Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail

This sparkling cranberry mocktail combines tart cranberry juice, fresh orange, and spicy ginger beer for a festive drink everyone loves. Great for holiday gatherings or year-round entertaining!

When I’m entertaining, I love having a signature drink that works as both a cocktail and a mocktail. Often mocktails can taste like glorified juice, but this festive cranberry mocktail tastes bubbly, sweet tart and delicious with only three ingredients!

This ginger beer mocktail has a hint of spicy complexity, and you can muddle in a little rosemary for a sophisticated finish. I first made this as a mocktail version of our Cranberry Aperol Spritz, but it also works in summer as a cranberry orange mocktail. It gets rave reviews every time I serve it!

Why This Cranberry Ginger Beer Mocktail Works

Here’s what I think you’ll love this cranberry mocktail:

It’s deliciously refreshing. The 100% cranberry juice provides that gorgeous ruby color and tart flavor notes, orange juice adds natural sweetness and brightness, and ginger beer adds bubbles and a subtle spicy complexity.
It’s simple to build right in the glass. You don’t need to make fancy infused simple syrups or do anything special: just pour into the glass. This makes it great for parties and holiday entertaining because the prep is minimal.

Ingredients You’ll Need

I love mocktail recipes almost as much as I love cocktails (I’ve created over 300 cocktail recipes!). But often when I’m out and I order a mocktail, it tastes one note: basically like fruit juice! This cranberry mocktail is more interesting without the need to make fancy ingredients like fancy simple syrups. Here’s what you’ll need:

100% cranberry juice: I like using 100% juice because it’s naturally sweet tart and has a bright red color. Juice labeled cranberry cocktail has added sugar.
Orange juice: You can use purchased juice (without added sugar) or fresh orange juice for an even tastier cocktail.
Ginger beer: Ginger beer adds a nuanced, spicy kick to this cocktail and a bubbly fizz. Ginger ale works as a substitute, but it makes a sweeter drink.

Top Ginger Beer Brands

There are many types of ginger beer brands on the market. I love using small cans or bottles, since if you open a large bottle the bubbles subside after a few minutes. Here are a few notes on the top brands:

Q Ginger Beer: This is our top choice! It has great flavor and is made with real ginger. It comes in small cans that are perfect for a few drinks.
Fever Tree Ginger Beer: Fever Tree also has great flavor and is our backup! It’s made with real ginger and has no artificial sweeteners.

Garnish Ideas

I like to garnish this cranberry mocktail with fresh rosemary and mint. If you’re making it as a Christmas drink, fall drink, or winter drink, rosemary is perfect. It also works in summer, so mint is preferable in the warmer months.

If you’d like, you can also add an orange slice to this drink as a garnish to make it even more festive!

Making It for a Crowd

I’ve served this at parties ranging from 6 people to 30, and it scales well. For a pitcher, multiply the recipe by 8-10 servings. Mix the cranberry juice and orange juice together in the pitcher, then let guests top their own glasses with ginger beer so it stays fizzy.

For larger gatherings, you can set up a mocktail station with all the components and let people build their own drinks. Set up small bowls of frozen cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and orange slices so everyone can customize their glass.

Ginger beer mocktail in collins glass with cranberries

More Ways to Customize This Recipe

Once you’ve made the basic cranberry mocktail, you can play with these variations:

Add fresh herbs: Try thyme or basil instead of rosemary for a different aromatic quality. I muddled fresh sage in this once and it was incredible.
Spike it: For an adult version, add 1 ounce of vodka, gin, or rum. Using vodka makes it similar to a Cranberry Moscow Mule (which also has lime juice).
Try different citrus: Swap the orange juice for grapefruit juice for a more sophisticated flavor vibe, or use lime juice instead (use only 1 ounce lime juice since it’s stronger).
Make it tropical: Use pineapple juice instead of orange juice for a Bay Breeze vibe.
Add a splash of pomegranate juice: This deepens the color and adds extra tartness. You could also top with pomegranate seeds.

When to Serve This Mocktail

I originally created this as a holiday or Christmas mocktail, but it works for year-round entertaining if you change the herbs! It’s equally perfect for:

Thanksgiving: The tart cranberry flavor pairs well with the holiday meal
Baby showers: Pregnant guests always appreciate a drink that feels special
Summer barbecues: Swap rosemary for mint and it becomes a refreshing warm-weather sipper
Brunch gatherings: Serve alongside mimosas for guests who want something alcohol-free
New Year’s Eve: The bubbles make it feel celebratory, and the red color is festive

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this without ginger beer?

Yes! You could try it with ginger ale, but the flavor profile will be sweeter and less interesting.

Is this mocktail kid-friendly?

Absolutely. My kids drink this all the time. The ginger beer might slightly too spicy for very young children.

What’s the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale?

Ginger beer is brewed and fermented, giving it a stronger, spicier ginger flavor. Ginger ale is simply carbonated water with ginger flavoring and is sweeter. For the best mocktails, choose ginger beer. Here’s more on ginger beer vs ginger ale.

Can I turn this into a cocktail?

Yes! Add 1-2 ounces of vodka, gin, or white rum. For a closer match to my Cranberry Aperol Spritz, add an ounce of Aperol along with the spirits.