Description
Crisp, tart, booze-free spritz built on a fast cranberry–citrus syrup and finished with cold bubbles. Batch-friendly and festive.
Ingredients
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Cranberry syrup: cranberries 2 cups (200 g); water 1 cup (240 ml); sugar ¾ cup (150 g); orange zest 1 strip; fresh ginger 6–8 thin slices (6–8 g); cinnamon stick 1; pinch fine salt
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Base: 100% cranberry juice 1 cup (240 ml); orange juice ½ cup (120 ml); lime juice ¼ cup (60 ml); cranberry syrup ¾ cup (180 ml) (plus more to taste); cold water ½ cup (120 ml)
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Per glass: sparkling water/club soda 4–5 oz (120–150 ml); ice 1 heaping cup; optional alcohol-free aromatic drops 2–3 dashes
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Garnish: 3–4 cranberries, 1 orange peel, 1 small rosemary sprig (each)
Instructions
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Syrup. Combine all syrup ingredients. Bring to a boil; simmer 8–10 min until berries pop. Lightly mash. Strain. Cool, then chill ≥30 min.
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Base. In a pitcher: cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, ¾ cup syrup, ½ cup water. Stir. Adjust sweetness with 1–3 tbsp more syrup. Chill.
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Garnishes. Skewer cranberries. Express orange peel over glasses. Rinse and dry rosemary. Chill highballs 10 min.
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Build (each). Fill glass with ice. Add 3 oz (90 ml) base. Top with 4–5 oz sparkling water. One gentle stir. Add drops if using. Garnish and serve.
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Batch x2 (12 drinks). Double base. Keep cold. Pour 3 oz base per glass; top with soda to order.
Notes
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Keep everything cold to preserve carbonation.
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Use 100% cranberry juice, not “cocktail.”
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Stir once; don’t shake with soda.
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If berries run very tart, add 1–2 tbsp sugar at end of simmer.
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True zero-proof: avoid alcohol-based bitters; use alcohol-free aromatics or extra orange peel.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks / Mocktails
- Method: Stovetop + Stirred
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 highball
- Calories: 75 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 g
Keywords: sparkling cranberry mocktail, cranberry spritz, zero proof holiday drink, cranberry orange mocktail, alcohol free cocktail