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Cranberry Orange Fizz Mocktail Recipe

This festive holiday mocktail features homemade cranberry-orange syrup made from fresh cranberries and orange juice, combined with bright lemon, spicy ginger beer, and club soda. The result is tart, sweet, citrusy, and wonderfully sophisticated – perfect for holiday gatherings! The syrup can be made up to 2 weeks ahead, making this ideal for entertaining. Zero alcohol, 100% delicious.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 1 Mocktail Glass
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Calories: 98
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For Cranberry Orange Syrup (makes ~12 servings):
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries 12 oz bag – Note 1
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice from 1-2 oranges – Note 2
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
For Mocktail
  • 1 oz cranberry orange syrup 2 tbsp
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice about ½ lemon – Note 3
  • 3 oz ginger beer bit less than ½ cup – Note 4
  • 3 oz club soda or sparkling water bit less than ½ cup
  • Ice cubes
Garnish
  • Fresh or frozen cranberries
  • Orange slices navel, blood orange, or dried
  • Orange peel twist
  • Fresh rosemary or cinnamon stick optional holiday

Method
 

Make cranberry orange syrup (can be done up to 2 weeks ahead):
  1. In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen), ½ cup fresh orange juice, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup water. Stir to combine.
  2. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. You'll hear the cranberries start popping.
  3. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cranberries will burst and collapse, releasing gorgeous ruby-red colour and tart flavour. Mixt
  4. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a jar or bowl. Pour cranberry mixture through, pressing gently on solids to extract all liquid. Discard solids (or save for topping yogurt/ice cream!).
  5. Let syrup cool to room temperature, then transfer to sealed jar or bottle. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Syrup will thicken slightly as it cools. Should be deep ruby-red, smell like cranberries and oranges, taste sweet-tart.
Make the mocktail:
  1. Fill a mixing glass (or cocktail shaker body, or mason jar) with ice. Add 1 oz (2 tbsp) cranberry-orange syrup, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 3 oz ginger beer, and 3 oz club soda. Don't have mixing glass? Build directly in serving glass!
  2. Use cocktail stirrer or spoon to gently stir everything together. Just a few stirs to combine without losing carbonation.
  3. Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice cubes. Strain mocktail from mixing glass into serving glass. If you built directly in serving glass, just stir and you're done!
  4. Drop a few fresh or frozen cranberries on top (they float beautifully!). Add orange slice to rim or drop in glass. Or twist orange peel over drink to release oils, then perch on rim.
  5. Serve immediately