Cranberry Sparkler Mocktail

4.5 from 2 votes
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For a festive and delicious non-alcoholic holiday drink, you’ll love this Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail recipe that is bursting with bubbles. And with some champagne or sparkling wine or even a splash of vodka, you can easily turn it into a Christmas cocktail for the adults.

Cranberry Sparkler – Christmas Mocktail Recipe

The most wonderful moments in my family are when we are gathered around the table, sharing food and drinks. So every year as Christmas approaches, I look forward to sharing these family meals and spending this time with those that I love. I urge you to do the same.

For me, food is love, and this sparkling cranberry orange mocktail recipe is perfect to toast as we celebrate our loved ones and cherish every moment that we have together.

I saw the idea for a homemade cranberry juice from Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish. It sounded so tasty, the color was gorgeous, and I thought with a bit of orange and a bit of fizz, it would make a totally fun holiday beverage for those that can’t or don’t imbibe.

Fruity but sophisticated, and naturally sweetened with orange juice and real maple syrup. The vibrant red color makes it perfect for serving at holiday parties. It’s truly a festive, sparkly non-alcoholic beverage to enjoy at celebrations with my family and friends.

Fresh cranberry splashing into a Fizzy mocktail in a flute on top of a silver tray.

List of Ingredients

A few fresh ingredients make this festive drink delicious. Here is a quick list of what you’ll need, and you can get the full amounts in the recipe card.

  • Fresh cranberries
  • Freshly squeezed orange juice – I highly recommend squeezing the oranges for the best flavor.
  • Water
  • Maple syrup – you can also substitute honey or agave nectar.
  • Sparkling water or club soda

How to Make a Cranberry Mocktail

This Christmas mocktail is so simple to make. Let’s see what to do.

Make the cranberry juice. Place the cranberries, orange juice, water, and maple syrup in a blender, and puree thoroughly, then strain the mixture. Return the juice to the blender and puree and strain once more.

Add the bubbles. When ready to serve, pour about 1/4 cup of juice into each champagne flute, and top with sparkling water or club soda.

Dropping fresh cranberries into a Cranberry Fizz Mocktail

Make it a cocktail

Yes, you have a couple of options to turn this holiday mocktail into a cocktail.

  • Substitute the seltzer with sparkling wine, prosecco, or champagne.
  • Make it as directed, and add a shot of vodka or your alcohol of choice. Spice it up with Fireball, warm yourself inside and out with bourbon, or try something flavored like an apple or orange liqueur.

Make it in advance

You can prepare the fizzy mocktail an hour or so before serving and it will be just fine. But much longer than that, and it’ll lose all of its bubbles.

If you do need to do some advance preparation, you can make the cranberry juice and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to add the sparkling water. It will keep for 2 or 3 days.

Red Mocktail in a champagne glass surrounded by fresh cranberries

Make it a celebration

You can always add more Christmas mocktails and cocktails to the holiday festivities, like Easy Sparkling Apple Cider Ice Cream Floats (alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions, an Apple Moscow Mule Fall Cocktail, or even more Fun and Festive Fall Cocktails and Mocktails. Plus, here are some things to serve with those Christmas drinks.

Holiday cocktail party

Christmas dinner

A red Christmas Mocktail in a flute with a fresh cranberry in it, with two more in the backgrund.
Cranberries splashing into a red mocktail in a chapagne flute with two more of the drinks behind it.
4.5 from 2 votes

Cranberry Sparkler Mocktail

For a festive and delicious non-alcoholic holiday drink, you'll love this Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail recipe that is bursting with bubbles. And with some champagne or sparkling wine or even a splash of vodka, you can easily turn it into a Christmas cocktail for the adults
Prep: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or to taste (see Note). You can also substitute honey or agave nectar
  • Sparkling water or club soda (see Note)
  • Frozen cranberries to serve as ice cubes if desired

Instructions

  • Place the cranberries, orange juice, water, and maple syrup in a blender, and puree thoroughly.
  • Strain through a mesh strainer.
  • Return the juice to the blender and puree once more. Strain again.
  • Keep juice in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • When ready to serve, pour about 1/4 c juice in each champagne flute, and add about an equal amount of sparkling water or club soda.
  • Garnish with frozen cranberries, if desired.

Notes

If you are going to dilute the juice with the Sparkling Water, you want to make the juice a little sweeter than you would want to drink it alone. If you just want to make juice, add a little more water and a little less sweetener.
You can substitute with sparkling wine or champagne or add vodka or your alcohol of choice to make it a cocktail.
Nutrition Facts
Cranberry Sparkler Mocktail
Amount Per Serving (1 drink)
Calories 46 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Sodium 2mg0%
Potassium 75mg2%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 46IU1%
Vitamin C 11mg13%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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42 Comments
  1. Life is a funny thing. There are far too many times when you don’t know if it’s appropriate to laugh or cry. When tragedy strikes, I too tend to close myself off from the world as a form self preservation. It’s especially hard and most important when you have little ones to keep safe and care for.
    Your post was beautifully written and your photos are incredible! They were time away from the TV, well spent. I wish you and your family a blessed and safe 2014!

  2. Nancy @ gottagetbaked

    Brianne, what a beautiful post. I also found it strange to be writing a post about celebrating and cracking jokes as I normally do against the backdrop of Friday’s event. However, I feel the same as you when it comes to the intent behind Sunday Supper – it’s all about bringing together families and appreciating the time we have together, especially in the wake of tragedy, especially at Christmas time. I love this drink and your action shots are awesome, especially the photo the big splash coming out of the glass. I’m sorry you can’t drink this year but come next year, you’ll have a new lil one in the house and can drink to your heart’s content 🙂 Happy holidays!

  3. Laura Hunter | Small Wallet Big Appetite

    I was pregnant last Christmas so I can totally sympathize with you. But like you I was able to find wonderful drinks like this that make me feel less like the odd one out. There is nothing worse then being at a party where everyone is drinking these fun drinks and you are stuck drinking water. So something fun like this is perfect.

  4. Katie

    What a pretty little drink! I love that you could switch out the sparkling water for sparkling wine if you wanted to make an adult version too…

  5. Cass @foodmyfriend

    I have really gotten into cranberry juice lately. Mainly because they have started selling 300ml bottles in 3 packs! This looks like it would go down very well. Maybe something I could make for New Years Eve. You have a beautiful blog!

  6. Paula @ Vintage Kitchen

    These look perfect for a celebration, so festive! I love the pic where the cranberry seems to be doing a loop!

  7. These will be perfect for Christmas! We are going to my mom’s and there is no alcohol in her house but this will be a fun and festive beverage she’ll allow em to serve!

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