As kids, we all visited holiday parties where adults had their punch and we had ours. We were none the wiser. Who knew that the non-alcoholic versions of the adult drinks would come to be called Mocktails. Nor could we ever imagine that a Mocktail would prevail as a more popular libation than the alcohol-filled sister drinks.
From kids tables to adult hands the mock-tail made its way through every party we arrived at. With all the years gone by from previous celebrations, I can hardly remember the name of the mocktail my family used to create.
My solution was easy, I created a new name, and sparked the drink up to meet adult taste standards and please the kiddies too. The holidays are for everyone to celebrate, those that love a libation or those that prefer the mocktail of the libation creations.
Lavishly live mocktails out loud, and let’s celebrate the holidays with my Muddled Cranberry Sparkling Holiday Mocktail. Bring on the refills, the merriment and let the season sparkle with every glass.
MOCKING AROUND THE KIDS TABLE
Do you remember the kid tables we sat at, rather than the adult table? We were all so happy to be at the table with our friends and cousins and siblings so we could chatter, burp, fart, and giggle. The kid’s table is where all the fun happened and sometimes the uncles and aunts would join in because we were having too much fun.
Our mocktails made us giddy because we sipped and had fun. Often, the aunts and uncles would say ” I want some of what you are drinking” and they would grab a glass.
GATHERING HOLIDAY MOCKTAIL SUPPLIES
No holiday could be complete without the best in libations or mocktails and I started shopping early this year. Gathering the supplies to create the holiday beverages we love is easy. I grab my cart and march right to the soda aisle to grab my favorite mocktail base.
The lemon-lime flavor is the key base ingredient to at least 3 of my mocktail recipes and it’s perfect for alcoholic beverages as well. I’m a flavor girl so no plain tastes pass through the palms of these hands!
Muddled Cranberry Sparkling Holiday Mocktail
Here are the ingredients you will need.
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp Of Crushed Ice
2 Tbsp Of Whole Berry Cranberry Sauced (smashed up, muddled)
Cinnamon/Sugar Combination for rimming glass
Shallow bowl with water for dipping rim
2 Oz Orange Juice
5 Oz Sprite®
METHOD
Rimming: Dip glass into water lightly to moisten & dunk into cinnamon sugar mixture.
Add Crushed Ice
Tip: Add ice just when you are ready to serve or it will dilute the drink a lot! This is made on demand not ahead of time.
Add-In Cranberry and Muddle by mixing with a spoon.
Briskly stir to mix both the ice and the cranberry.
Here’s what it looks like when you are muddling.
It’s looking good. In fact, we are almost done. I can’t wait to taste test.
Add-In Orange Juice – You can add more or less depending on your preference for juice versus soda.
Add-In Sprite or any other lemon lime soda brand you choose (they all work the same)
Tip: Pour slowly, things are about to get frothy and that’s how it is supposed to be.
Dress it up with green and red apple chunks, fun sparkler picks and a glass straw.
You can add a cherry, an orange, grape, apple, strawberry, whatever adds a little color to the beverage! It’s a Garnish.
Now it’s time to sip and enjoy.
Sip Sip Hooray!
HOLIDAY HAPPINESS
Bottoms Up.
Now enjoy your holidays with a new family tradition. Cling, Cheer and bring on the holidays because this mocktail is one everyone can enjoy. Lavishly live the holidays out loud. ~Dana
I love cranberries and am going to love this mocktail! It looks so festive and perfect for this holiday season!
Oh!! This mocktail looks refreshing and really tempting. I will absolutely share this with my cousin for our family gathering this December 31.
This is such a fun and yummy looking mocktail! You could make it a full cocktail or just keep it mocktail for the kiddos and anyone who wants to keep it that way 🙂 My boys would be all over this.
Oh that is such a good idea and variation from the alcoholic version! Also a great way to make the kids feel grown up and part of the fun!
I drank something that was rimmed with sugar and salt previously and thought the cocktail was a genius concoction~ But then I realised it’s a very common practise in the west… I like how you create this delicious looking mocktail~
I am fond of light drinks with different blends thus your version of mocktail is tempting me and this cranberry mocktail is indeed luring my taste buds. I shall have it.
Your version of mocktail is tempting me as I go for light drinks with different blends and this cranberry mocktail is luring my taste buds. I shall have it.
Oh!!! This is so interesting. I will absolutely share this with my hubby. I am sure that he really love this mocktail ingredients.
This almost looks too good to drink! I love the sprite and oj combo so this is a yes for me!
I feel like this would be a really tasty and comforting drink to enjoy at the Christmas party. I can never get enough cranberries around the holidays.
This looks quite delicious. I am kind of amazed by the way the red kind of comes to the top of the drink. I think my daughter and I would love to try this, although maybe I would use blackberries to muddle with and something other than orange juice. My daughter would probably love the blackberries more than the cranberries. I think this looks awesome though.
This looks delicious! Need to try this soon for the holidays!
This looks so easy to make! This is perfect for the holidays, too.
I am not a big person on drinking alcohol and so this mocktail would be perfect. I am going to have to give this a try!
Looks lovely and I’m sure the combination of orange juice and sprite tastes divine! I’m looking for non-alcoholic drinks for this holiday season, as I’m pregnant and obviously I can’t drink, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have some fun!
I need this drink in my life. Looks delicious!! Saving the recipe
A cinnamon sugar rim would be so yummy! My parents never did the kids table. It was everyone all together, mocktails all around and so much fun!
It is very colorful and beautiful. That will be the perfect holiday drink for my party, I am completing my menu and I am glad I come across your post, I will certainly give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
I love mocktails! This one looks delicious and I especially love the cinnamon sugar mix for the rim. What an awesome idea. Can’t wait to try this!
I can remember those days of holidays at the kids’ tables, the mocktails that made us feel so grown up and the fun we would all have. Your muddled cranberry sparkling mocktail looks delicious. I love that you dip the rim in cinnamon sugar, such a yummy extra to the beverage.