If you’ve ever stumbled into my kitchen during December, there’s a pretty good chance you’d find me wrestling with a mountain of citrus peels and singing along (a bit off-key, sorry not sorry) to vintage Christmas tunes. Somewhere in the middle of that chaos, the best holiday mocktail always comes together, almost like magic. This drink kind of started as a desperate attempt to impress my mother-in-law (I’ll never admit that in person, mind you), but it’s since become a tradition—overflowing pitcher, sticky countertop and all. Last year my nephew tried to add pickles. Not going to happen, Jack. Not this time at least.
Why I Keep Making This Mocktail—And My Family Keeps Asking
I make this when I want something festive that kids, grown-ups, and even the weird uncle with the extreme grapefruit aversion can all sip happily. My family goes bonkers for it, mostly because it’s bright and fancy-looking but takes about ten minutes (if you’re not easily distracted like me). There’ve been times when I botched the garnish or forgot the pomegranate arils—full disclosure, they look great but half the time I just toss in cranberries instead. Nobody cares, honestly.
What You’ll Need (With Some Shortcuts and Family Quirks)
- 2 cups cranberry juice (I use unsweetened but any works, even the not-so-authentic cocktail blend if that’s what’s in the fridge)
- 1 cup orange juice (fresh is best but boxed is fine; my grandmother swore by Minute Maid but I can’t really tell the difference)
- ½ cup pomegranate juice (or just splash in more cranberry if you’re out)
- ¼ cup lime juice (bottled is okay but go fresh if you can—makes a zippy difference)
- ½ cup club soda (or lemonade for something sweeter, which the little cousins love)
- A handful of pomegranate arils or cranberries, for garnish (or both, if you’re fancy and, ya know, feeling ambitious)
- Orange slices, for garnish (sometimes I forget these…)
- Ice cubes, plenty
Let’s Get Mixing! (Don’t Overthink Any of This)
- First, grab a big pitcher or, if yours is like mine and lives in the dark back corner, honestly any large jug/bowl will do. Pour in cranberry, orange, and pomegranate juices. Splash in that lime juice. Give it a good stir (this is where I taste it and maybe sneak another squeeze of lime in—I like it on the tart side).
- Chuck in a handful of ice, then top it off with the club soda or lemonade. Go gentle here, pour slowly to keep it bubbly. Fun fact: I once dumped soda in too fast and basically made fruit foam. Lesson learned.
- Add your pomegranate arils or cranberries and some orange slices. If it looks a bit wild, that just means it’s festive, right?
- Let it chill in the fridge for 20 minutes if you can wait. But really, it’s fine straight away. I sometimes pour glasses and stick the rest in the fridge just in case anyone wants seconds (they always do).
- Pour into glasses. Optional: pop a sprig of rosemary in each, which makes it look incredibly posh. Or just say you “ran out” if you forgot to buy any—happens more than I’d like to admit.
Notes—A Few Humble Discoveries
- If you double the recipe, you’ll need a really BIG pitcher—ask me how I know. My first attempt nearly flooded the kitchen table.
- Don’t skip the fresh lime if you can help it. Bottled is okay in a pinch, but fresh is like going from ‘meh’ to ‘let’s do that again.’
- I think this actually tastes better the next day, but honestly in my house it never lasts long enough to find out.
Things I’ve Tried—What Worked, What Didn’t
- Swapping club soda for ginger beer—fantastic if you want spicy warmth, but it’s a bit much for kids. My husband calls this “grown-up option.”
- Tried adding rosemary syrup once. Too herbal. Or maybe I just overdid it? On second thought, maybe stick with the plain stuff unless you’re a real flavor adventurer.
- Using sparkling apple cider as the base—tastes great, but super sweet. Way to sneak this into New Year’s, though.
Equipment—And a Few Cheeky Shortcuts
- A big pitcher or jug. If not, just mix in a large bowl. Not elegant but who cares?
- Good stirring spoon, but a wooden spatula or even a chopstick bundle will work if all your spoons are MIA (which happens whenever we have guests...go figure).
- Measuring cups—although I just use my favorite mug half the time.
How to Store (If, By Some Miracle, You’ve Got Leftovers)
Pour any leftovers into a jar with a lid, keep it in the fridge. Stays fresh for a day or two, probably three at a stretch—though honestly, in my house it never lasts the night. If the bubbles fade, just top up with a splash of fresh club soda to perk it up.
Serving It Up—What Works for Us
I usually serve this with the fancy glasses I save for once-a-year occasions. Or mason jars if we’re outside (no shame in that game). For Christmas brunch, we pair it with my mom’s gingerbread pancakes. You can check out her gingerbread pancake recipe—trust me, these are a hit.
Things I Wish I Knew Sooner
- I once tried rushing the chilling step and regretted it—the flavors really are better after 20 minutes in the fridge. Impatience didn’t pay off there!
- Don’t skip the garnish. I know it seems fussy but it makes the whole thing look like you actually tried.
- Save a bit of juice from each bottle—you’ll be thankful if you spill. Ask me how I know that little trick...
Holiday Mocktail Q&A—Real Questions, Real Answers
- "Can I make this ahead?" Yup, you can mix the juices a day ahead, just leave out the club soda until serving or it goes flat. I learned this the...fizzy way.
- "What about sugar? Is this super sweet?" Not really, especially if you use unsweetened cranberry. But hey, add honey or simple syrup if you want more kick. Or less, if your sweet tooth’s on holiday.
- "Do I need fancy glasses?" No way! Regular tumblers work, and sometimes we use camping mugs—gets the job done. The presentation is nice but, honestly, nobody remembers the glassware (unless it's *really* weird, then you'll never live it down).
- "Where do you buy pomegranate arils?" The supermarket sometimes has them packaged, but if not, I use this pomegranate seeding trick from Simply Recipes. Sometimes I just use cranberries, as I mentioned—no shame in the shortcut.
- "What if I don’t have club soda?" Lemon-lime soda or sparkling water does the trick. Heck, I’ve tried tonic once but it was a bit odd. Learn form me and just stick to seltzer if you’re not sure.
So there it is, my not-so-perfect but always cheer-inducing holiday mocktail. Feel free to riff and let me know what works for you, unless you’re adding pickles—in which case maybe just keep that to yourself (kidding, mostly). Happy sipping!
Ingredients
- 2 cups sparkling cranberry juice
- 1 cup orange juice, chilled
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- ½ cup club soda
- Ice cubes
Instructions
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1In a large pitcher, combine the sparkling cranberry juice and orange juice.
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2Add the pomegranate seeds, lemon slices, and fresh mint leaves.
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3Stir in honey if desired for extra sweetness.
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4Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the mocktail mixture over the ice.
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5Top each glass with a splash of club soda and gently stir.
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6Garnish with additional mint and pomegranate seeds, then serve immediately.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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