I love making special drinks for the kids over the holidays and especially for New Year's Eve. When the adults are celebrating with wine or cocktails, it's nice to have a non-alcoholic drink option. This Cranberry Cosmopolitan Mocktail recipe is perfect for kids or anyone looking for a holiday drink without alcohol.
But this cosmopolitan mocktail is also very easily spiked for those who would prefer it with alcohol by simply adding vodka. You can exchange the orange extract for Triple Sec or Cointreau (orange liqueur), but you don't have to. Either way, it's a fun, festive, and delicious classic drink! This drink inspired my Cosmo Cranberry Aioli!
Recipe Overview: Cranberry Cosmo Mocktail
- Ready in: 5 minutes
- Serves: 2 drinks
- Calories: 121 kcal
- Main Ingredients: Cranberry juice cocktail, fresh lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup (or agave), sparkling water.
- Dietary Info: Non-alcoholic, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Healthy.
- Weight Watchers Points: 4 WW Points (See my "Lazy Way" hack below to lower this!).
- Difficulty: Easy / Beginner.
- Why You'll Love It: This is the best cosmopolitan mocktail for holiday parties! It has all the sophistication and tart, citrusy zing of a classic Cosmo without the hangover. With a stunning gold sugar rim and floating cranberries, it's an delicious alcohol-free option that looks just as good as the real thing.
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- Recipe Overview: Cranberry Cosmo Mocktail
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- 🍒Reader Review
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 🥘 Ingredient Notes
- 📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Top Tip
- 🔪 How to Make a Cosmopolitan Mocktail
- Expert Tips for a Professional Mocktail
- Storage
- Recipe FAQ's
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 🍸More Mocktails!
- 📋 Cranberry Cosmopolitan Mocktail Recipe
🍒Reader Review
"I took a month off of drinking for my diet and these are fabulous. So similar to the real deal. Thank you!"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Cosmopolitan aka Cosmo was all the rage in the 90's, really shooting to stardom with the popularity of the television show "Sex and the City." It totally popularized the Cranberry Cosmo, of which I am a HUGE fan!
Interestingly, the Cosmopolitan drink made a significant impact on how we approach drinking and cocktail culture in general. Much of the high-end cocktail culture we encounter today with drinks so complex only a mixologist can recreate them, can be attributed to the simplicity of the Cosmo era.
Then bartenders began to hate the Cosmopolitan for the same reasons they loved it when it was first created; it was too simple. They wanted to challenge people with flavors and textures, not simply make them a drink that was easy to sip or worse yet... easy to make at home! You can read more about the birth of craft cocktail culture HERE.
The Cosmopolitan is not only a famous mocktail recipe, it's also a really great drink for celebrating the holidays.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It tastes just like a Cranberry Cosmopolitan! The taste is so similar you'll be blown away!
- It's bubbly! Sparkling water adds the carbonation that makes it bubble.
- It's so pretty and festive! With the cranberries and sparkly rim, this drink screams "holiday celebrations!"
- Alcohol-free. It's perfect for kids or anyone who cannot drink alcohol or is trying to avoid it. Dry January is a great time to try this drink!
- You don't need special equipment. You don't need a cocktail shaker or any other special equipment for this drink. I like to put my cosmopolitan mocktail in a martini glass but you don't have to.
🥘 Ingredient Notes
These ingredients I use to make this drink taste so similar to a Cranberry Cosmopolitan that you won't even miss the alcohol!
- Cranberry juice (cranberry cocktail). Cranberry cocktail is the main ingredient. I use it because it's sweet enough to carry this drink. Pure cranberry juice would be too bitter and not nearly as pleasant tasting!
- Sparkling water. I use lemon-lime sparkling water because it's carbonated and gives that bit of bubbly. It also tastes much better than Club Soda or Tonic Water.
- Orange extract. The orange extract mimics the taste of Triple Sec orange liqueur.
- Lime juice from concentrate. Lime juice balances the sweetness of the cranberry cocktail. I use lime juice from concentrate because I always have it on hand and it's concentrated so I need less of it.
- Lime wheel (fresh lime slice). A slice of lime finishes garnishes this drink, making it look even fresher and more delicious. You could substitute an orange slice.
- Sparkling sugar and edible glitter. Sparkling sugar and edible glitter (affiliate links) mixed together are the ultimate festive way to rim a glass and give your mocktail visual appeal!
- Frozen cranberries make great ice cubes and give even more visual appeal to your nonalcoholic drink.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Spike it: This mocktail is also very easily spiked for those in the group who would prefer it with alcohol by simply adding vodka. You can exchange the orange extract for Triple Sec or Cointreau but you don't have to. Either way, it's a fun, festive and delicious drink!
