Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail with Candied Cranberries

This Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail is a little sweet, a little tart and full of festive fizz! A hint of rosemary and crunchy candied cranberries make every glass feel extra special. It’s a delicious alcohol-free option for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, with an easy cocktail variation, too!

Looking for more cranberry drinks for your holiday parties? Check out these favorites: Cranberry Moscow Mule, Cranberry Mojitos and this easy Vodka Cranberry Cocktail!

How To Make Cranberry Mocktails

Start with the rosemary simple syrup so it has time to cool completely before assembling the drinks. The candied cranberries take a little extra attention, but the mocktail itself is as simple as pouring and gently stirring.

I always tend to “over buy” on cranberries each year and keep several bags stocked in my freezer so I can just pull from there when making the candied cranberries. If you have fresh cranberries, freeze, or see my notes below on using fresh cranberries.

Let’s take a quick look at how to make these Christmas virgin drinks and, as always, you can find the full printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Candied Cranberries

1. Thread about five frozen cranberries onto each cocktail pick. Return the skewers to the freezer.
2. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until it reaches 300°F (150°C).
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully dip each skewer into the hot syrup, turning quickly to coat the berries.
4. Let the excess drip off, then place the skewers on parchment paper or a silicone mat to harden.

Holiday Mocktail

1. Combine water, sugar and rosemary sprigs in a small saucepan. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, then let cool.
2. Pour the cooled rosemary syrup into a large pitcher. For a less sweet drink, begin with half the syrup.
3. Add the cranberry juice.
4. Mix infresh lime juice.
5. Pour in the chilled lemon lime soda and stir gently.
6. Fill glasses with ice and pour in the mocktail. Add garnishes, serve and enjoy.

Storage Information

This mocktail is best served freshly mixed, while the soda is bubbly and the cranberry coating is crisp. Preparing the components separately makes it easy to get a head start.

• Rosemary simple syrup: Prepare up to one week ahead. Let the syrup cool completely and refrigerate in a clean, airtight container once cooled.
• Mocktail base: Combine the cranberry juice, lime juice and cooled rosemary syrup up to 24 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate, then add the lemon lime soda immediately before serving.
• Candied cranberries: It’s best to make the sugar-coated cranberries shortly before serving for the crispiest coating. The sugar can absorb moisture and become sticky over time. If using frozen cranberries, you can keep the sugar-coated skewers in the freezer for up to one hour before serving. If using fresh cranberries, let the sugar coating harden completely, then store the skewers in a cool, dry place at room temperature for up to one hour.
• Leftover mocktail: Cover and refrigerate without ice or garnishes, and enjoy the next day for the best flavor. It will lose carbonation as it sits.
• Freezing: Freeze the rosemary syrup in small portions for future batches, allowing room for expansion. Thaw in the refrigerator before using. Freezing the assembled drink or candied cranberry skewers isn’t recommended for preserving their bubbles and crisp coating.

Variations To Try

A few easy swaps let you adjust the flavor or sweetness to suit your gathering. Keep the cranberry base and build from there.

• Less sweet: Replace some or all of the lemon lime soda with plain sparkling water or club soda. Start with a small amount of rosemary syrup and adjust to taste.
• Ginger cranberry: Use ginger ale in place of lemon lime soda for a gentle ginger flavor. An alcohol-free ginger beer will give the drink a stronger ginger kick. My brother makes his own ginger beer and it is delicious in this drink!
• Cranberry orange: Replace a portion of the cranberry juice with orange juice and garnish with orange slices.
• Skip the rosemary: Make a plain simple syrup for a straightforward cranberry-lime mocktail.
• Try a different herb: Infuse the syrup with a small amount of fresh thyme instead of rosemary for another seasonal flavor.
• Simplify the garnish: Skip the candy coating and serve with lime and rosemary when you need a quicker option.

Do I need a candy thermometer?

A candy thermometer is strongly recommended for this recipe. The syrup needs to reach the hard-crack stage to form a crisp shell, and temperature is much more useful than cooking time for knowing when it’s ready.

Can I make this without the candied cranberries?

Absolutely! The cranberry mocktail is delicious on its own, and a sprig of rosemary with a lime slice still makes a lovely garnish. The candied cranberries are an optional finishing touch. You can also just skewer on fresh cranberries – still gorgeous!

Why did my candied cranberries turn sticky?

Hard candy absorbs moisture, and the berries themselves release moisture as they thaw. Humidity, condensation or syrup that didn’t reach the proper temperature can all affect the coating. Make the skewers close to serving time and avoid leaving them submerged in the drink.

Can I double the recipe for a party?

Yes! Double the drink ingredients and rosemary syrup as needed, using a pitcher with room for gentle stirring. Add the soda shortly before serving, or mix smaller batches throughout the gathering to keep the drinks bubbly.

Can I use fresh cranberries instead of frozen?

Yes! Fresh cranberries work well for the sugar-coated garnish. However, frozen cranberries are convenient for this recipe because they help the sugar coating to set quickly.

Fresh vs. Frozen Cranberries

Fresh cranberries stayed crisp for about an hour at room temperature before becoming sticky, but they took longer to cool after being coated. Frozen cranberries cooled much faster, and the sugar coating was almost completely set by the time I had lifted them out of the sugar mixture and gently rolled them around.

Personally, I prefer using frozen cranberries because they are quicker to prepare. I like having all the other cocktail ingredients ready beforehand, coating the cranberries shortly before guests arrive, and taking them out of the freezer just as the guests arrive.

Turn This Mocktail Into a Cocktail

This Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail is easy to turn into a festive cocktail with a splash of your favorite spirit! Vodka lets the bright cranberry flavor shine, while gin pairs beautifully with the rosemary. Mix individual servings so guests can enjoy whichever version they prefer

To make a version with alcohol, add 1½ oz (45 ml) vodka or gin and 3 to 4 oz (90–120 ml) of the cranberry mixture (without lemon lime soda) to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a glass. Top with lemon lime soda and garnish as desired.

Trish’s Tips

A little planning makes this mocktail easy to serve and helps those candied cranberries turn out their best. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you get started.

• Chill the juice and soda first. Cold ingredients help keep the finished drink refreshing without relying on lots of ice.
• Let the rosemary syrup cool completely. Warm syrup will melt the ice and warm up the drink.
• Adjust the sweetness. Start with half the rosemary simple syrup and add more to taste.
• Have your dipping station ready. Set out the parchment and cranberry skewers before the candy syrup reaches temperature. The coating begins to thicken as it cools.
• Keep the candy thermometer tip off the pan. Position it in the syrup without touching the bottom for an accurate reading.
• Don’t stir the boiling candy syrup. Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture boils, leave it undisturbed to help prevent crystallization.
• Add garnishes at the last minute. Rest the cranberry skewer across the rim to help keep the candy coating out of the liquid.
• Pour the lemon lime soda last. Give the pitcher just a gentle stir, then serve right away to keep the mocktail fizzy and refreshing.

More Holiday Drinks

1. White Christmas Margarita
2. Eggnog
3. Christmas Cocktail
4. Cranberry Gin Cocktail
5. Snowflake Martini