If you don't drink or don't want to, for whatever the reason, the holiday season can feel tricky. Or maybe you're hosting and want a nonalcoholic option for partygoers. Whatever the why, a cranberry mocktail is a great way to get into the festive party spirit, both the young and young at heart.
Cranberry Mocktail Mule
The flavors of a traditional Moscow Mule are a little bit spicy, the cranberry juice adds a gently sweet and tart taste in this nonalcoholic version.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Ice
- Cranberries and apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug or rocks glass, add ice, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with cranberries and apple slice.
Cranberry Smash
Mocktails should be just as fun as the boozy version, and this fancy spirit-free cocktail is the right amount of tart and sweet. Feel free to use a flavor other than lime seltzer water to create new flavors.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 blackberries
- 2-3 raspberries
- Ice
- Lime seltzer to top off
- Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle berries with a splash of lemon juice.
- Add ice, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Without straining, pour into prepared glass.
- Garnish with thyme sprig.
Cranberry Citrus Fizz
A straightforward and easy-to-build fizz with juicy fruit flavors.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces orange juice
- Ice
- Lemon seltzer water to top off
- Cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, cranberry juice, and orange juice.
- Top off with lemon seltzer.
- Garnish with cranberries.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- 3 ounces orange juice
- 1 ounce honey
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 2 whole cloves
- Orange slice and cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add cranberry juice, orange juice, honey, cinnamon stick, star anise, and whole cloves.
- Simmer for approximately 4 minutes.
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- Strain out loose spices.
- Carefully pour into warm mug.
- Garnish with orange slice and cranberries.
Sparkling Red Maple
The maple flavors add a level of complexity and warmth to this fizzy mocktail.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce maple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Seltzer water to top off
- Cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, maple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake well to chill and fully dissolve maple syrup.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprig.
Rosemary Fizz
Herbaceous rosemary makes drinks turn festive with its distinctive and delicious flavor.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- ½ ounce honey
- Ice
- Orange seltzer water to top off
- Cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, rosemary simple syrup, and honey.
- Shake well to chill and fully dissolve honey.
- Strain into rocks glass.
- Top off with orange seltzer.
- Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprig.
Red Stocking Sour
If you want a drink with a little more of a bite, this mocktail adds some extra tart flavors for a tasty drink. Feel free to add a splash of seltzer water for some fizz.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces tart cherry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig and cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, juices, and simple syrup.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and cranberries.
Orange You Feeling Festive
A bit more citrus-forward, the tart cranberry flavors are more refreshing and a touch sweeter.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 1 ounce hazelnut syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball, add ice, cranberry juice, orange juice, hazelnut syrup, and lemon juice.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Holiday Squeeze
This is a gorgeous-looking mocktail that will sway anyone to switch to this drink on looks alone.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce white grape juice
- ¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig, lime slice, and blackberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, white grape juice, lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig, lime slice, and blackberry.
Cranapple Mocktail Martini
Martinis are just for spirits, this cranberry mocktail will have others asking you to make one for them too.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for the rim
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce white grape juice
- ¾ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig and cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- Run the lemon wedge around the glass rim and dip the glass in the sugar.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, white grape juice, rosemary simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig and cranberries.
Pink Apple Mocktail Martini
A great way to maximize apple cider flavors as you welcome the winter season, it's a spiced martini with refreshingly tart flavors.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ounce apple cider
- ¾ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry juice, apple cider, cinnamon simple syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Cranberry Scary Punch
A tasty nonalcoholic cranberry punch to set out for guests, or makeup to sip from for the week just for you. It pairs well with a spooky movie, too.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cranberry juice
- 8 ounces pink lemonade
- 8 ounces orange juice
- 4 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 ounces apple juice
- 12 ounces lime seltzer
- Ice
- Rosemary sprigs, apple slices, and lemon wheels for garnish
Instructions
- In a punch bowl, add ice, cranberry juice, pink lemonade, orange juice, lemon juice, and apple juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with lime seltzer.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig, apple slice, and lemon wheel.
Mocktails for All
Nonalcoholic drinks are a great way to enjoy the festivities without missing out on all of the season's best flavors. Consider shaking or stirring up a cranberry mocktail when the time comes and you're feeling festive and want to skip out on the liquid spirit.
