Spiced Cranberry Mocktail

A nonalcoholic autumn mocktail built by making a quick cinnamon-vanilla syrup, then stirring it into cranberry and orange juice and finishing with sparkling water for lift. The drink pours bright red, tastes tart at the front, and finishes with warm spice and citrus.

By Julienne

Cook time: 5 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 60 ml water for syrup
• 30 g granulated sugar for syrup
• 1 piece cinnamon stick for syrup
• 2 ml vanilla extract for syrup
• 480 ml cranberry juice chilled
• 240 ml orange juice chilled
• 480 ml sparkling water chilled
• 240 g ice for serving
• 40 g fresh cranberries for garnish
• 4 slice orange slice for garnish

Instructions

1. Make the syrup: combine the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla extract if using, and let the cinnamon steep for 3 minutes before straining it out. The syrup is clear, lightly brown, and fragrant with cinnamon.
2. In a pitcher, combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, and all of the cinnamon-vanilla syrup. The mixture is evenly colored and smells bright, tart, and spiced.
3. Add the sparkling water and stir gently to preserve the fizz. If serving over ice, divide the ice among 4 glasses before pouring. The drink is bubbly and well chilled.
4. Pour into the glasses and garnish each serving with fresh cranberries and an orange slice. Each glass is cold, fizzy, and finished with visible garnish.