Apple Cider Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic Drink)
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Get into a festive mood with this Apple Cider Mocktail – a celebration of holiday flavors in every sip! Crafted with pure pressed apple cider, cranberry juice, and a hint of orange, it’s a merry non-alcoholic drink option for your seasonal gatherings. Garnished with an apple slice, fresh cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary, this mocktail is the perfect companion to your fall, Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations!
Why You’ll Love This Mocktail
This apple cider mocktail is refreshing, delicious and quite easy to prepare with simple ingredients that are easy to find! The pure pressed fresh apple cider, cranberry juice, and orange juice create a wonderful sweet-tart flavor that appeals to a wide variety of people.
Parties and holiday parties are perfect for mocktails, like this Tequila Sunrise Mocktail, because they may be enjoyed by everyone, including designated drivers, pregnant visitors, and non-drinkers. This apple cider mocktail goes great with holiday celebrations because its warm and cozy aromas embody the spirit of the season.
Enjoy non-alcoholic holiday drinks like this one for their great taste, festive garnishes, and adaptability for any event. It’s a terrific way to celebrate while satisfying everyone’s tastes.
Recipe Ingredients
To make this Christmas mocktail, you’ll need the following simple ingredients:
- apple cider (pure pressed preferred, not hard cider)
- cranberry juice
- orange juice (can substitute pineapple juice like this cranberry pineapple mocktail.)
- your favorite garnish (fresh apple slices, fresh cranberries and rosemary are featured here)
This mocktail uses pure pressed apple cider rather than apple juice or a non-alcoholic cider beer which excludes water and extra sugar added. I’ve used it many times in other recipes, including slow cooker pomegranate cider and cranberry cider since I love the flavor!
No need for added sugars for extra flavor including simple syrup or maple syrup. The juices are plenty sweet on their own.
What is pure pressed apple cider?
Pressing fresh apples to obtain their juice is the method used to make pure pressed apple cider. By omitting water, sugar, and other ingredients, the phrase “pure pressed” highlights that the cider is crafted entirely from the juice of mashed apples. The process typically involves washing, crushing, and pressing apples to extract the juice, which is then filtered and sometimes pasteurized for safety.
How to Make an Apple Cider Mocktail
To make this apple cider mocktail recipe, you will need to gather your cocktail shaker, apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice and preferred garnishes.
Start by filling the shaker with ice. Then, pour 2 parts apple cider, 2 parts cranberry juice, and 1 part orange juice into the shaker.
Secure the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds to thoroughly mix the ingredients and chill the mocktail.
Next, grab low ball glass. You can fill with ice if preferred, but it isn’t necessary. I personally like less dilution as the ice melts so I opted to not include ice. (Alternatively you could make apple cider ice cubes.) Then, strain the mixture from the shaker into the low ball glass.
To garnish the mocktail, place a fresh apple slice or apple wedge, fresh cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary on top of the drink for a festive and aromatic touch. Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing apple cider mocktail!
Mocktail Garnish Ideas
Garnishes that create visual appeal are what really elevate this easy recipe from a simple punch to a fun mocktail. Here are some garnish options that pair well with the ingredients in this apple cider mocktail and take it to the next level:
Apples: Thinly sliced apple rounds or wedges highlight the apple taste in the cider and offer a crisp and refreshing touch. Any crisp apples work well including Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp apples.
Cranberries: For a festive garnish, try floating or skewering some fresh cranberries. Fresh fruit is always a great choice.
Rosemary: A sprig of fresh rosemary adds a herbal fragrant note that goes well with the fruity tastes. It is also a nice touch for the holiday season.
Orange: A twist of orange peel enhances both the aroma and the visual attractiveness with its zesty scent. Generate a tiny twist with a knife or a vegetable peeler. Alternatively you can including a small slice of orange instead to add to the rim or let it float.
Cinnamon Stick: The addition of a cinnamon stick to the drink gives it a warm and aromatic quality. Pairing a cinnamon stick or star anise with an apple slice instantly turns this into a delicious fall mocktail for Thanksgiving or even Halloween parties.
Pomegranate: To add a splash of color and a juicy pop, sprinkle some pomegranate seeds on top of this cozy mocktail.
Mint Leaves: Infuse the mocktail with the fragrance and revitalizing freshness of mint leaves.
Sugar Rim: For an extra sweet and ornamental edge, dip the rim of the glass in sugar. If you want it more flavorful, create a cinnamon sugar rim. To create the cinnamon sugar mixture, combine 2 tablespoons granulate sugar with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
To make your delicious apple cider mocktail look and taste even better, feel free to get creative with the garnishes. Try various combinations depending upon the occasion and personal tastes. It’s a great way add to the overall flavor.
Serve this mocktail with your favorite holiday recipes such as Monster Christmas Cookies or Cranberry Walnut Bread with fresh cranberries. They would make a delicious pairing.
Apple Cider Mocktail
Ingredients
- 3 oz apple cider pure pressed preferred
- 3 oz cranberry juice
- 1 1/2 oz orange juice
- fresh apple slices, fresh cranberries, fresh rosemary for garnish optional
Instructions
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Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
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Pour in apple cider, cranberry juice and orange juice.
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Shake and pour into lowball glass.
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Garnish with apple slice, fresh cranberries and rosemary before serving.
Recipe Notes
Other garnish ideas include an orange twist, orange wheel, sugared rim, pomegranate arils, cinnamon stick or mint leaves.
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. Garnishes were not included in this calculation.
More Recipes
Looking for more delicious fall drinks or perhaps holiday drink recipes? Here are some more non-alcoholic options:
- Pumpkin Spice Cider
- Christmas Holiday Punch
- Sherbet Pink Punch
- Mistletoe Mocktail for Kids
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