Cranberry Mocktail
This immune-boosting Cranberry Mocktail recipe contains fresh ginger and orange juice, making it perfect for flu season. Freeze the concentrate to make decorative ice cubes and store them for up to 3 months.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 69kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries
- 1 ½ tablespoons grated ginger (about one 2-inch piece) peeled, and grated
- 3 large navel oranges
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary (optional)
- Agave or maple syrup, or sweetener to taste
For serving (optional):
- Sparkling water or ginger ale, vodka, gin, or hot water for tea
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Simmer cranberries: Transfer 1 cup cranberries to a small saucepan with 1 ½ cups water. Bring the liquid to a boil before reducing the heat to low. Simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, or until the water is half evaporated and the cranberries soften and start to break apart. Roughly mash the cranberries into a loose purée.
- Prepare oranges: Meanwhile, juice the oranges, and remove about 12 small strips of zest with a vegetable peeler.
- Strain and steep: Remove the simmered cranberries from the heat. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve to remove the mashed cranberries, reserving the liquid. Add the fresh orange juice and ginger to the liquid and mix well to combine. Set aside for at least 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Strain (optional): Strain the liquid using a tea strainer or a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp and ginger. Add sweetener to taste.
- Prepare ice cubes: Place about 3 cranberries, 2 small branches of fresh rosemary, and 2 pieces orange rind into each cube of a large ice cube tray. Divide the cranberry orange ginger juice evenly between the cubes until they are mostly full. Freeze overnight before using.
- For serving: Add one to two cubes to each glass for serving. Fill each glass halfway with vodka or gin for an alcoholic beverage, or ginger ale or sparkling water for a mocktail. Or add hot water to make cranberry-ginger tea.
Notes
- For a stronger ginger flavor, simmer the grated ginger with the cranberries.
- Strain the juice for clearer ice cubes. For straining, use a small spatula to press down on the fruit pulp and push the juice through the holes.
- Fill the ice cube tray to about 80% full as water expands upon freezing.
- For an immune-boosting tea on the go, add the cubes to a thermos with hot water.
- Storage: Freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 286IU | Vitamin C: 67mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 0.2mg