This fruity Cranberry Sangria Mocktail is chock full of fresh fruit that soaks up the tangy concoction of cranberry berry juice cocktail and other fruit juices. Pour this nonalcoholic version over ice on a hot summer day or sip it while celebrating the new year! Cheers!
The tannins in cranberry juice in this Cranberry Sangria Mocktail mimic the tannins in red wine without the alcohol!
If you know me well or have attended one of my Holiday Cooking Shows, you know I'm a teetotaler.
Although I don't drink alcohol, I do enjoy sipping on fruity virgin drinks in this hot and humid weather in Alabama-almost year round. (It was 75 degrees on New Years Eve this year!)
What is sangria?
Sangria is a Spanish fruit punch made with red wine and lots of fresh fruit.
What is a mocktail?
Mocktails are simply nonalcoholic versions of cocktail drinks.
These buzz-free beverages will be finding their way to more parties and soirée's than ever before. According to BuzzFeed.com it's never been easier to avoid alcohol thanks to a surge of artisanal and creative nonalcoholic concoctions.
From mock sangria and mojitos to Moscow mules and spritzers, the options are endless.
Why are mocktails so popular?
Studies are showing that Generation Z (ages 12 to 22) are less likely to drink alcohol than Millennials. Millennials are drinking less alcohol than boomers. Inside Sources says this statistic is at best only an approximation of what future purchasing trends will look like.
Ummm yeah, since most of Gen Z'ers are still under 18!
Mocktails are also kid-friendly so everyone can enjoy sipping and munching on fruit together!
Of course, there are other reasons mocktails are an upward trend. Many of the healthy lifestyle diets such as Paleo and Keto strictly omit alcohol.
Substitutions and Add-ins
- Almost any fruit can be substituted or added except banana. Bananas are better in creamy drinks and smoothies.
- Want a sparkling, bubbly drink? Add a little ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, club soda, or fruit-flavored sparkling water.
- Change up the cranberry cocktail juice combinations. The grocery stores have an entire section with countless cranberry cocktail blends including raspberry, pomegranate and grape.
- Reduce a few calories by using sugar-free cranberry cocktail juice blends.
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Cranberry Sangria Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 small orange thinly sliced
- 1 lime thinly sliced
- 1 small Granny Smith apple cored and cubed
- 1 small Gala apple cored and cubed
- 1/2 cup fresh pineapple wedges or cubes
- 8 cups Ocean Spray Cran-Apple juice cocktail blend (or other cranberry juice blend)
- Coarsely crushed ice (optional)
- Cinnamon sticks (optional for holidays)
Instructions
- Place all the fruit in the bottom of a 2 liter pitcher. Pour the cranberry juice blend over the fruit. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes but an hour is even better.
- Just before serving, using tongs, place some of the fruit in each serving glass. If desired, add coarsely crushed ice in the glasses.
- Slowly pour the cranberry mocktail mixture over the fruit in the glasses. You may have to use a large spoon to hold back any remaining fruit and ice from "plopping" in the glass.
- Insert a cinnamon stick if serving during the holidays.
Notes
- Almost any fruit can be substituted or added except banana. Bananas are better in creamy drinks and smoothies.
- Want a sparkling, bubbly drink? Add a little ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, club soda, or fruit-flavored sparkling water.
- Change up the cranberry cocktail juice combinations. The grocery stores have an entire section with countless cranberry cocktail blends including raspberry, pomegranate and grape.
- Reduce a few calories by using sugar-free cranberry cocktail juice blends.
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