Festive and so not boozy! This is the festive sangria mocktail that I served at my Friendsgiving party this year, and can I just toot my own horn for a second and say that everyone that tried it not only enjoyed it, but we had quite a few people that even went back for refills! I take that as a total win. And what’s not to love? It’s fruity, a little fizzy, and makes you feel like you can celebrate with everyone else that is having a boozy cocktail! You can serve this on Christmas Eve, but it also works well as a mocktail if you’re throwing a New Year’s Eve party!
Making non-boozy drinks is my thing in the summertime! Just earlier this year, I shared a Maui-inspired strawberry basil lemonade that we make at least once every summer, and it is so good. I’ll even blend up leftover fruit from the week and make peach agua frescas, or a mixed berry agua fresca when the berries are at their best. In the winter, I’ll focus more on warm drinks like the hot chocolate for two, which is a staple recipe in the wintertime for us. And if you’re thinking about Christmas Eve or a low key New Years, there’s also my hot chocolate bar for a crowd! But all of this got me thinking; I haven’t shared a mocktail for the holidays – something that kids, pregnant women, and those that prefer to not indulge in alcohol can all enjoy and feel like they’re also part of the festivities! My husband and I don’t drink, and we always appreciate it when the host keeps those of us that don’t in mind and serves a mocktail!
What do you need to make a sangria mocktail?
Pomegranate juice Apple juice Thinly sliced oranges Thinly sliced lemons Small apple pieces Pomegranate arils Ginger ale
What if I don’t like pomegranates, can I use something else for this mocktail?
You can easily swap out the pomegranate juice and arils for cranberry juice and fresh cranberries!
I don’t like ginger ale/ ginger beer, can I use something else for this sangria mocktail?
Sure thing, you can swap the ginger ale for a lemon-lime soda or even use sparkling water if you want to cut back on the sugar a bit!
How to make the best sangria mocktail:
Variations for this sangria mocktail:
Add a cinnamon stick! When you’re stirring in the fruit, you can add a cinnamon stick into the mix to give it a little more flavor Use fresh herbs: You could also add a sprig or two of rosemary when you add the fruit to give this sangria mocktail woodsy depth. Or you could even serve it with a sprig of rosemary for a little added color! Leave out the citrus: You could omit the citrus completely. Add a couple of varieties of apples (try Granny Smith with Pink Lady.) Then, add cinnamon sticks to the mix to make this more of a fall sangria mocktail! Use fresh berries instead of pomegranate arils: in the summertime, I’d use cranberry juice or even no-sugar-added grape juice and swap out the pomegranates arils for fresh blueberries and raspberries! Swap the apple juice: Use mulled apple cider instead of apple juice to give this sangria mocktail a spicer twist!
