Festive Cranberry Apple Holiday Mocktail
The Festive Cranberry Apple Holiday Mocktail balances tart cranberry with sweet apple cider and fresh mint for a vibrant ruby-red celebration drink. Quick to prepare in just five minutes, it features natural maple sweetness, bright lime, and effervescent sparkle. Visually stunning with floating cranberries and mint garnish, this versatile mocktail transforms gatherings with its perfect holiday flavors in a sophisticated alcohol-free package.
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker Creates proper dilution and chills the mocktail quickly (A mason jar with lid works as an alternative)
- Muddler Gently releases the essential oils from mint without making it bitter (The handle of a wooden spoon can substitute)
- Jigger or Measuring Tool Ensures precise measurements for a perfectly balanced drink
- Hawthorne Strainer Prevents ice and mint fragments from entering the final drink (A fine-mesh sieve works, too)
- Bar Spoon Allows for gentle stirring without over-agitating ingredients
- Glassware Highball or rocks glasses showcase the beautiful color (Clear glass is recommended)
- Ice Molds Large ice cubes or spheres melt slower, preventing dilution (Standard ice cubes work fine too)
- Citrus Juicer Extracts maximum juice from limes with minimal effort
- Cutting Board & Knife For preparing garnishes
- Pitcher or Punch Bowl For batch serving at gatherings
Ingredients
- 6 fresh mint leaves - Provides aromatic freshness and festive green color contrast
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup - Adds natural sweetness with caramel undertones
- 2 oz cranberry juice - Delivers the signature tartness and vibrant red color
- 1 oz apple cider or cloudy apple juice - Contributes natural sweetness and complex apple flavor
- ½ oz fresh lime juice - Adds brightness and balances the sweetness
- Sparkling water or ginger beer - Creates effervescence and lightness ginger beer adds a pleasant spicy kick
- Optional: splash of apple cider vinegar - Adds complexity and mimics the "bite" of alcohol
- Optional: pinch of powdered sugar - Creates a festive "snow" effect for garnish
- Garnishes: fresh cranberries additional mint sprigs, lime wheel - Enhances visual appeal
Instructions
- First, gently clap 6 mint leaves between your hands to release their aroma and place them in your shaker or glass along with 1 teaspoon of maple syrup. Using a muddler (or the back of a spoon), press down gently 2-3 times just to bruise the mint slightly without grinding it.
- Next, add 2 oz cranberry juice, 1 oz apple cider, and ½ oz fresh lime juice to your mint and syrup mixture. Fill your shaker with ice, secure the lid tightly, and shake for about 10-15 seconds until everything is well mixed and cold.
- Strain the mixture into a glass filled with fresh ice, making sure no mint pieces get through. Top with sparkling water or ginger beer to fill the glass, adding as much or as little as you prefer depending on how strong you want the cranberry and apple flavors to be.
- Finally, garnish your drink with a few fresh cranberries, a sprig of mint, and a lime wheel for that perfect holiday look. If you want the "snowy" effect, lightly dust the top with a tiny pinch of powdered sugar.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your beautiful holiday mocktail! For a batch serving at parties, simply multiply the ingredients by the number of guests and prepare in a pitcher, adding the sparkling water or ginger beer just before serving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!