This Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail is simple, elegant, and ready in minutes. It blends the crisp, tartness of cranberry juice with refreshing sparkling water, but the secret is the edible glitter that gives the drink a captivating, shimmering swirl.
This easy recipe is perfect for last-minute holiday parties or just elevating your evening glass of cranberry juice into something truly special.
Why This Mocktail is Captivating
Instant Shimmer: The edible glitter transforms a basic drink into a celebration, providing that festive “wow” factor with minimal effort.
Perfect Balance: The tart cranberry juice is perfectly balanced by the neutral flavor and fizz of the sparkling water.
Elegant Garnish: The optional rosemary and cranberries make the drink look like a miniature holiday wreath. Furthermore, this makes it excellent for entertaining.
Key Ingredients for Maximum Sparkle
The two most important components are very cold liquid and the right kind of shimmer.
Cranberry Juice: Use cold cranberry juice. The tartness of the juice is necessary to cut through the bubbles.
Sparkling Water: Use cold, plain sparkling water or club soda. Since the cranberry juice already provides the flavor, you only need the fizz.
Edible Glitter: You must use food-grade, edible cocktail glitter. Specifically, we used a mix of silver and gold glitters for our drinks to enhance the holiday look.
How to Assemble Your Shimmering Mocktail
The assembly is quick, but the final stir is what activates the beautiful effect.
Add Base: Pour the cranberry juice into your serving glass.
Add Fizz: Fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water.
Add Glitter: Add a small amount of edible glitter to the drink.
Activate Shimmer: Stir the mixture gently to disperse the glitter. Next, give the drink a final quick stir to activate the captivating, shimmering effect throughout the glass.
Garnish and Serve: Optionally garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a few fresh cranberries. Serve immediately.
Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail FAQs
Q: What kind of glitter should I use?
A: You must use edible cocktail glitter, which is non-toxic and flavorless. Therefore, DO NOT use standard craft glitter, as it is unsafe for consumption.
Q: Can I use ginger ale instead of sparkling water?
A: Yes, you can. However, ginger ale is sweetened, so the drink will be significantly sweeter than the recipe intends.
Q: How much glitter should I add?
A: Start with a tiny pinch (1/8 of a teaspoon) of glitter. A little goes a long way, and you can always add more if you want a stronger effect.
Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail
Ingredients
Method
- Add cranberry juice to a glass, then fill it with sparkling water.
- Next, add a little bit of edible glitter (silver and gold glitters were used for our drinks).
- Stir the mixture gently to disperse the glitter.
- Give the drink a final quick swirl to activate the captivating, shimmering effect.
- Optionally garnish with a sprig of rosemary and fresh cranberries. Serve immediately.
