This ultra-easy cranberry juice mocktail will be a hit at your next holiday party! Combine tart cranberry juice with lime, mint and sparkling water. It makes for a delicious refreshing and festive non-alcoholic drink you can whip up in minutes and that everyone can enjoy!
At Thanksgiving or Christmas, I love making this delicious cranberry orange mocktail that uses fresh cranberries and real oranges. But if you are in a rush or you have a larger gathering, then this simple cranberry juice mocktail is the way to go to save some prep time. It is vibrant, fresh and so delicious!
It pairs store-bought cranberry juice with zesty lime juice, a little sweetener, fresh mint and the bubbly water of your choice. Simply cover the rim of your serving glass with lime and coarse sugar for a festive look and enjoy a non-alcoholic drink without having to put in much effort.
Let me know if you give it a try! ❤️
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Easy and fast, perfect to serve large groups
- Packed with tart, zesty and sweet flavors
- No need for special equipment (like a shaker)
- Very versatile and can easily be customized
- Healthy, non-alcoholic and can be enjoyed by everyone, including pregnant friends and kids!
- Bubbly and refreshing, the perfect festive yet healthy holiday drink
🗒 Ingredient lists (+ substitutions)
- Cranberry juice: use 100% cranberry juice not made from concentrate and without sugar, if possible. I love the organic pure cranberry juice from the brand Lakewood. Cranberry cocktail works too if that's what you have (you might not need extra sweetener in that case).
- Lime juice: freshly squeezed lime juice is preferred to bottled lime juice. You can swap for lemon juice or even orange juice!
- Fresh mint: it gives it a mojito flavor, which is lovely with the tart cranberry juice!
- Sparkling water: use flavored sparkling water if you want, especially mint-flavored, or use a classic bubbly drink, such as soda, tonic water or Perrier.
- Sweetener: I like using maple syrup to sweeten drinks, but you can also use simple syrup or even granulated sugar.
⭐️ Full list of ingredients (+ quantities) down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- Ginger: swap the sparkling water for ginger ale (or ginger beer, which is spicier).
- Juice blend: for a result that's less tart and sweeter, then you can use a juice blend (such as a pomegranate-cranberry juice) or include some orange juice, mango juice or pineapple juice.
- Herbs: switch the mint for fresh rosemary or simply place a sprig in the mocktail when serving for a nice Christmas look.
- Fruity flavor: switch the maple syrup for passion fruit syrup or add some mango coulis.
- Spices: especially during the holiday season, add a pinch of cinnamon or some nutmeg.
🍽 How to make cranberry juice mocktail
Step 1: Run a wedge of lime around the rim of your serving glass, then cover it with sugar by flipping it in a shallow bowl or plate filled with sugar.
Step 2: Add the leaves of mint, lime juice and sweetener to your glass and gently bruise the leaves using a muddler or a spoon.
Step 3: Add the cranberry juice, plenty of ice cubes and sparkling water.
Step 4: Decorate with more slices of lime, a sprig of mint and fresh or frozen cranberries. Cheers!
⭐️ Detailed recipe (+ video) down below in the recipe card!
💡 Helpful tips
- Freeze a few fresh cranberries a few hours before serving the mocktail, so you can use them as colorful ice cubes!
- Frosty sugar cranberry sticks give this drink an amazing festive look! Simply place a few fresh cranberries on a stick, then drizzle some fresh lime juice over and roll the stick in the same plate of sugar you used to cover the rim.
- Use a shaker to infuse the mint flavor into the drink without having pieces of mint leaves left in the glass. Simply add mint leaves and lime juice to your shaker, then use a muddler to crush or bruise the leaves slightly. Then add a few ice cubes, cranberry juice and maple syrup. Shake, then pour while straining in your serving glass. Top it off with sparkling water, decorate as you wish and serve!
❗️ FAQs
You can make the recipe x4 or x5 times if serving a crowd. Add the ingredients right into a large pitcher and add plenty of slices of lime and fresh cranberry for a nice festive look. Wait for the last minute before adding the ice cubes and sparkling water for the full bubble effect. If making a large amount, then you can consider swapping the freshly squeezed lime juice for store-bought orange juice to make it easier.
Use organic and no-sugar-added pure cranberry juice that's not made from concentrate. Because cranberry juice is naturally very tart, then add freshly squeezed orange juice to balance the flavor without adding sugar.
Yes, you can! Simply pour about 1-1.5 ounces of vodka into your drink!
🍹 More mocktails you might like
I hope you like this cranberry juice mocktail recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Cranberry Juice Mocktail with Lime
Equipment
- Serving glass
- Muddler (or spoon)
- Stirring spoon
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup cranberry juice - choose unsweetened if possible
- ½ lime - juiced, plus extra slices for serving, (or 2 tablespoons of orange juice)
- 1-2 tbsp sweetener - I used maple syrup, simple syrup or agave work too
- 5-6 fresh mint leaves - plus more for serving
- sparkling water or ginger beer - to top it off, about ½-¾ cup
- ice cubes or frozen fresh cranberries - for serving
For decorating
- cane sugar
- fresh cranberries - freeze a few ahead of time if possible
Instructions
- If desired, run a lime wedge around the rim of your serving glass, and dip the glass into a shallow plate or bowl filled with cane sugar. Twist the glass in the sugar to encourage it to stick to it.
- Then, add the mint leaves, lime juice and sweetener. Use a muddler or spoon to gently bruise the leaves. Pour the cranberry juice over, add a few ice cubes and top it off with sparkling water. Decorate with fresh cranberries, slices of lime and a mint sprig. Taste and add more sweetener if desired. Cheers!
Video
Notes
- Freeze a few fresh cranberries a few hours before serving the mocktail, so you can use them as colorful ice cubes!
- Frosty sugar cranberry sticks give this drink an amazing festive look! Simply place a few fresh cranberries on a stick, then drizzle some fresh lime juice over and roll the stick in the same plate of sugar you used to cover the rim.
- Use a shaker to infuse the mint flavor into the drink without having pieces of mint leaves left in the glass. Simply add mint leaves and lime juice to your shaker, then use a muddler to crush or bruise the leaves slightly. Then add a few ice cubes, cranberry juice and maple syrup. Shake, then pour while straining in your serving glass. Top it off with sparkling water, decorate as you wish and serve!
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
Yum! made it for Thanksgiving, and will make it again for Christmas, was great!
Great! Thanks for leaving a review! 😊