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    Home » Recipe Index » Drinks

    Smashed Cranberry Mocktail

    January 6, 2021 Updated October 22, 2022 By Rebecca Drinks, Holiday Recipe, Winter Recipes

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    smashed cranberry drink in a glass with green straw
    cranberry drink in glass with text overlay

    Have extra cranberries from your holiday dinner? Smash them to make this 3 ingredient smashed cranberry mocktail. It's easy, simple, and bursting with flavor. Not a cranberry fan? Try this similar Pomegranate Spritzer or Raspberry Mojito Mocktail.

    small glass with cranberry juice and smashed cranberries in it

    [This cranberry mocktail recipe was originally posted in January 2021. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

    Table of contents

    • How will it make your life easier?
    • What makes this winter mocktail so good?
    • How do I make a cranberry orange mocktail?
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ
    • What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    How will it make your life easier?

    This simple smashed cranberry mocktail is a great way to add flavor to water. It's just 3 ingredients and majorly delicious, even makes for a lovely holiday drink. Check out these other holiday drinks: Citrusy Sparkling Apple Cider & a Tart Cherry Spritzer.

    What makes this winter mocktail so good?

    • fresh cranberries
    • orange juice concentrate
    • sparkling water

    How do I make a cranberry orange mocktail?

    hand smashing cranberries and orange juice concentrate in a glass

    To make your cranberry mocktail, start by adding washed fresh cranberries and orange juice concentrate to your glass. Grab your cocktail muddler (or the bottom of a small jar) and smash your cranberry mixture until it's as smooth as you want.

    pouring sparkling water into cranberries in a glass

    After your cranberry mixture is smashed, add sparkling water to your glass. Stir if desired and enjoy your mocktail immediately.

    Substitutions/Tips

    • Orange juice concentrate: a good option if you're an OJ lover, but cook for one. Adding a spoonful of OJ concentrate to smoothies, chicken dishes, and salad dressings adds a lot of fresh flavor to foods. It lasts longer and is inexpensive.
    • If smashed cranberries is too chunky, I recommend throwing them + your OJ + a tablespoon or more of water to a blender/food processor. This will make smooth juice to add to your water.
    • You can use cranberry juice if that's what you have, but try it when you have leftover cranberries because it's perfectly tart-sweet with these 3 ingredients. It's really good in this cranberry mocktail.
    • Other great add-ins: ginger beer, ginger ale, lemonade, lime juice, pinch of salt.

    FAQ

    Are mocktails non-alcoholic?

    Yes, mocktails don't have alcohol added to them. They contain many of the same flavors of cocktails, just not the booze. Many have sparkling water, soda, or juice instead of alcohol, or just omit the alcohol. This cranberry mockail is an example.

    Does cranberry and orange juice go together?

    Yes, they're delicious together, as in this cranberry mocktail. Here are a couple great flavor pairings for fresh cranberries/cranberry juice:
    ginger
    orange
    cinnamon
    maple syrup
    lemon/lime
    nuts
    pumpkin
    vinegar

    Is cranberry juice and cranberry cocktail the same thing?

    No. Cranberry juice is 100% juice, but may not be 100% cranberry juice. Other fruit juices may be added to sweeten it. Cranberry cocktail usually has added sugar (not from other fruit juices). Taste both to see which you like better.

    glass with sparkling cranberry juice and cranberries with a striped straw

    What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    • Cranberries: Swap for equal parts pomegranate juice in this Pomegranate Lime Spritzer
    • Orange Juice Concentrate: Use it in the dressing for this Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges

    Did you make this smashed cranberry mocktail? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

    smashed cranberries and juice in a glass with a green striped straw
    Print Pin
    5 from 3 votes

    Smashed Cranberry Mocktail

    Have extra cranberries from your holiday dinner? Smash them to make this simple 3 ingredient smashed cranberry mocktail. It's easy, simple, and bursting with flavor.
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 0 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Servings 1 person
    Author Rebecca

    Equipment

    • spoon
    • Muddler
    • Glass

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup fresh cranberries washed
    • 2 teaspoons orange juice concentrate
    • ½ cup sparkling water

    Instructions

    • Add ½ cup fresh cranberries and 2 teaspoons orange juice concentrate to your serving glass. Using a cocktail muddler, smash the cranberries and orange juice. Smash until cranberry mixture is smashed to your preference.
    • Pour ½ cup sparkling water over cranberry, orange juice mixture. Mix together and enjoy.

    Video

    Smashed Cranberry Mocktail

    Notes

    • Don't have a cocktail muddler? Use the bottom of a small jar to smash your cranberries, a food processor, or blender.
    • Add a tablespoon or two of water to your cranberry orange juice mixture to blend if you don't want chunks in your drink.

    Want to get more single serving recipes like this cranberry mocktail delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

    More Drinks

    • Raspberry Mocktail with Lime and Mint
    • Strawberry Banana Milkshake
    • Butterscotch Milkshake
    • Biscoff Milkshake

    About Rebecca

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kushigalu says

      January 06, 2021 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      Love cranberries and how refreshing and pretty is this drink. A amust try.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        January 06, 2021 at 4:43 pm

        definitely 🙂

        Reply
    2. Tara says

      January 06, 2021 at 12:05 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum! What a fun use of extra cranberries! I love how easily this mocktail comes together too.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        January 06, 2021 at 4:42 pm

        yes, it's so easy!

        Reply
    3. Megan Lehr says

      January 06, 2021 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      Oh this is PERFECT as I do a Whole30! I want a drink but can't have one and this will make me feel like I'm getting a treat. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        January 06, 2021 at 4:42 pm

        great to hear!

        Reply

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    Rebecca, MS, RDN
    of Nourish Nutrition

    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

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