- Lime juice: you can use fresh lime juice instead of lime juice from concentrate, but you'll need to double the amount.
- Cranberries: you can use fresh cranberries and ice instead of frozen cranberries
- Sparkling water: you can substitute tonic water or club soda.
Top Tip
For little kids
If you have smaller children and are worried about them choking on the frozen cranberries or ice, just use a straw, skip the ice/frozen cranberries, and put the drink in a fancy plastic glass like the one in the photo below (which I bought at the dollar store). Your little ones will be ready to P-A-R-T-Y! You can even buy plastic martini glasses on Amazon (affiliate link).
Heck, I used to put mocktails in a sippy cup when my kids were small and they would be absolutely thrilled!
🔪 How to Make a Cosmopolitan Mocktail
It really is as simple as pouring a few things into a glass and mixing! You can use a cocktail shaker, but you don't have to. The fun part is sugaring the rim of the glass to make it look fancy (kids really love that and it's festive for the holidays)!
PREP: Wet the rim of the glass. You can do this by running a slice of lime along the rim, and dipping the glass in water or lime juice.
How to rim the glass:
- Step 1: Pour some sparkling sugar and edible glitter onto a plate
- Step 2: Place the glass upside down, on the plate and turn/spin the glass to coat it with sugar and glitter/
- Step 3: Turn the glass upright.
- Step 4: Then carefully add cranberry juice, sparkling water, lime juice, and orange extract to glass, dividing the ingredients between 2 drinks. (*you can use a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel if you don't feel confident in your pouring skills 🙂 ) Garnish: Add some frozen cranberries or ice cubes and half a slice of lime to garnish. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips for a Professional Mocktail
- The "Rim First" Rule: The most important part of a beautiful presentation is to sugar the rim before you pour any liquid into the glass. If you try to do it afterward, you risk getting sugar in the drink or causing the liquid to overflow. For the best "stick," use a fresh lime wedge to moisten the rim before dipping it into the sugar.
- The Spout Hack for a Perfect Pour: Once your glass is rimmed, you need to pour the liquid carefully so you don't spill a single drop on your beautiful sugar crust. The "Lazy Way" secret to a perfect pour is to use a measuring cup with a spout or even a small funnel. This gives you total control and ensures your rim stays dry and sparkling.
- The "Ice Cold" Factor: A Cosmopolitan must be served bone-chilling cold. For an Award-Winning experience, shake your juices and syrup in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice for at least 20 seconds. This doesn't just cool the drink; it creates that signature frothy top that makes a Cosmo look authentic.
- The "Mason Jar" Shaker: If you don't own a professional cocktail shaker, don't worry! The "Lazy Way" workaround is to use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. It works exactly the same way to aerate and chill the juice.
- Fresh Lime is Non-Negotiable: To mimic the "bite" of vodka, you need the sharp acidity of fresh lime juice. Avoid the bottled stuff! The natural oils from a freshly squeezed lime provide a complexity that balances the sweetness of the cranberry perfectly.
- The Frozen Garnish Hack: Instead of regular ice cubes, which dilute the flavor as they melt, use frozen cranberries directly in the glass. They act as "edible ice" that keeps your drink cold while adding a festive, elegant look to the martini glass.
Storage
You can make this non alcoholic cosmopolitan in advance and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
You can also store it in the fridge for up to a week after making it. I store it in a sealed juice jug. (affiliate link) *Just be sure to check that the expiry dates on your ingredients coincide with your storage dates! Sugar the rim just prior to serving.
Freezing is not recommended.
Recipe FAQ's
A classic cosmopolitan mocktail consists of cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, a hint of orange juice (to mimic Cointreau), and a touch of simple syrup. It is usually topped with a splash of sparkling water for fizz and garnished with lime or cranberries.
Traditionally, a Cosmopolitan is served in a martini glass (V-shaped) or a coupe glass. Using the proper glassware is the easiest way to make your non-alcoholic version feel sophisticated and celebratory.
The secret is balancing the 'zing.' Since mocktails lack the burn of alcohol, you should increase the amount of fresh citrus and use a high-quality, bittersweet cranberry juice. Adding a splash of ginger ale can also provide a subtle 'bite' that mimics the warmth of spirits.
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Mocktails are a great way to enjoy a special drink with your kids, if you don't drink, are avoiding alcohol or just want to enjoy a refreshing non alcoholic beverage. It's also the perfect drink for bridal showers, baby showers or simply for happy hour!
