Easy Citrus Apple Mocktail for Fall (Non Alcoholic)

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Bright and refreshing, this sparkling citrus apple mocktail is delicious for fall entertaining and the perfect drink for the entire family!

Mocktail recipes are a fun way to offer your guests a great option to alcoholic drinks. Those choosing not to drink alcohol deserve more than a soft drink or soda water option. This apple cider mocktail is more reminiscent of a crisp hard cider, but without the alcohol. Instead it’s crafted with simple ingredients like fresh citrus and sparkling fruit juice.

A cinnamon stick, a nutmeg sprinkle, caramel and other flavors traditionally paired with apple cider have been left out of this drink to create something unexpected and light.

Made from sparkling cider (or sparkling apple juice, depending on the brand), this refreshing drink is easy to make year-round, even if it’s not apple cider season. Ginger syrup is used instead of ginger beer or ginger ale for a more subtle ginger flavor that doesn’t compete with the citrus and cider.

Ingredients

Sparkling apple cider
Ginger simple syrup
An orange
A lemon
Raw sugar (for garnish)

How to Make a Citrus Apple Mocktail

Pour raw sugar into a shallow dish. Run a slice of lemon or orange around the rim of the glass, then dip the rim of the glass into the raw sugar.

Dipping the rim of a glass in a small plate of raw sugar.

Add ice cubes to the glass and set it aside.

Combine ginger syrup, orange juice, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Ginger syrup being poured into a cocktail shaker.

Shake well and strain into your prepared glass.

Straining the citrus mixture into a glass filled with ice.

Top with sparkling apple cider.

Sparkling apple cider being poured into a glass.

Using a vegetable peeler, cut a long strip of orange peel from the orange.

Squeeze the orange peel over the glass to express the oil from the orange peel into your drink.

An orange peel being squeezed over a glass of apple mocktail.

Garnish with a curl of orange peel or apple slices.

Stir, sip and enjoy!

Homemade Ginger Simple Syrup

It’s super easy to make your own ginger syrup from fresh ginger! It only takes 10 minutes and 3 ingredients. Check out my ginger simple syrup recipe for all the details and instructions.

Recipe Tips

Can’t find sparkling apple cider? Prefer to use regular apple cider in this recipe? Swap out the sparkling juice for 2.5 oz apple cider + 0.5 oz sparkling water or club soda.

Add flair with your garnish! Want to make this more of a Christmas mocktail? Add a few fresh cranberries and/or a sprig of rosemary or fresh thyme. Want to make it more citrus feeling? Garnish with lemon slices and orange wheels. The choice is entirely up to you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are mocktails?

Mocktails - or mock cocktails - are non-alcoholic cocktails, perfect for when you want to have a festive drink without the booze. Whether you’re celebrating at a baby shower, the designated driver for ringing in the new year, or simply don’t feel like having any alcohol, an alcohol free cocktail is a delicious and easy drink for anyone to enjoy.

Do I have to use fresh orange and lemon juice?

Yes. Fresh citrus juice is half of the ingredients in this recipe. You need the orange peel anyway, so squeeze the orange juice too. It only takes a few minutes to juice an orange and a lemon and it will have a huge impact on the taste of your drink.

Where do I buy ginger simple syrup?

You make it! Buy a piece of ginger root at the grocery store and follow my recipe for ginger syrup. It’s quick and easy to make and will keep for a couple weeks in your refrigerator, so it’s ready for your next round of drinks.

What kind of alcohol can I add to this mocktail?

While this recipe is designed to be delicious with zero alcohol in it, you can add 1 oz of your favorite gin or vodka to the cocktail shaker when you shake up the syrup and citrus juices.

Don’t Miss These Easy Recipes

Apple Cider Syrup in a jar — Apple Cider Syrup for the BEST Fall Cocktails and Mocktails

Adding cranberries to a Cranberry Orange Mocktail — Fizzy Cranberry Orange Mocktail (Non Alcoholic)

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Print the Recipe

Sparkling Citrus Apple Mocktail

Print Recipe

Bright and refreshing, this sparkling citrus apple mocktail is delicious for fall entertaining and the perfect drink for the entire family!

Author: Katy McAvoy
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time: 5 min
Yield: 1 mocktail 1x
Category: Mocktails
Method: Cocktail Shaker
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

3 oz sparkling apple cider
1.25 oz ginger simple syrup
1 oz fresh orange juice
0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
1 - 2 inch piece of orange peel
Raw sugar (for garnish)

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Instructions

Pour raw sugar into a shallow dish. Run a slice of lemon or orange around the rim of the glass, then dip the rim of the glass into the raw sugar. Add ice to the glass and set it aside.

Using a vegetable peeler, cut a long strip of orange peel from the orange. Set aside.

Combine ginger syrup, orange juice and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake well and strain into your prepared glass. Top with sparkling apple cider.

Squeeze the orange peel over the glass to express the orange peel oil into your drink.

Garnish with a curl of orange peel or slice of apple.

Stir, sip and enjoy!