Ingredients
- 2 cups 100% cranberry juice, chilled
- 1 cup fresh orange juice, chilled
- 2 cups ginger ale, chilled
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional, to taste)
- 2 dashes orange bitters (optional)
- Coarse sugar, for rimming (optional)
- Ice
- Fresh rosemary sprigs, sugared cranberries, and orange wheels, for garnish
Instructions
- Rim and shake the base. If you like, rim the glasses with coarse sugar. In a cocktail shaker or jar, shake the cranberry juice, orange juice, maple syrup (if using), bitters (if using), and ice for 10 seconds.
- Pour over fresh ice. Strain into 4 glasses filled with fresh ice.
- Add the fizz. Top each glass with ginger ale — pour gently to keep the bubbles.
- Garnish festively. Add a rosemary sprig, a few sugared cranberries, and an orange wheel to each glass.
- Serve. Serve immediately while fizzy and ice-cold.
💡 Holiday mocktail smarts
Use 100% cranberry juice, not cranberry cocktail — the tartness is the entire point of the drink. Sugared cranberries are easy: toss fresh cranberries in simple syrup, roll in granulated sugar, and let dry 1 hour — they double as garnish and snack. Always add the ginger ale last to protect the fizz.
Common questions
Can I make it ahead?
Mix the juice base up to a day ahead and refrigerate. Add the ginger ale per glass just before serving so it stays fizzy.
It's too tart for me — help?
Add maple syrup a teaspoon at a time until it balances. Everyone's cranberry tolerance is different.
What other garnishes work?
A thyme sprig, an orange twist, or a cinnamon stick all look gorgeous in the ruby-red drink.
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes — it's all juice and ginger ale. Kids love the sugared cranberries.
Love this recipe?
Save it to your "Thanksgiving Recipes" board so it's always one click away when the craving hits.
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