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. And this Cranberry Cosmo Mocktail is perfect for kids or anyone looking for a holiday drink without alcohol.
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," which I have to admit, I was never a huge fan of. But, 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.
Easy mocktail recipes to make at home
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 swill or worse yet... easy to make at home! You can read more about that HERE.
And this drink is so easy to make at home! You don't need any special ingredients- just cranberry cocktail, sparkling water (which I add to cut down on the sweetness) lime juice and orange extract, all of which you can get at any grocery store. I used frozen cranberries for ice, which you can also get at your local grocery store. The sparkling sugar and edible glitter on the glass rim can be purchased at a craft store (I bought it at Michaels Arts & Crafts) or online, but you could really use any edible sparkles/sprinkles you'd use for cookie decorating (that you also get from the grocery store) for the rim of the glass. See recipe NOTES.
Famous Mocktail Recipes
The cosmopolitan is a really great drink for celebrating the holidays. Even if you have smaller children and are worried about them chocking 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 (there are lots available - see below) and your little ones are ready to P-A-R-T-Y! Heck, I used to put mocktails in a sippy cup when my kids were small and they would be absolutely thrilled.
Mocktail recipes
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. And if you are looking for more holiday mocktail recipes ideas then give this Shirley Temple a try!
Cranberry Cosmopolitan Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup cranberry cocktail
- ¼ cup sparkling water
- ¾ tsp orange extract
- 1 tbsp lime juice from concentrate
Garnish
- 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, dipping the glass in water or lime juice (SEE VIDEO in NOTES)
- 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 add cranberry juice, sparkling water, lime juice and orange extract to glass, dividing ingredients between 2 drinks.
Garnish
- Add some frozen cranberries or ice and half a slice of lime to garnish. Serve and enjoy!
Thank you for providing a fancy, non-alcoholic drink option. Perfect for the holidays! It's simplicity makes it even better, I think!
Thanks, Cathy!
Mocktails are a perfect way to iinclude everyone in the celibrations, and this cranberry cosmo looks delightful and festive. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Colleen! Yes, the kids just love it (and those that don't/can't drink alcohol)
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!
thanks, Kelly! Yes, I love that I can also spike it if I so desire haha
Love this option that kids could enjoy too! Pretty and pink! Pinned.
Thank you, Elaine!
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.
Thanks, Denise. And I agree - I love cranberry anything too!
I took a month off of drinking for my diet and these are fabulous. So similar to the real deal. Thank you
Hi Gary- You're welcome - I'm so glad to hear that!