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A cranberry mocktail is a gorgeous, tart, and refreshing beverage that pairs beautifully with cozy winter evenings or holiday parties. Cranberry juice, cranberry sprite, and cranberry orange infused ice cubes all in a sugar rimmed glass make this an extra special holiday mocktail recipe.
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5 from 2 votes

Holiday Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail

A Cranberry Mocktail made with cranberry juice, cranberry sprite, and cranberry orange infused ice cubes all in a sugar rimmed glass.
Prep Time5 minutes
Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cranberry mocktail, holiday mocktail
Servings: 8
Author: Modern Honey® - www.modernhoney.com

Ingredients

  • 52 ounces Cranberry Juice (Simply Cranberry Cocktail)
  • (4) 12-ounce cans Cranberry Sprite (or Sprite or seltzer water)
  • Sugar (for rim of glass)
  • Fresh Cranberry Ice Cubes

Garnish:

  • Fresh Cranberries
  • Fresh Orange Slices
  • Fresh Rosemary

Instructions

How to make Holiday Ice Cubes:

  • Fill an ice cube tray with water and drop in a couple of fresh cranberries and a small slice of orange. Freeze until solid. I like to use these large ice cube trays from Amazon. You can also use smaller ice cube trays.

How to create a Sugar Rimmed Glass:

  • Dip the rim of the glass about ¼ inch deep into water or cranberry juice, to moisten the entire rim. This allows the sugar to stick to it.
    Place granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Gently press the glass rim into the sugar, pressing and rolling slightly to ensure an even coating.

How to make a Cranberry Mocktail:

  • Make a sugar rim. Dip a glass into water and then a shallow dish of sugar to coat the rim. See above for instructions on coating a glass in sugar. Fill a glass with ice cubes (preferably fresh cranberry orange ice cubes).
  • Add cranberry juice. Add a sparkling bubbly drink. Top with your choice of Cranberry Sprite, Sprite, or seltzer. I suggest a 50/50 -- 50% juice and 50% sparkling drink but you could do 75% juice and 25% sparkling. Garnish with fresh cranberries, orange slices, and a sprig of rosemary for a festive touch.

Garnishes:

  • Skewer fresh cranberries on a cocktail pick and rest it on the rim. Add a sprig of rosemary or mint for a holiday greenery touch.

Notes

What type of cranberry juice should I use?
    • 100% Cranberry Juice (No Sugar Added): If you prefer a less sweet drink, this is the way to go.
    • Cranberry Juice with Sugar Added: This strikes a nice balance and is often sweeter than pure cranberry juice. It’s perfect if you don’t want to fuss with additional sweeteners.
    • Cranberry Juice Cocktail: This is usually a blend of cranberry juice and other fruit juices, often with added sugar. It’s the sweetest and easiest option.
My favorite is the Simply Cranberry Cocktail Juice Drink.
What should I use as a bubbly option?
Cranberry Sprite
Regular Sprite
Seltzer or Sparkling Water
Ginger Ale or Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer