Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail
Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy! Made with lemon-lime soda and cranberry juice, it’s delicious, bubbly and festive. A fun refreshing drink for everyone to enjoy!
Ready in just a few minutes, this cranberry mocktail is perfect for entertaining or for sipping while wrapping presents or decorating your tree! It’s a sparkling, fizzy holiday drink that only requires 3 key ingredients. When I’m hosting a Christmas party or gathering, I love to have a special mocktail on hand for everyone to enjoy—especially the kids! It’s such a fun way to make them feel included (or for anyone not wanting to drink alcohol) and adds a festive touch to the gathering. A drink that’s colorful and bubbly is always a hit and keeps the holiday cheer flowing!
This is one of the best mocktails, I had this at a belated xmas catch up with friends and it was a hit! We did both alcohol and AF versions so it suited all guests!
— Amy
Reasons you’ll love this drink
- Kid-friendly: A colorful, bubbly drink that’s perfect for all ages! This cranberry mocktail is a fantastic non-alcoholic drink option for parties.
- Quick and easy: With just 3 simple ingredients, you can whip up this festive drink in under 5 minutes!
- Festive and versatile: Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Eve parties and small holiday gatherings! Enjoy with Snickerdoodles, Pistachio Cookies or a Baked Brie for an extra touch of celebration.
Ingredients needed
This cranberry mocktail recipe is super simple! Just 3 ingredients is all that’s required, and then you can choose extras for garnish. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cranberry juice: Tart cranberry juice is the fruity base for this mocktail, delivering a vibrant color and refreshing flavor.
- Sparkling beverage: Adds fizz and sweetness; options like Sprite, 7-UP or ginger ale provide a citrusy touch, while sparkling lemonade offers a zesty twist.
- Ice cubes: Keeps your mocktail refreshingly cold.
- Sugared cranberries (optional): A festive garnish that adds sparkle and a hint of sweetness. Feel free to use fresh cranberries, if preferred. I use this sugared cranberries recipe.
- Lemon slices (optional): Brighten up the drink with a tangy and decorative touch. Orange slices work great too!
- Rosemary sprig (optional): Adds an aromatic, earthy note and a touch of elegance. You can use a sprig of mint instead.
Substitutions and variations
Here are a few ways ideas for customizing this cranberry mocktail or to try something new:
- Sparkling beverage swap: Use sparkling water, club soda, or tonic water for a less sweet option.
- Juice alternatives: Try pomegranate juice, cherry juice or a blend of cranberry and orange juice for a new flavor profile.
- Citrus boost: Add a splash of lime or fresh orange juice for an extra zesty kick.
- Sugared rim: Dip the rim of the glass in lemon juice and sugar for an elegant, frosty finish.
How to make this recipe
Get ready to sip on the most delicious mocktail! It’s cold, refreshing and so simple to make! Here’s the simple process:
Step 1: Place ice in a glass. Fill the glass halfway with the cranberry juice.
Step 2: Slowly top with the sparkling beverage of your choice. Stir and enjoy!
Step 3: If you’d like, garnish with a lemon slice, sugared cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. Here are some fun cocktail picks for the sugared cranberries, if you’d like to make your garnishes look like the drink pictured above.
Helpful tips
- Serving size: This holiday mocktail recipe makes one drink but you’re likely going to want more. Simply double, triple or quadruple the amounts!
- Chill everything: Use chilled cranberry juice and sparkling soda to keep your mocktail refreshingly cool without relying too much on ice.
- Avoid flat soda: Open a fresh bottle of soda just before making your drink to ensure maximum fizz.
- Serve immediately: Mix the drink just before serving to keep the fizz and flavors fresh.
- Experiment with ratios: Adjust the juice-to-soda ratio to suit your taste—less soda for a bolder cranberry flavor, more soda for a lighter, fizzier drink.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Give your drink more of an adult kick by adding a little vodka, rum, beer or champagne to each drink before you pour in the sparkling beverage. I would start with about 1 to 1.5 ounces and you can always add more, as desired.
Yes, use a no sugar added cranberry juice and pair it with diet soda or sparkling water to make a low-sugar version. Instead of garnishing with sugared cranberries, use frozen cranberries.
You can serve it in any glassware, but stemless wine glasses, highball glasses, or mason jars add a festive touch. I really like this set of 6 glasses that are inexpensive and would be great for a variety of drinks.
More fun holiday drink recipes
If you try this, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup sparkling beverage, great options are Sprite, 7-UP, Fresca, Ginger Ale, Sparkling Ice Classic Lemonade
- Ice
- Optional for serving: sugared cranberries and lemon slices
Instructions
- Place ice in a glass.
- Fill the glass halfway with cranberry juice.
- Slowly top with your sparkling beverage of choice. Garnish with sugared cranberries and a lemon slice.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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This post was originally published November 2018. It is republished December 2024 with a revised recipe, new photos and tips.
This is one of the best mocktails, I had this at a belated xmas catch up with friends and it was a hit! We did both alcohol and AF versions so it suited all guests!
I made this recipe yesterday for my mom and sisters as we celebrated Christmas. It was fantastic! We used ginger ale and it was refreshing, zingy and not too sweet. This one will be on repeat!
This mocktail was really tasty and refreshing! Next time, I might be tempted to add vodka as you suggest!
I made this for my friends baby shower, they absolutely loved it!
I made this for a drink competition at work a few days ago & it was 1st (out of 3 teams). I think it was perfectly sweet and tart enough. I would love to make it as an actual cocktail with some fruity vodka or gin added next time!
This was so good and made such a fun drink for those of us not drinking alcohol!
Had the pleasure of enjoying this refreshing mocktail at a Christmas function and it did not disappoint.
Highly suggest as a must try!
Amazing! Thank you! Absolutely delish!
Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe. I made it for a small get together and it was a super hit. I made it with ginger ale and added some fresh orange and lemon juice.
Love this cranberry mocktail. Taste is delicious, so refreshing, and it looks beautiful too. It’s a win-win!
I made one this evening and it was so refreshing. No alcohol needed!
Fabulously festive and oh so delicious!
This was the perfect holiday drink for the whole family! Kids and adults loved it. We used sprite and I’ll definitely make it again!
Love this! It’s great, because I don’t drink but love to have neat drinks to make!
What a great recipe! Love the fact that you can easily make it with or without alcohol.