Spiced Cranberry Ginger Mocktail with Rosemary
A sparkling cranberry mocktail with fresh ginger, orange juice and cinnamon syrup, shaken cold and topped with soda water. Alcohol-free, ready in 5 minutes.
This spiced cranberry mocktail is tangy, fizzy and full of holiday flavor. Fresh ginger and cinnamon give it warmth, so nobody at the party feels left out.
Tips for Success
- Press the ginger gently. If you crush it hard, the drink turns bitter.
- Add the soda water last, straight from the fridge, for the best fizz.
- Use unsweetened cranberry juice if you can. It tastes brighter, and you control the sweetness.
- Use fresh cranberries as garnish, not dried ones.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make cinnamon syrup up to 2 weeks ahead: simmer ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water and 2 cinnamon sticks for 10 minutes, then cool. To serve a crowd, mix the cranberry juice, orange juice and syrup in a pitcher, scaled up for your guests, and chill for up to 1 day. Top each glass with soda water when you pour.
Variations
- Add 1 ½ oz of vodka or gin per glass for an adults-only drink.
- Use ginger beer in place of soda water for a stronger ginger kick.
- Swap rosemary for a cinnamon stick.
Spiced Cranberry Ginger Mocktail with Rosemary
Ingredients
Instructions
- Put the ginger slices in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Press them lightly with a spoon or muddler (a tool for crushing) 3 or 4 times to release the flavor.
- Add the cranberry juice, orange juice and cinnamon syrup.
- Add 1 cup of ice, close the lid and shake for about 10 seconds, until the outside feels cold.
- Fill a tall glass with fresh ice.
- Strain (pour through the shaker's built-in strainer to hold back the ice and ginger) into the glass.
- Top with the cold soda water and stir once, gently, so the bubbles stay.
- Tuck a few cranberries and the rosemary sprig into the glass and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make cinnamon syrup?
Simmer equal parts sugar and water with 2 cinnamon sticks for 10 minutes, then cool and remove the sticks. It keeps in the fridge for 2 weeks.
Can I use cranberry juice cocktail instead of pure cranberry juice?
Yes, but it is sweeter. Cut the cinnamon syrup to 2 tsp.
Why use fresh cranberries as a garnish?
Fresh berries float and stay firm. Dried cranberries sink and make the drink sweeter.
