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Kid-Approved Sparkling Cranberry Apple Cider Mocktail: Easy Holiday Sipper

cranberry apple cider mocktail - featured image
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A quick and easy mocktail made with cranberry juice, apple cider, and sparkling water, perfect for holiday gatherings and family celebrations. This fizzy, tart-sweet drink is kid-approved and comes together in under 5 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cranberry juice (100% juice, not cocktail)
  • 2 cups apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 1 ½ cups sparkling water (plain or lemon-flavored)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
  • 1 cinnamon stick (for garnish)
  • ½ cup fresh cranberries (for garnish)
  • 1 apple, thinly sliced (honeycrisp or Fuji)
  • Ice cubes (enough to fill glasses or pitcher)
  • Optional: 2-3 whole cloves (for a spiced flavor)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the garnishes first: wash and slice the apple into thin rounds (about ¼-inch thick). Rinse the fresh cranberries and pat dry. If using whole cloves, stick 2-3 into one of the apple slices for easy removal later.
  2. In a large pitcher, combine 2 cups cranberry juice and 2 cups apple cider. Stir gently to combine. If adding maple syrup, drizzle it in and stir until dissolved.
  3. Fill the pitcher about halfway with ice cubes. Add the cinnamon stick, fresh cranberries, and apple slices. If using clove-studded apple slices, add them now.
  4. Just before serving, pour in 1 ½ cups sparkling water. Stir gently once or twice to combine—do not over-stir or the fizz will dissipate.
  5. Taste and adjust sweetness or fizz as desired. Serve immediately over ice in glasses, making sure each glass gets a few cranberries and an apple slice for garnish.

Notes

For best results, chill all ingredients beforehand to reduce ice dilution. Add sparkling water at the last minute to keep the drink fizzy. The juice mixture (cranberry, apple cider, and maple syrup) can be made up to 24 hours ahead and stored in the fridge. For a warm version, skip the sparkling water and ice, and gently heat the juice mixture with cinnamon and cloves on the stove.

Nutrition

Keywords: mocktail, cranberry apple cider, holiday drink, kid-friendly, non-alcoholic, sparkling, easy, quick

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/kid-approved-sparkling-cranberry-apple-cider-mocktail-easy-holiday-sipper/