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*NOTE: And if you love wine, but don't want the alcohol, I have recently discovered THE BEST non-alcoholic wine ever - Leitz. The Pinor Noir, the Sparkling Reisling, and the Sparkling Rose are all fantastic! I have found it at several wine shops in my city. It's dealcoholized so it tastes like wine, has the aroma of wine and feels like wine on the palate. It's delicious and satisfying!
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📋 Cranberry Cosmopolitan Mocktail Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup cranberry juice (cranberry cocktail)
- ¼ cup sparkling water
- ¾ teaspoon orange extract
- 1 tablespoon lime juice from concentrate
Garnish
- lime wheel (fresh lime slice)
- sparkling sugar and edible glitter
- frozen cranberries and or ice, as desired
Instructions
- Wet the rim of the glass. You can do this by running a slice of lime along the rim of the glass, or dipping the glass in water or lime juice.
- Pour some sparkling sugar and edible glitter onto a plate
- Place the glass upside down, on the plate and turn/spin the glass to coat it with sugar and glitter
- Turn glass upright.
- Then carefully add cranberry juice, sparkling water, lime juice and orange extract to glass, dividing ingredients between 2 drinks. (*you can use a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel, if you don't feel confident in your pouring skills 🙂 )
Garnish
- Add some frozen cranberries or ice cubes and half a slice of lime to garnish. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The "Rim First" Rule: The most important part of a beautiful presentation is to sugar the rim before you pour any liquid into the glass. If you try to do it afterward, you risk getting sugar in the drink or causing the liquid to overflow. For the best "stick," use a fresh lime wedge to moisten the rim before dipping it into the sugar.
- The Spout Hack for a Perfect Pour: Once your glass is rimmed, you need to pour the liquid carefully so you don't spill a single drop on your beautiful sugar crust. The "Lazy Way" secret to a perfect pour is to use a measuring cup with a spout or even a small funnel. This gives you total control and ensures your rim stays dry and sparkling.
- The "Ice Cold" Factor: A Cosmopolitan must be served bone-chilling cold. For an Award-Winning experience, shake your juices and syrup in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice for at least 20 seconds. This doesn't just cool the drink; it creates that signature frothy top that makes a Cosmo look authentic.
- The "Mason Jar" Shaker: If you don't own a professional cocktail shaker, don't worry! The "Lazy Way" workaround is to use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. It works exactly the same way to aerate and chill the juice.
- Fresh Lime is Non-Negotiable: To mimic the "bite" of vodka, you need the sharp acidity of fresh lime juice. Avoid the bottled stuff! The natural oils from a freshly squeezed lime provide a complexity that balances the sweetness of the cranberry perfectly.
- The Frozen Garnish Hack: Instead of regular ice cubes, which dilute the flavor as they melt, use frozen cranberries
-
- Spike it: This mocktail is also very easily spiked for those in the group who would prefer it with alcohol by simply adding vodka. You can exchange the orange extract for Triple Sec or Cointreau but you don't have to. Either way, it's a fun, festive and delicious drink!
-
- Lime juice: you can use fresh lime juice instead of lime juice from concentrate, but you'll need to double the amount.
-
- Cranberries: you can use fresh cranberries and ice instead of frozen cranberries
-
- Sparkling water: you can substitute tonic water or club soda.
Denise@urbnspice says
Cranberry anything as far as I am concerned - it is all delicious! Your Cranberry Cosmo Mocktail is a great recipe to have on hand for the holidays - I like that it is suitable for everyone, too. Thanks for sharing.
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Denise. And I agree - I love cranberry anything too!
Gary Morreale says
I took a month off of drinking for my diet and these are fabulous. So similar to the real deal. Thank you
Terri Gilson says
Hi Gary- You're welcome - I'm so glad to hear that!
Elaine says
Love this option that kids could enjoy too! Pretty and pink! Pinned.
Terri Gilson says
Thank you, Elaine!
Kelly Neil says
Oh my goodness! This post just reminded me of how much I used to love a good Cosmo back in the day! I don't drink much anymore, and this recipe will be perfect for Christmas. Thanks so much!
Terri Gilson says
thanks, Kelly! Yes, I love that I can also spike it if I so desire haha
Colleen says
Mocktails are a perfect way to iinclude everyone in the celibrations, and this cranberry cosmo looks delightful and festive. Thanks for sharing!
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Colleen! Yes, the kids just love it (and those that don't/can't drink alcohol)
Cathy says
Thank you for providing a fancy, non-alcoholic drink option. Perfect for the holidays! It's simplicity makes it even better, I think!
Terri Gilson says
Thanks, Cathy!