Vanilla Cranberry Crush Mocktail – Creamy vanilla notes with bright cranberry sparkle in a festive sip

Vanilla Cranberry Crush Mocktail – Creamy vanilla notes with bright cranberry sparkle in a festive sip

Vanilla Cranberry Crush Mocktail is a smooth-meets-sparkly holiday drink that balances tart cranberry with soft vanilla sweetness and refreshing fizz. It’s elegant, cozy, and crowd-pleasing—perfect for winter parties, brunches, or a simple evening treat. The vanilla rounds out the cranberry’s bite, creating a creamy, dessert-like finish without heaviness.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Servings: 1 Servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Vanilla Cranberry Base

½ cup cranberry juice 100% juice preferred
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 –2 tablespoons vanilla syrup or simple syrup + vanilla extract
Pinch of salt enhances sweetness

Sparkle

½ cup sparkling water or lemon sparkling water

Garnish

Fresh cranberries
Orange twist
Vanilla bean optional
Rosemary sprig optional

Equipment

Cocktail shaker or mason jar
Citrus juicer
Measuring cups & spoons
Fine mesh strainer (optional)
Serving glass (rocks or coupe)
Ice

Method

Step 1: Chill the base

Add cranberry juice, orange juice, lemon juice, vanilla syrup, and a pinch of salt to a shaker with ice.
Shake 10–12 seconds until well chilled.

Step 2: Strain & pour

Fill a glass with fresh ice and strain the mixture into the glass.

Step 3: Add sparkle

Top gently with sparkling water. Stir lightly to keep the fizz.

Step 4: Garnish

Add cranberries and an orange twist; finish with rosemary or vanilla bean if using.

Notes

🧊 Storage

Mix the cranberry-vanilla base (without sparkle) up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate.

Add sparkling water just before serving for best bubbles. ❄️

🥄 Variations

Creamy Vanilla Cranberry
Add 2 tablespoons vanilla oat milk or half-and-half for a silky finish.

Orange-Forward Crush
Increase orange juice to ¼ cup and reduce lemon.

Berry Blend
Add 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice for depth.

Frozen Crush
Blend the base with ice; top with a splash of sparkle.

Sugar-Free
Use sugar-free vanilla syrup and plain sparkling water.

❓ 10 FAQs

Is this alcohol-free?
Yes—completely.

Can kids drink this?
Absolutely.

What vanilla syrup works best?
Any quality vanilla syrup; or make simple syrup and add ¼ tsp vanilla extract per drink.

Is it very sweet?
Lightly sweet—adjust vanilla syrup to taste.

Can I batch it?
Yes—multiply the base; add sparkle per glass.

Can I use cranberry cocktail?
You can, but reduce syrup since it’s sweeter.

What glass should I use?
Rocks for casual, coupe for elegant.

Can I serve it warm?
Warm the base gently; skip sparkle or add it after cooling slightly.

Why add a pinch of salt?
It enhances sweetness and smooths tartness.

Is garnish optional?
Yes—but it makes it festive!

🏁 Conclusion

Vanilla Cranberry Crush Mocktail is festive, balanced, and effortlessly elegant. With bright cranberry, cozy vanilla, and refreshing fizz, it’s a go-to holiday sip that feels special without any fuss. Serve it chilled, dress it up with garnishes, and enjoy a beautifully balanced mocktail any time.