Apple Cider Mocktail

Easy to make in 10 minutes or less, this sparkling Apple Cider Mocktail is perfect for fall celebrations and the winter holidays. It’s festive, fruity, and the hint of cinnamon makes it something I keep coming back to over and over again. Enjoy through the fall and winter seasons, and go all out with the garnishes for your holiday celebrations so it feels extra special!

Three glasses of apple cider mocktail topped with cinnamon sticks, thyme sprigs, star anise, and cranberries, with slices of apple and oranges in the mocktail. - 2

Did you grow up having sparkling Martinelli’s apple cider during the holidays? I did, and it always feels like a special occasion when somebody breaks out a bottle of sparkling apple cider.

Watch How To Make Apple Cider Mocktails

So I decided it would be fun to make a festive mocktail to enjoy this holiday tradition even more. I added a hint of orange and spice along with some fun garnishes that make this feel fun and festive.

You’ll love the subtle added flavor with the sparkling apple juice that really levels this up. I also have a low-sugar, super-easy option listed in the recipe notes using fresh apple cider.

Two glasses of apple cider mocktail topped with cinnamon sticks, thyme, cranberries, apple slices, orange slices, and star anise with a multicolored linen on the side. - 3

Ingredients & Substitutions

Bottles of sparkling apple cider and ginger beer with orange juice, cranberries, orange slices, thyme sprigs, cinnamon sticks, and star anise in bowls around the bottles. - 4

Sparkling apple cider – any sparkling apple cider you like works here. Both Martenelli’s and Knudsens make great options, and I’ve also bought the sparkling pear juice to try in this, and it’s so good!
Gingerbeer – or ginger ale also works. We love adding ginger beer because it has more ginger flavor and isn’t nearly as sweet as ginger ale. We buy a local brand that is fermented with honey, and it has a wonderfully bold ginger flavor. You can probably find something very similar in your local health food store. It sometimes goes by the name ‘ginger bug’.
Orange juice – we love the combination of orange with apple juice, but lemons make a great substitute with a nice, bright flavor. Use lemon slices as a garnish and a splash of fresh lemon juice to taste. Either way, a hint of citrus makes for the best flavor.
Sweetener – we don’t add sweetener because the juices and ginger beer are enough sweetness for our taste, but feel free to add a touch of simple syrup or Grade A amber maple syrup if desired.
Cinnamon – I sometimes add a pinch of warm cinnamon to each mocktail for cozy flavor, but you can omit it if desired. It gives it a slight apple pie/apple crisp flavor.
Garnishes – Add as many as you’d like, halved cranberries/pomegranate arils, orange slices, apple slices, star anise, thyme sprigs, or a sprig of rosemary, and cinnamon sticks all look festive. If you have leftover garnishes, I add them to a pot with water and simmer them, which makes your house smell amazing.

How to make this recipe step by step

Four photos in a collage showing adding cinnamon, then apple cider, then orange juice and orange slices to glasses with ice in them. - 5

Step 1: Start by adding ice to the glass, then add an optional pinch of cinnamon, and fill halfway with sparkling apple cider. (Or follow the batch mocktail in the recipe card.)

Add the orange slices down the side so that they are visible, then pour in a touch of ginger beer and a light splash of orange juice.

Four photos in a collage showing adding ginger beer, then topping up with apple cider and garnishes. - 6

Step 2: Top up with additional sparkling apple cider, stir lightly to combine (no need to shake or use a cocktail shaker), then add more garnishes if desired.

Three glasses apple cider mocktail with a multicolored linen on the side topped with cinnamon sticks, thyme and assorted fruit. - 7

Ways to serve this

This makes the perfect Thanksgiving mocktail with apple flavor and festive garnishes. But it’s also great for Christmas as well, especially if you use a splash of pomegranate juice or cranberry juice instead of orange juice.
For my full Thanksgiving menu lineup, head over to my Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipes .
Add this to your Christmas dinner: start with Smoked Prime Rib or Ribeye Roast . Add my Cheesy Mashed Potatoes and Honey Glazed Carrots + Apple Spinach Salad for a larger menu.
Try this mocktail as a sweet sipper paired with my Antipasto Platter for entertaining, and finish with my Death by Chocolate .

Apple cider is freshly pressed, cloudy, and unfiltered with bright, fresh flavor and some zing. Apple juice is clear, sweet, and more one-dimensional. If you make the low-sugar mocktail option in the recipe notes, I highly recommend fresh apple cider because apple juice has more of a flat flavor. If you only have apple juice, add some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Storing leftovers

To store – This recipe does not store well because it is sparkling apple juice, which goes flat over time. If you can’t use a whole bottle of sparkling apple juice, refer to the recipe card notes for my smaller batch, low sugar opt ion.
Make-ahead – You can stir together the pitcher version in the recipe notes 1-2 hours before your guests arrive and have it ready to go in the fridge. Just don’t mix it too far in advance because the apple cider starts to go flat.

The top of the mocktail glass with ice cubes and fruit floating in the drink. - 8

Tips & Tricks

You can prep all of the garnishes ahead of time, except for the apple slices, to make this easier and faster to put together when you’re entertaining.
You don’t need to use all the garnishes listed, but it is fun to go all out for holiday feasts.
I like using a cinnamon stick as a straw because you get a hint of cinnamon as you drink this mocktail, and it is so good. However, not all cinnamon sticks work well as straws; look for those that are tightly coiled in on themselves. If they are loosely coiled, they don’t work well.
If you want to omit the cinnamon sticks (or add more flavor), add a small pinch of cinnamon to the bottom of the glass before adding the sparkling apple juice. Mix the 2 together, then add the remaining ingredients. Or if you want to mix the whole batch, add 1/2 tsp cinnamon for a subtle flavor.

Three glasses of apple cider mocktail topped with fruit, cinnamon sticks, and sprigs of thyme. - 9

More Mocktail Recipe Inspiration

5 Kombucha Mocktails
Blackberry Mango Mocktail
Strawberry Kombucha Mocktail
Cranberry Orange Mocktail

INGREDIENTS1x2x3x

1 pinch cinnamon
4 oz sparkling apple cider
1 slice orange - or lemon slice
2 oz Ginger Beer - or more to taste
1 oz fresh orange juice - or 1-2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Garnishes:

halved cranberries or pomegranate arils
sliced apple
cinnamon sticks/star anise
thyme or rosemary sprigs

INSTRUCTIONS

Start by adding ice to the glass, then add an optional pinch of cinnamon, and fill halfway with sparkling apple cider.
Add the orange slices down the side so that they are visible, then pour in a touch of ginger beer and a light splash of orange juice.
Top up with additional sparkling apple cider, stir lightly to combine (no need to shake or use a cocktail shaker), then add more garnishes if desired.

NOTES

nutrition facts