Every Christmas, I love creating special drinks that capture the magic of the holiday season. This Cherry Mojito Mocktail has become our family's absolute favorite! I created this recipe when searching for something festive yet alcohol-free that everyone could enjoy during our holiday gatherings.
The gorgeous ruby-red cherries combined with bright green mint not only taste amazing but look like Christmas in a glass! It takes just 5 minutes to make, requires no special skills, and always earns "oohs" and "aahs" when I serve it.
While it looks fancy and tastes like a treat, it's actually packed with healthy ingredients! Whether you're hosting a big holiday party or just want to make an ordinary December evening feel special, this refreshing mocktail is guaranteed to bring holiday cheer.
Why I Love This
- Festive Colors - The red cherries and green mint create a naturally festive Christmas color scheme!
- Health Benefits - Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals from fresh cherries
- Versatile - Perfect for everyone including children, pregnant women, and those avoiding alcohol
- Quick & Easy - Comes together in just 5 minutes with minimal ingredients
- Customizable - Easily adjust sweetness levels or substitute ingredients based on what's available
- Impressive Presentation - Looks professional and Instagram-worthy with minimal effort
- Refreshing Taste - The perfect balance of sweet cherries, tangy lime, and cool mint
Ingredients
These ingredients create the perfect balance of flavors in our Cherry Mojito Mocktail. Fresh cherries provide natural sweetness and a festive ruby color, while also delivering powerful antioxidants. Lime adds the essential tangy brightness that cuts through the sweetness.
Fresh mint brings a cooling, aromatic quality that makes this drink refreshing and sophisticated. Sparkling water creates the perfect fizzy base without adding calories, and the optional honey can be adjusted to taste, making this mocktail customizable for everyone.
Together, these simple ingredients create a vibrant, alcohol-free drink that's as nutritious as it is delicious.
- 5 fresh sweet cherries, roughly chopped (stems and pits removed)
- 1 lime, quartered (plus extra slices for garnish)
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves (plus extra sprigs for garnish)
- 1 cup sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- 1-2 teaspoons sweetener of choice (optional - honey, maple syrup, or simple syrup)
Equipment
- Muddler - Essential for crushing the cherries and lime to release their juices and flavors (a wooden spoon handle works in a pinch)
- Tall Glass - A highball or collins glass showcases the beautiful colors of the drink
- Knife and Cutting Board - For chopping cherries and slicing lime wheels
- Measuring Cup - Ensures proper proportions for a balanced flavor
- Wide Straw - Helps you enjoy the drink along with the muddled cherry pieces
- Small Spoon - Perfect for scooping out the delicious cherry pieces at the bottom
How To Make
- Prep the fruit: Remove stems and pits from cherries and roughly chop them. Quarter one lime and set aside a few slices for garnish.
- Muddle the base: Add chopped cherries and lime quarters to your glass. If desired, add sweetener. Using a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon), gently crush the mixture for about 60 seconds until the juices are released. You're aiming to break down the fruit enough to release flavors, not completely pulverize it.
- Add the mint: Clap the mint leaves between your palms 2-3 times to release the aromatic oils (this technique enhances the mint flavor without making it bitter). Add to the glass and press gently with the muddler just 2-3 times.
- Build the drink: Fill the glass with ice cubes, then slowly pour in sparkling water to preserve the carbonation.
- Garnish: Add a lime wheel to the rim of the glass, float a few mint leaves on top, and add a fresh cherry or two. For special occasions, consider adding a festive stirrer or decorative straw.
- Serve immediately while the drink is cold and bubbling!
Substitutions
- Cherries: Fresh cherries are ideal, but frozen cherries work well too (thaw slightly before muddling). In a pinch, use 2 tablespoons of pure cherry juice.
- Lime: If limes aren't available, substitute with lemon for a different but equally delicious citrus note.
- Sparkling Water: Experiment with different alternatives like:
- Sugar-free lemonade for added citrus flavor
- Kombucha for probiotic benefits
- Non-alcoholic sparkling wine for special occasions
- Cherry-flavored sparkling water for enhanced cherry taste
- Ginger ale for a spicy twist
- Sweetener: Honey, maple syrup, simple syrup, agave nectar, or stevia all work beautifully. Adjust to taste.
Pro Tips
- Cherry Preparation: For easier pitting, use a cherry pitter tool, or press the flat side of a knife onto each cherry until it splits, then remove the pit.
- Mint Technique: Never roughly muddle mint leaves as this releases bitter compounds. The gentle "clap and press" method gives you all the aroma without bitterness.
- Make-Ahead Option: Prepare the cherry and lime base up to 3 hours ahead and store covered in the refrigerator. Add the mint, ice, and sparkling water just before serving.
- Presentation Upgrade: Freeze whole cherries and use them as decorative ice cubes that won't dilute your drink.
- Layered Effect: For a beautiful gradient effect, add the sparkling water slowly over the back of a spoon.
FAQ
Absolutely! Simply multiply all ingredients by the number of servings needed. Muddle in batches, then combine in a large pitcher. Add ice and sparkling water just before serving to maintain carbonation.
Try using riper cherries, which naturally contain more sugar. You can also use a naturally sweetened sparkling beverage instead of plain sparkling water.
You can muddle the cherry and lime mixture up to 3 hours ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator. Add the mint, ice, and sparkling water just before serving to maintain freshness and fizz.
Add a touch more sweetener of your choice, or try using frozen dark sweet cherries, which tend to have a more consistent sweetness.
For those who drink alcohol, simply add 1.5 oz of white rum per serving to create a traditional Cherry Mojito.
Fresh mint is strongly recommended for the best flavor. Dried mint won't provide the same aromatic qualities that make this drink special.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Cherry Mojito Mocktail
Ingredients
- 5 fresh sweet cherries roughly chopped (stems and pits removed)
- 1 lime quartered (plus extra slices for garnish)
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves plus extra sprigs for garnish
- 1 cup sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- 1-2 teaspoons sweetener of choice optional - honey, maple syrup, or simple syrup
Instructions
- Prep the fruit: Remove stems and pits from cherries and roughly chop them. Quarter one lime and set aside a few slices for garnish.
- Muddle the base: Add chopped cherries and lime quarters to your glass. If desired, add sweetener. Using a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon), gently crush the mixture for about 60 seconds until the juices are released. You're aiming to break down the fruit enough to release flavors, not completely pulverize it.
- Add the mint: Clap the mint leaves between your palms 2-3 times to release the aromatic oils (this technique enhances the mint flavor without making it bitter). Add to the glass and press gently with the muddler just 2-3 times.
- Build the drink: Fill the glass with ice cubes, then slowly pour in sparkling water to preserve the carbonation.
- Garnish: Add a lime wheel to the rim of the glass, float a few mint leaves on top, and add a fresh cherry or two. For special occasions, consider adding a festive stirrer or decorative straw.
- Serve immediately while the drink is cold and bubbling!
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