With no need to make flavored syrups or do any ahead-of-time prep work, this sparkling apple cider mocktail is a perfect non-alcoholic drink that everyone can enjoy this fall. Cranberry, ginger, and warm cinnamon round out the flavor of this effervescent beverage.

A sparkling apple cider mocktail on a serving board garnished with apples and a cinnamon stick.

I have been ALL about a mocktail this year, and realized so many I've made are summer themed: non-alcoholic sangria, margarita mocktail, piña colada mocktail, mojito mocktail...what happens when fall rolls around?

It's time to turn to apple cider, obviously.

With its delightful bubbles and basic supermarket ingredients, this sparkling apple cider mocktail hits the mark in that it tastes fancier and more complex than you might anticipate given it's just a few things stirred together in a glass. I also love it because you don't have to make flavored simple syrup in advance or go searching for any specialty ingredients.

With a golden cinnamon sugar rim and extra festive cinnamon stick garnish, keep this one in mind for a fun Thanksgiving mocktail (pitcher instructions featured below).

What You'll Need

While not required, a cinnamon sugar rim adds something special when serving this apple mocktail. I like to use a combination of granulated and light brown sugars to add a warmly-colored sparkle.

The mocktail ingredients on a marble countertop.

Sparkling apple cider: Effervescent with a crisp flavor, this makes a fancier base for an apple cider mocktail than still apple cider. If you're interested in making these apple mocktails for a crowd, one bottle will yield five drinks.
Cranberry juice: This is cranberry juice cocktail, which is sweetened cranberry juice. The nomenclature gets finicky here, but "100% juice, cranberry" varieties would also work. Those are blends of real cranberry juice with mild, sweeter juices like white grape, apple and/or pear. I haven't tried pure cranberry juice, which does not have added sweeteners and is very tart. It's quite a deviation from the others, so I wouldn't recommend.
Ginger beer: This is non-alcoholic and tastes like a seriously souped-up version of ginger ale. It's a great ingredient to use in mixed drinks, like non-alcoholic sangria, as it packs a punch and adds complexity to the flavor.
Lemon juice: Freshly-squeezed is recommended for the brightest flavor to balance sweetness.
Cinnamon sticks: Grating a cinnamon stick and then using it to stir/as garnish is one of my favorite fall or winter cocktail/mocktail tricks. The act of grating it releases fragrant oils that just add to the whole experience.
Fresh apples: Thinly sliced for garnish. They're tasty to eat when the drink is finished!

Quick Recipe Steps

This Thanksgiving mocktail is quick and easy, with no needing to wash a cocktail shaker.

The rim of a rocks glass being pressed into a cinnamon sugar mixture.

Step 1: Moisten the rim of the serving glasses and press in cinnamon sugar.

A hand stirring the drink ingredients in the glass.

Step 2: Stir everything together in a glass, add ice, and garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slices.

A sparkling apple cider mocktail in a rocks glass with ice, cinnamon sticks, and apple slice garnishes.

Make This Mocktail for a Crowd

One 25.4-ounce bottle of sparkling cider will yield five drinks. Because this beverage is mostly carbonated it's best not to make it far ahead of time as it can go flat.

If desired, you can prepare the cinnamon sugar rims ahead of time. Then just prior to serving stir together the following in a medium-sized pitcher with a minimum 48-ounce capacity, to give you a little extra room to stir. When ready, add ice to glasses, pour in the drinks, grate the cinnamon sticks, and garnish.

1 25.4-ounce bottle of sparkling apple cider
5 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
5 ounces ginger beer
2.5 Tablespoons of freshly-squeezed lemon juice (about one medium to medium-large lemon)

Two apple cider mocktails in cinnamon sugar rimmed glasses.

Tips and Tricks

Sparkling vs. still apple cider - I've only made this mocktail with sparkling apple cider, but I don't see why still apple cider wouldn't work, either. You'll end up with an apple cider mocktail with less effervescence and a hazier appearance, but the sweetness level is generally the same between the two varieties. Same delicious taste!
Stir, don't shake - Much of this drink is carbonated, so no need for a cocktail shaker! The pent-up pressure built from shaking carbonated ingredients can cause the shaker lid to fly off and liquid to go everywhere. Stirring everything in a glass is all that's required.
Flavor variations - As with most drink recipes, there's a good amount of wiggle room to mix and match ingredients to your taste.
- Apple cider: Ciders made from different apple varieties or fruit combinations. Non-carbonated apple cider can also work.
- Cranberry juice: Pomegranate juice or a flavored cranberry juice, such as cran-cherry or cran-pomegranate.
- Ginger beer: Sometimes you can find different flavors, such as orange, or ones with extra-strength ginger.
- Lemon juice: Freshly-squeezed lime or orange juice can be substituted.
- Cinnamon: If you don't have a cinnamon stick, stirring in a tiny shake of ground cinnamon or apple pie spice can help bring that warm flavor.

Mocktails in short, cinnamon sugar rimmed glasses with ice, cinnamon sticks, and apple slices.

Other Mocktail Recipes

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What You'll Need

Quick Recipe Steps

Make This Mocktail for a Crowd

Tips and Tricks

Other Mocktail Recipes