Name: Easy Cranberry Ginger Mocktail Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp water; 2 tsp pure maple syrup; ½ tsp fresh ginger (grated); ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3-4 lemons); ½ cup unsweetened cranberry juice; 1 cup ginger beer or ginger ale (chilled); Ice cubes; Lemon slices (for garnish (optional)); Frozen cranberries (for garnish (optional))

This cranberry ginger mocktail is the perfect drink to lift your glass to, whether you’re celebrating with kids or just having a non-alcoholic cheers. Plus, it’s super easy and requires few ingredients!

Growing up, on Thanksgiving, all the kids were given champagne flutes and treated to sparkling grape juice ahead of eating dinner. Let’s just say I felt very classy before stuffing my face with absolutely everything.

Now, as an adult who chooses not to drink, I realize I need to up my mocktail game. Let’s be honest, the sparkling juice you drank as a kid, as an adult… it doesn’t taste the way you thought it did.

Plus, a homemade mocktail is not only easy to mix up, but it’s cheaper and tastes better.

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CRANBERRY GINGER MOCKTAIL

As a lover of lemonade, especially ginger lemonade, this mocktail, with its splash of cranberry juice, is the perfect balance of tangy, spicy, and sweet. Plus, the ginger beer adds a delicious fizz (and spice), giving it that proper cocktail (but not) feel.

This recipe makes four drinks, perfect for girls’ night, to have on hand for an afternoon drink delight, or make over the holidays.

What is simple syrup? Simple syrup is made up of equal parts sugar and water, heated over the stove until the sugar dissolves. It makes it easy to sweeten drinks, especially cold beverages, where you don’t have the heat of the drink to melt the sugar.

homemade non-alcoholic holiday drink for kids

INGREDIENTS

Water: The base for your simple syrup
Maple Syrup: Adds a natural sweetness to your drink
Ginger: Brings a little spice and flavor
Lemons: The main liquid of your drink, bringing a delicious sharpness
Unsweetened Cranberry Juice: Adds color and flavor
Ginger Beer or Gingerale: Adds a little sweetness, flavor, and fizz
Ice Cubes: Add them to your glass or a shaker to cool down your drink
Fresh Cranberries: Optional for garnish and a fun pop of color (+a clue to what’s inside!)

HOW TO MAKE A CRANBERRY-GINGER MOCKTAIL

Start by making your ginger syrup. Mix your water, grated ginger, and maple syrup in a small pot.

Place on the stove over medium heat and bring it to a simmer, stirring for about two minutes until all of your syrup has dissolved. Remove it from the heat and let the ginger steep in the syrup for 10 minutes. Then strain and leave to cool to room temperature.

To make the base of your mocktail, grab a pitcher and mix in your lemon juice, ginger syrup, and cranberry juice. Grab your cold ginger beer or ginger ale from the fridge and your glasses of choice.

To serve your cranberry ginger mocktail, place ice and frozen cranberries in each glass, split your mocktail mixture between all four glasses, and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy!

easy holiday mocktail recipe with cranberry

3 reasons you should make this cranberry ginger mocktail

The small batch makes it perfect for a night with friends or an afternoon pick-me-up
Lemon, cranberry, and ginger make for a tart, sweet, and spicy combo
Comes together in minutes and makes for a fun (and pretty!) mocktail

TIPS & VARIATIONS

I love the cranberry juice in this drink, but you can also swap it for pomegranate if that’s what you have on hand!
Prep your ginger simple syrup in advance to allow it time to cool before mixing with the rest of your mocktail ingredients.
To give a true “cocktail” vibe, rub a lemon on the rim of your glasses and dip each into granulated sugar. This will give you that crystallized rim with a touch of sweetness.
Note that some ginger beers do contain a small percentage of alcohol, but not all. Read your labels accordingly!

MAKING AHEAD & STORING

You can store your mocktail (without the ginger beer/ginger ale!) in a covered pitcher in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just top your drink off with fresh ginger beer when you’re ready to pour it.

MORE MOCKTAIL RECIPES

EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 25

Servings 4

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

This cranberry ginger mocktail has the perfect balance of tangy, spicy, and sweet with a little fizz. Whether you’re celebrating with kids or just having a non-alcoholic cheers, this is the perfect drink to lift your glass to!

Equipment

Small pot
Fine Mesh Strainer
4 Glasses
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons

Ingredients

2 tbsp water
2 tsp pure maple syrup
½ tsp fresh ginger grated
½ cup fresh lemon juice about 3-4 lemons
½ cup unsweetened cranberry juice
1 cup ginger beer or ginger ale chilled
Ice cubes
Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
Frozen cranberries for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Make the ginger syrup by combining your water, grated ginger, and maple syrup in a small pot. Place on the stove over medium heat until it simmers, stir for about 2 minutes until the syrup has dissolved, and remove from heat. Let all the ingredients steep for 10 minutes and then pour through a fine mesh strainer to remove the ginger bits, and chill at room temperature. Prepare this in advance so your syrup is at room temperature before preparing the rest of the drink (or it will melt the ice)
In a pitcher, combine your lemon juice, ginger syrup, and cranberry juice. Stir well to combine
To serve, fill each glass with ice and frozen cranberries, and split your lemon mixture between the four glasses, leaving space at the top
Top off each glass with your ginger beer and serve with a lemon wedge
Enjoy immediately!