Smashed Cranberry Mocktail for One (no cranberry juice)

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, all without adding any cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail.

[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]

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?

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.

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.
• 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

What can I make with leftover ingredients?

When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer 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 cranberry mocktail? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

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