This Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail lets you sip the night away and still feel your best the next morning. It’s a refreshing and stunning non-alcoholic alternative to sugary holiday cocktails. The ginger and rosemary lend a festive touch and pair nicely with the tart cranberry juice. So now you can celebrate the night away without a headache or dehydration – plus you get a healthy dose of probiotics!
This post was originally published on December 5th, 2016. Updated on December 15th, 2020
‘Tis the Season to Sparkle
Even though this year may not bring big, lavish cocktail hours, office holiday parties, or large gatherings with friends and family, it doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to low-key parties at home complete with cocktails – or in this case, healthy mocktails – and Zoom gatherings. This stunningly refreshing alternative to sugary boozy cocktails is perfect for anyone looking to avoid alcohol or just wants a festive beverage without the fuzzy head.
Did we also mention that it comes with the side benefit of being gut-healthy and packed with antioxidants? We think that’s even more reason to raise a glass of this Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail this holiday season.
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Ingredients for Cranberry Kombucha Mocktails
- Kombucha – We recommend ginger, cranberry, or ‘original’ flavors but feel free to get creative with other flavors. You’re the boss!
- Cranberry juice – Choose 100% unsweetened cranberry juice if you want to keep this low in sugar and Whole30-friendly. Most cranberry juices are blends of other juices like apple or grape – some even have added sugar or alternative sweeteners – which means they can pack a sugary punch.
- Fresh ginger – Fresh ginger gives non-alcoholic cocktails like this a slightly spicy zing that’s reminiscent of the sensation you get at the back of your throat when drinking alcohol. It’s also good for digestion and boosting the immune system
- Fresh rosemary – The piney flavor of rosemary adds a somewhat savory yet refreshing twist to lightly sweet kombucha mocktails like this one. It also adds a festive little flair that’s perfect for the holiday season
- Fresh cranberries – Cranberries and their juices are a good source of vitamin C and other potent antioxidants. While you’re not very likely to munch on raw cranberries, they make a beautiful and festive garnish for drinks
- Ice
What can I substitute for kombucha in mocktail recipes?
If you’re not a fan of kombucha or don’t have any on hand, here are few substitutes you can use:
- Ginger Beer – Ginger beer is a non-alcoholic brew made with ginger, sugar, and carbonated water. It’s got a sharper, cleaner flavor than ginger ale soda. Look for it in the beverage aisle of grocery stores or with the mixers at liquor stores. Because ginger beer is sweetened with sugar, it is not Whole30-friendly.
- Ginger Soda – Think ginger ale here. Sodas are typically flavored with natural or artificial flavors and the sweeteners can range from corn syrup to cane sugar to natural and artificial sweeteners so be sure to read the labels to find the one that suits you. Note: Soda is not Whole30-friendly
- Water Kefir – Water kefir is a probiotic-rich beverage similar to kombucha but instead of tea, it’s brewed with water, and flavors are added after brewing. Read the label to check for added sweeteners as many are sweetened with stevia which is not Whole30-friendly.
Mocktails are just as cool as cocktails
With this snazzy glass of cranberry kombucha goodness in hand, you’ll look cooler than ever – and you’ll be less likely to do something you might regret later. Besides that, mocktail recipes are also great for guests who are pregnant or otherwise abstain from alcohol but who still want something fun and fizzy to sip.
Kids love them too! Let them help by muddling the ginger and fresh rosemary together with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon and filling the glasses with ice. Garnish with a thin slice of ginger, a few cranberries, and a sprig of fresh rosemary for extra flavor and flair.
Looking for more mocktail recipes? Try one of these!
Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail
This alcohol-free mocktail is a refreshing and stunning alternative to other holiday cocktails. The ginger and rosemary lend a festive touch and pair nicely with the tart cranberry juice. So now you can celebrate the night away without a headache or dehydration – plus you get a healthy dose of probiotics!
Ingredients
- 2 bottles kombucha of choice (such as ginger, cranberry, or ‘original/unflavored’)
- ½ cup 100% cranberry juice
- 1-inch slice of fresh ginger, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
- 1 large sprig of fresh rosemary, plus more for garnish
- Fresh cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and thinly sliced ginger for garnish
Instructions
- Fill 4 double old-fashioned glasses with ice and set aside.
- In a pitcher or quart-sized mason jar, muddle sliced ginger and rosemary together using the end of a wooden spoon or a muddler if you have one.
- Add cranberry juice and kombucha, stir gently to combine.
- Pour into ice-filled glasses (using a strainer, if necessary) and garnish with sprigs of rosemary, a slice of fresh ginger, and a few cranberries before serving.
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Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: ~8 ounces
- Calories: 55
- Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Carbohydrate: 13g
- (Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 10g)
- Protein: 0g
Dietary
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I can’t wait to make this at home. These look so delicious, and your pictures definitely do them justice! Thank you for sharing your recipe! Is it possible to make actual cocktails using the same recipe?
Hi Billy,
Thanks for your kind words! Yes, you can make this into a cocktail by adding an ounce or so of your favorite spirit to each glass before adding the juice and kombucha. I’d suggest vodka or gin but you can use whatever you like best. Cheers!
Hi Jessica and Stacie. Thank you for this recipe. I am breastfeeding so I will be drinking mocktails this holiday season! I tried yours and it’s great! I hope that you don’t mind, I included your recipe in my latest blog. You can see it here: https://omdetox.com/10-healthy-mocktail-recipes-for-the-holidays/
Merry Christmas
Hi Dominique! Thanks for including our recipe!
Mine did not turn out near as red! Did you add extra cranberry juice for the photo??
No, we didn’t add any extra. It may be the brand we used. We used Lakewood 100% cranberry juice which is very dark and other brands may vary in their color. Also, using a cranberry juice blend would be lighter in color.
I have to say that this recipe was amazing. I added the ingredients to prosecco! Then I did a real mocktail! It was amazing either way. This is my new go to drink. Thank you for sharing. My body can’t tolerate too much kombucha at a time, however, mixed with other ingredients, it worked out very well!
So glad you enjoyed it!
This was an awesome Mocktail. Used a ginger cranberry kombucha.