Cranberry Mocktail with Ginger Beer

This Cranberry Mocktail recipe is a refreshing nonalcoholic drink for parties! It's made with apple cider, ginger beer, lemon juice, and mint.

I'm always on the lookout for festive drinks to enjoy during the holiday season and right now this virgin Cranberry Mocktail is at the top of the list. It's easy to prepare and will put you right in the holiday spirit!

I enjoy wine and cocktails as much as the next person, but sometimes it's nice to sip on a drink without the addition of alcohol. A mocktail has all the flavor and flair of a cocktail without the hangover.

This recipe is made with cranberry juice, apple cider, ginger beer, lemon juice, and some fresh mint. It's lightly sweet, sparkly, and super refreshing.

Mocktails are great to have on hand during a holiday party because it provides an opportunity for every guest to drink and be merry.

This one contains the flavors and colors of the season and basically feels like a party in a glass.

Jump to:

• Is Cranberry Juice and Cranberry Juice Cocktail The Same Thing?
• What's The Difference Between Apple Cider and Apple Juice?
• What's The Difference Between Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale?
• Is Ginger Beer Non-Alcoholic?
• Ingredients For Cranberry Mocktail
• How To Make Cranberry Apple Mocktails
• Can I Sub Any Of These Ingredients?
• Can I Add Alcohol?
• Cranberry Mocktail with Ginger Beer

Is Cranberry Juice and Cranberry Juice Cocktail The Same Thing?

Cranberry juice sort of forms the 'base' of this mocktail. I always associate the Christmas holiday season with cranberries and this drink is no exception.

There can be some confusion surrounding the varieties of cranberry juice on the market, though.

A trip to your local grocery store is likely to yield lots of options from every brand and it's best to know what you're purchasing in order to get the most out of your mocktail recipes.

I used cranberry juice (which is labeled 100% juice), but in reality is a blend cranberry juice, along with different juices such as grape, apple, and cherry. The addition of the other juices makes the drink sweeter, without the addition of corn syrup or any other types of artificial sweeteners.

Cranberry juice cocktail is made entirely from cranberries (as opposed to a blend of juices), but is sweetened with corn syrup or some other form of added sugar. You can choose this variety if you like, but know that it likely contains added sugar.

You can opt for 100% cranberry juice that has no added juices or sugar, but know that straight cranberry juice is VERY tart and will change the overall flavor of this recipe.

What's The Difference Between Apple Cider and Apple Juice?

There is also some confusion surrounding the second ingredient in this mocktail, apple cider. It's often used interchangeably with apple juice and it turns out there's good reason for that.

Apple cider and apple juice are essentially the same thing, with a few minor differences.

Apple cider is apple juice that is unfiltered and sometimes unpasteurized (this is the variety you would likely find at your local farmer's market or orchard). The brand you purchase at a grocery store, however, will likely be pasteurized.

Apple juice is filtered and pasteurized, so that it stays fresh longer on the shelf. It is often clearer in color and slightly sweeter in taste.

I like to use apple cider in this recipe, because I prefer the tangier taste of the cider, but you can definitely opt for apple juice if you prefer a slightly sweeter mocktail.

Neither apple cider or apple juice contain alcohol. Hard cider is made from apples that are fermented and does contain alcohol, so it's best to avoid it if you're trying to steer clear from booze.

What's The Difference Between Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale?

The third semi-confusing ingredient in this Cranberry Mocktail is ginger beer.

Ginger beer and ginger ale are also similar products with a few notable differences.

Ginger beer is a ginger flavored carbonated drink made with sugar and water. The ginger flavor is strong and pronounced and is generally less sweet than ginger ale. It may or may not be filtered, depending on the brand.

Is Ginger Beer Non-Alcoholic?

It was traditionally fermented, which meant that it would have contained alcohol, but most commercial ginger beer is non-alcoholic (be sure to check the label to be sure).

Ginger ale is similar to ginger beer, but it's noticeably sweeter than ginger beer. The flavor is lighter and is generally more of a 'ginger-flavored soda'. It's carbonated just like any other soda on the market.

You can use either one you like, but know that ginger ale will make the drink sweeter than if using ginger beer.

Ingredients For Cranberry Mocktail

I find that a splash of lemon juice always helps to round out the flavors in drinks and cocktails.

The acidity in the lemon helps to balance the sweetness of the juices and gives this mocktail a pop of freshness.

1. Simply squeeze the juice of 1-2 lemons in a mason jar or any kind of glass.
2. Be sure to remove any seeds from the lemon juice before using.

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• ½ cup 100% Cranberry Juice
• ½ cup Apple Cider
• ½ cup Ginger Beer
• 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• Fresh Mint (optional)
• Cranberries (optional)

How To Make Cranberry Apple Mocktails

This is such a simple drink to have on hand during the holiday season. It's easy to throw together and you can make as many or as few as you like.

I like to use a highball glass when making mocktails. A highball glass is basically a tall bar glass that holds all of the ingredients nicely, along with ice and the garnishes.

You can certainly use any kind of glass you like, but I would opt for a taller glass that can hold each of the ingredients without overflowing.

1. To make this mocktail, add desired amount of ice to a highball or any tall glass.
2. Pour ½ cup cranberry juice into the glass.
3. Add ½ cup apple cider to the cranberry juice.
4. Pour ½ cup ginger beer over the cranberry and apple juices.
5. Add 1 Tbsp. lemon juice to the glass and stir until combined.
6. Garnish with fresh mint (optional).

If using a shorter glass, simply adjust the amount of each ingredient.

No matter what size glass you choose, this recipe contains equal parts cranberry juice, apple cider, and ginger beer. Simply adjust the amounts of these ingredients accordingly.

Can I Sub Any Of These Ingredients?

Yes!

The great thing about drinks like this one is that they are easily customized to your tastes.

If you prefer a sweeter mocktail, use apple juice instead of apple cider and ginger ale instead of ginger beer.

Feel free to use club soda if you do not care for the taste of ginger.

The mint can be muddled a bit before adding to the mocktail. Muddling the mint first will help to release the oils and make the mint flavor more pronounced.

Feel free to swap out the mint for another herb if you prefer. Fresh rosemary or thyme are great options if you like to put a 'savory' spin on the drink.

The fresh cranberries are a totally optional choice when it comes to garnishing this drink.

Looking for appetizers to enjoy this holiday season? Check out these recipes!

• Spiced Maple Mixed Nuts
• Smoked Salmon Dill Crostini
• Mushroom Gruyere Tartlets
• Fresh Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Rosemary Toasted Almonds
• Slow Cooker BBQ Turkey Meatballs
• Gruyere Prosciutto Tartlets
• Maple Baklava Bites

Can I Add Alcohol?

Absolutely!

This Cranberry Mocktail is totally delicious without the addition of alcohol, but it can certainly be added if you'd like a boozy kick.

The flavors pair well with liquor such as rum, tequila, whiskey, brandy, or vodka.

Feel free to add 1 shot of your alcohol of choice. I would avoid artificially flavored brands of liquor (vanilla vodka, for example) in order to avoid altering the flavors too much.

Garnish just as you would if making the mocktail version.

Love cocktails? Check out these recipes?

• Raspberry Mule Cocktail
• Pomegranate Mojito Cocktail
• Tom and Jerry Christmas Cocktail
• Whiskey Bailey's Irish Affogato

Looking for more mocktails?

• Virgin Strawberry Mojito
• Mango Mojito Mocktail

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