcher.
- The juice that you use doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I use Kroger Brand. Ocean Spray is good too. Also you can make this with a lower sugar juice if you would like.
Serving suggestions and alternatives
- Garnish with fresh cranberries or dried oranges. I found dried oranges at Trader Joe’s for a reasonable price. You will want to cut the dried orange in half and also make a slit in the middle so it can sit on the glass.
- Lemon wedges can be swapped with lime wedges. Garnish with a dehydrated lime wedge if using lime juice.
- A rosemary sprig or a sprig of mint is always a beautiful garnish.
- Sugar rims are always a nice touch to a Cranberry Mocktail but it is totally optional. To sugar the rim, place sugar on a small plate. Take a lemon wedge and run it around the glass. Then dip the glass into the sugared plate.
- To make this a cranberry juice cocktail, add in an ounce of vodka, gin, tequila, ginger beer, or Prosecco.
- Serve this some main dish favorites such as Chicken and Seafood Paella, Middle Eastern Spatchcock Chicken, Rosemary Salmon, and Honey Sea Bass.
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Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 orange sliced
- 1/2 lemon
- 3 strawberries sliced in half
- 1/2 cup club soda
- 1/2 cup cranberry grape juice
- 1 teaspoon cane sugar plus more for the rim
- ice cubes
- dried oranges for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Sugar the rim of your glass by running the lemon wedge around the rim and then coat the rim with sugar. Squeeze the orange and lemon wedges and put them on top of the ice. Add the strawberries.
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Squeeze the orange and lemon wedges and put them on top of the ice. Add the strawberries. Muddle the fruit.
- Add the club soda, fruit juice and sugar. Shake well and pour into your cocktail glasses.
Notes
- A Mocktail is basically a non-alcoholic drink that consists of fruit juices and sodas. If you ever want to order one in restaurants, you would order a “virgin” version of the alcoholic drink.
- Since there is no liquor in this drink, it’s perfect for anyone who is pregnant, people who are under age, and anyone who simply wants a pretty drink in their hand but doesn’t like liquor or they are allergic to liquor.
- Serve Cranberry Mocktail recipes in a fancy glass. It really gives it all the feels! You can use coupe glasses which make them super elegant or a highball glass or lowball glasses . Or serve in a punch bowl or pitcher.
- The juice that you use doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I use Kroger Brand. Ocean Spray is good too. Also you can make this with a lower sugar juice if you would like.
Nutrition
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