Description
Crisp, tart, booze-free spritz built on a fast cranberry–citrus syrup and finished with cold bubbles. Batch-friendly and festive.
Ingredients
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
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)
Per glass: sparkling water/club soda 4–5 oz (120–150 ml); ice 1 heaping cup; optional alcohol-free aromatic drops 2–3 dashes
Garnish: 3–4 cranberries, 1 orange peel, 1 small rosemary sprig (each)
Instructions
Syrup. Combine all syrup ingredients. Bring to a boil; simmer 8–10 min until berries pop. Lightly mash. Strain. Cool, then chill ≥30 min.
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.
Garnishes. Skewer cranberries. Express orange peel over glasses. Rinse and dry rosemary. Chill highballs 10 min.
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.
Batch x2 (12 drinks). Double base. Keep cold. Pour 3 oz base per glass; top with soda to order.
Notes
Keep everything cold to preserve carbonation.
Use 100% cranberry juice, not “cocktail.”
Stir once; don’t shake with soda.
If berries run very tart, add 1–2 tbsp sugar at end of simmer.
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