Cranberry Orange Mocktail

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This cranberry orange mocktail has bright flavors, festive touches, and a creamy foam topping that's perfect for the holiday season or any occasion.

coupe glass with creamy cranberry mocktail

The thing about a mocktail is that it should still feel like a cocktail. Just without the alcohol, of course. Simply combining soda and juice together is not my idea of a mocktail. That's an extra sweet glass of soda.

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🍸 Why you should give this mocktail a try
🫚 Ingredients
🥚 Substitutions & Variations
🫗 Instructions
✨ Top Tips
🍹 Equipment
🧊 Storage
🤔 FAQ
🍕 Pairing
📖 Recipe
🫖 Related Recipes
💬 Comments

When you make or order a mocktail you still want the experience of enjoying a thoughtful and creative beverage. I think this is especially true if your friends are all having cocktails. No one wants to feel left out or like a child with a glass of juice. Even kids can enjoy a mocktail like this one made with cranberry and orange juices, seltzer, a homemade simple syrup, and a bit of foam on top.

🍸 Why you should give this mocktail a try

It looks and feels like a cocktail with a fun mix of garnishes.
It makes a nice holiday drink for a party or get together that will allow all of your guests to have a nice drink experience without anyone feeling excluded.
There are a range of textures with a combination of foam, fizz, and crunchy sugary rim.

In search of more alcohol free beverages? Check out these:

🫚 Ingredients

Here's everything you need to make this cranberry orange mocktail.

Cranberry juice: Pure cranberry is what you want for this mocktail. Avoid cranberry cocktail, which is loaded with extra sugar.
Fresh ginger and sugar: To make the ginger simple syrup. You'll want about a one to two inch piece of ginger root, which you'll slice up to infuse the sugar syrup.
A fresh orange: The fresh orange juice goes in the cocktail, while the zest will line the rim of the glass. Any standard orange is all your need.
Aquafaba: The liquid from a can of chickpeas. This magical bean liquid whips or shakes into a foam and is a good option in place of raw egg whites in cocktails or for vegan cooking and baking. Here's some more info on how to use aquafaba and how to make your own when cooking beans.
Seltzer: Adds a bit of bubliness to finish off the mocktail. Any other sparkling water is just as good or you could even use some quality ginger ale for an extra punch of ginger flavor. An orange or cranberry flavored seltzer makes a nice complement to this beverage.
Fresh cranberries: For a festive mocktail garnish. Totally optional.
Dried orange slice: Another optional garnish idea. You can also use a slice of fresh orange, as you'll have some leftover.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.

🥚 Substitutions & Variations

Use an egg white in place of the aquafaba if you want that creamy texture, don't have a can of chickpeas handy, and don't mind a raw egg white in your drink.
Club soda or any other sparkling water is a fine substitute for seltzer.
If you'd like to use another flavor of simple syrup instead of ginger, you could make the rosemary syrup from this pomegranate rosemary cocktail.
Fresh herbs: A sprig of fresh mint would make another good garnish to this mocktail.
Keep it simple. Skip the orange zest sugar rim and garnishes if you don't have the time for them.

🫗 Instructions

How to make this cranberry mocktail recipe:

Step 1: Simmer the ginger slices with water and sugar in a small pot for about 10 minutes. Then turn off the heat and let cool.

an orange being zested into a plate of sugar

Step 2: Zest an orange and mix with the sugar. After zesting, juice the orange and set aside for the cocktail.

a piece of orange being rubbed around a glass

Step 3: Rub a piece of orange around the edge of your glass. If making the cranberry garnish, rub the orange over a few cranberries as well.

a coupe glass being rolled in orange sugar

Step 4: Coat the edge of the glass in the orange sugar. Then, if using the cranberries, wet them, and roll them in the sugar as well.

cranberry juice being poured into a cocktail shaker

Step 5: Pour the cranberry juice, orange juice, aquafaba, and ginger simple syrup into your shaker. Don't add ice yet.

Step 6: Shake the cocktail well for about 15 seconds to combine. Then add a big scoop of ice cubes and shake again.

cranberry mocktail being strained into glass

Step 7: Strain the cocktail into your glass.

seltzer being poured into cranberry mocktail

Step 8: Slowly pour the seltzer down the side of the glass to fill your glass.

cranberry garnish being added to mocktail

Step 9: If you're using the cranberries, slide them onto a cocktail pick and add to the glass.

dried orange garnish being added to cranberry mocktail

Step 10: Garnish with a piece of orange and serve.

✨ Top Tips

Start with a dry shake. This means shaking the mocktail first without ice, which will help the aquafaba foam up and incorporate into the other ingredients. So don't skip that step before adding ice and shaking again.
Pure cranberry juice is the best option here, not a cranberry cocktail blend that is loaded with extra sugar. The mocktail will be too sweet, otherwise.

🍹 Equipment

Cocktail shaker: For mixing up the mocktail. A large mason jar and fine strainer work in a pinch.
Cocktail pick: For the sugared cranberry garnish. Large toothpicks also work.
Coupe glass: A classic glass that's perfect for showing off the creamy layer of this mocktail, but you can use whatever glass you prefer.

🧊 Storage

The ginger simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month. It can also be used to make additional cocktails and flavor coffee, tea, lemonade, or hot chocolate. Why not try it in this cold brew martini or use it in place of the honey in this watermelon basil cocktail?

🤔 FAQ

What does cranberry juice mix well with?

Cranberry pairs well with citrus, apple, woody herbs like rosemary and thyme, warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and sweeteners such as maple syrup.

How do I make good tasty mocktails?

As with crafting a cocktail, it's all about a balance of flavors. You don't want to use only sweet ingredients, for instance, or your mocktail will taste like juice. Consider different flavors and textures, such as bubbly and creamy, as with this cranberry mocktail.

What are some creative ways to make a non alcoholic drink look like a traditional cocktail?

Use an attractive glass, add garnishes, and consider coating the rim of the glass with sugar, salt, or other ingredients. These will help a mocktail look as fun and creative without the need for alcohol.