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Sip on this refreshing Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail all throughout the holiday season! It’s a fun festive drink that comes together easily and is a great option for holiday celebrations.
This cranberry lime mocktail is a fun holiday drink without the alcohol. It combines pure cranberry juice with fresh lime juice, honey, and sparkling water. You can even substitute for another type of juice. Serve it for Christmas, New Year’s or at holiday gatherings.
The mocktail is a refreshing drink that is also beautiful with it’s vibrant red color. You can easily adapt it to make it your own by swapping the juice or adding your own garnishes.
The recipe serves four and stores well, but you can easily double or triple the ingredients to make a large batch.
Table of Contents
What is a mocktail?
A mocktail is a non-alcoholic drink, so there is no alcohol in it. They are sometimes inspired by classic cocktails or made with unique flavor combinations. Mocktails are perfect for special occasions when you want a fancy drink without the liquor.
Ingredients You Need
This cranberry mocktail recipe comes together with 4 simple ingredients! Full measurements with detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Cranberry Juice: Use 100% cranberry juice with no added sugars. Be sure to read the ingredient label as there are many varieties of cranberry juice in grocery stores. If you can’t find pure cranberry juice, go with a juice that has no additional sugars or additives. You can use a cranberry juice blend. Pomegranate juice is a nice replacement if you can’t find cranberry juice.
- Limes: I use 4 limes to get 1/2 cup, but you may need more limes, depending on how much juice they have. You can substitute the limes for oranges and use orange juice, if desired.
- Sparkling Water: Use plain sparkling water or flavored sparkling water. If you use flavored, it will add more flavor to your drink. Good options would be cranberry flavored or orange flavored sparkling water. You can also substitute with club soda or soda water.
- Honey: This is the natural sweetener for the drink. You can substitute with maple syrup or use a standard simple syrup. Just be sure to mix any alternative sweetener in slowly and adjust to taste.
- Kosher Salt or Sugar (optional): To salt or sugar the rim of the glass for serving.
- Garnishes: I use whatever I have on hand for garnishes. It can be fresh rosemary, fresh mint, fresh cranberries, candied orange slices, candied cranberries or even just lime slices or orange slices. Using frozen cranberries can act as ice and keep the drink cool.
Make it an adult drink: If you want to make this with alcohol, add tequila or vodka.
Equipment You Need
- Measuring cups
- Citrus zester
- Serving jar or cocktail shaker
- Drinking glasses
Substitutions and Variations
- Make it more sweet: This recipe leans slightly on the tart side which I love for a cranberry mocktail, but if you want to make it more sweet, you can increase the honey and water mixture.
- Use ginger beer: If you’re looking for ginger flavor or a little kick, substitute the sparkling water with ginger beer. Serve it in a copper mug for a fun festive Christmas mocktail.
- Use oranges instead of limes: Cranberry and orange is also a great flavor combination. Use orange juice instead of lime juice.
- Add alcohol: You can simply replace the regular water with alcohol. Vodka or tequila are both good choices.
- Make a large batch: If you’re looking to serve a crowd, you can easily adjust the recipe to make as many servings as needed. You can also serve it in a fancy punch bowl at a holiday party.
Storage Instructions
This sparkling cranberry mocktail can be made ahead of time and stored to enjoy later. The mixture will stay fresh for up to one week in the refrigerator. I recommend preparing your juices and mixing them together in a lidded storage container or jar. When ready to serve, give the mixture a good shake, then add the sparkling water and serve.
Other Holiday Drink Recipes
If you’re looking for more holiday drink recipes. Here are our favorites with both alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks.
- Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Pomegranate French 75
- Grapefruit Gin Fizz
- Homemade Eggnog
- Homemade Hot Chocolate
Did you try this Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail? Leave a recipe rating and review below! Your ratings and reviews help other people learn more and try this delicious recipe!
Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail
Ingredients
- 3 cups 100% cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- 3/4 cup sparkling water
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 lime, sliced into quarters
- kosher salt, to salt the rims
- ice cubes
- fresh rosemary, for garnish (optional)
- fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Warm water in the microwave for 30 seconds. You don't need this pipping hot, just warm enough to dissolve the honey.
- Add the honey to the warm water. Stir until fully dissolved.
- Pour the cranberry juice into a large jar, container or shaker. Add honey mixture, lime juice and sparkling water. Stir or shake well.
- Pour a handful of kosher salt onto a small dish or cutting board. Run a sliced lime over the rim of the drinking glass. Turn the glass upside down and rub it against the kosher salt pile. The glass will pick up the kosher salt around the rim.
- Add ice cubes to each glass and pour in the cranberry juice mixture.
- Garnish with sprigs of fresh rosemary, fresh cranberries and lime slices.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We made this as a trial test for Thanksgiving and it was a hit!