• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mitten Girl
  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Food
  • My Book
  • Work with Me
    • Portfolio
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Food
  • My Book
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cocktails
    • Mocktails
    • Food
    • My Book
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recent Posts » Mocktail Recipes for Non-Alcoholic Drinks

    Easy Citrus Apple Mocktail for Fall (Non Alcoholic)

    Published: Sep 6, 2022 · Updated: Sep 7, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Sparkling Citrus Apple Mocktail

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission.


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

    Sparkling Citrus Apple Mocktail

    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 

    Ingredients for Sparkling Citrus Apple Mocktails
    • 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!

    Sparkling Citrus Apple Mocktail

    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. 

    Ginger Simple Syrup

    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)

    More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love 

    • Tart and Refreshing Apple Cider Sangria
    • Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
    • The Best Apple Cider Applesauce for Fall
    • Apple French 75 Gin Cocktail
    • Apple, Bacon, and Goat Cheese Crostini is the Perfect Fall Appetizer

    Print the Recipe 

    Print

    Sparkling Citrus Apple Mocktail

    Sparkling Citrus Apple Mocktail
    Print Recipe
    Pin 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)

    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!

    Equipment

    Image of Peeler

    Peeler

    Buy Now →
    Image of Jigger

    Jigger

    Buy Now →
    Image of Rocks Glass

    Rocks Glass

    Buy Now →

    Keywords: apple cider, non alcoholic drinks, fall drinks, fall recipes, apple recipes, sparkling cider, mocktails

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @katymcavoy on Instagram! I can’t wait to see what you made!

    Mocktail Recipes for Non-Alcoholic Drinks

    • A small hand holding on to a glass of unicorn drink lemonade.
      Unicorn Drink for Kids (Color-Changing Lemonade) 
    • A glass of strawberry mocktail with pineapple.
      Easy Strawberry Mocktail with Pineapple
    • Copper cups of non-alcoholic Moscow mule mocktails, garnished with mint.
      Non-Alcoholic Moscow Mule Mocktail Recipe
    • A glass of margarita mocktail.
      Non-Alcoholic Margarita Mocktail on the Rocks

    I love when you share my recipes!

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com. Since 2017, she's been crafting easy-to-make cocktails and delicious meals, along with sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Katy McAvoy

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that a couple hours of meal prep pays off for days. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

    Search

    Buy Homemade Happy Hour, a Cocktail Book

    Weekly Newsletter

    Join my email list and get my 5 CLASSIC COCKTAILS EBOOK sent to you immediately!

    (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [], forms: { on: function(evt, cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt, callback: cb } ); } } } })();

    Subscribers receive a new and delicious recipe in their inbox each week.

    Most Searched Recipes

    • Tomato Rice and Beans
      Easy Tomato Rice and Beans on the Stove Top
    • Lavender Lemon Drop Martini
      Easy Lavender Lemon Drop Martini with Vodka
    • BBQ Meatballs in a bowl, garnished with parsley.
      Easy 15 Minute Stove Top BBQ Meatballs
    • Glass filled with mocktail drink and garnished with a cherry and orange slice.
      Easy and Delicious Mocktail for Kids (Without Sugary Soda)
    • Chocolate and Peanut Butter Whiskey Cocktail
      Delicious Chocolate and Peanut Butter Whiskey Cocktail
    • DIY Cocktail and Mocktail Bar
      How to Set Up a DIY Cocktail and Mocktail Bar Your Guest Will Love
    • Non Alcoholic Piña Colada Mocktails
      Non Alcoholic Piña Colada Mocktail (Not Blended)
    • Cranberry Mocktail
      Easy and Delicious Mocktail Recipes for Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
    • Non Alcoholic Mojito Mocktails
      Non-Alcoholic Mojito Mocktail is the Perfect Summer Drink
    • A Pineapple Mai Tai in a pineapple shaped glass.
      The Best Pineapple Mai Tai Rum Cocktail

    Footer

    Website

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for weekly emails

    Contact

    Work with Me

    Contact Me

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Mitten Girl LLC

    37 shares