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Home » Recipes » Mocktails » Cranberry Mocktail and Holiday Dinner Party + GIVEAWAY

Cranberry Mocktail and Holiday Dinner Party + GIVEAWAY

December 6, 2020 By Chandice | 23 Comments | Updated December 10, 2020

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JUMP TO RECIPE PRINT RECIPE

This cranberry mocktail is perfect for any holiday or winter gathering! Cranberry sauce, cranberry simple syrup and pomegranate arils come together beautifully in an artful non-alcoholic beverage. Serve it up at your next holiday dinner party for the perfect toast.

Cranberry mocktail in a champagne flute

Thank you to Red Apple Lipstick for sponsoring this post.

Cranberry Mocktail

I cannot get enough cranberry from November through January! I like to add it to everything from mocktails to desserts and even main dishes! 

Showing you guys how to make the perfect mocktail for anytime of year is one of my favorite things. Whether it’s with our our Thanksgiving mocktails and Christmas mocktailsa or our Halloween mocktails, I love finding ways to bring delicious non-alcoholic beverages to your table!

Like our mimosa mocktail, this recipe uses a 0.0% non-alcoholic sparkling wine or champagne. I prefer Buonafide 0.0 wines as they are traditionally and Italian made.

Gluten-free pie with pomegranate arils on top

For this mocktail, we made a delicious homemade cranberry simple syrup (which is SO much easier than you might think and takes only minutes) as well as my husbands grandmas famous cranberry sauce. I love making a batch of it for Thanksgiving and using it to make this mocktail.

Save the leftover cranberry jam to enjoy with turkey, ham or our cranberry brie savory bread pudding. It’s also great for making our cranberry Christmas crack and cranberry shortbread lemon trifle.

How to make a cranberry mocktail

  • Make simple syrup by bringing 1/2 C sugar and 1/2 C water to a boil with 1/2 C fresh cranberries. Let boil 3 minutes then set aside cranberries (great for sugared cranberries) and pour simple syrup into a jar.
  • In a blender, combine the orange, apples, 1 1/2 C fresh strawberries and 1/2 C sugar then place 1 tbsp cranberry sauce in the bottom of 8 champagne flutes, refrigerate remainder of cranberry sauce
  • Add 1/2 tsp. cranberry simple syrup to each cup

    step by step cranberry mocktail collage

    • Add 1 tsp. pomegranate arils
    • Add 0.0% non-alcoholic sparkling wine, brut or champagne pouring slowly as not to overfill
    • Enjoy!

    Pro Tip: Sparkling apple cider works in this recipe as well but it is much sweeter so remove the cranberry simple syrup if using it

    Holiday Dinner Party

    We love a holiday meal! Whether it’s a fancy dinner or a simple breakfast like we did at our sleigh ride brunch, we love sitting around a table and enjoying good food and drinks. 

    Keep things simple by draping the table with a green holiday garland. No need for a tablecloth or placemats. The clean look of just the garland and dishes is modern and beautiful. 

    Holiday dinner party tablescape

    Allow time in the beginning to enjoy drinks and appetizers. Keep things casual but fun. I recommend just one show topping dessert. You can buy this or make it. We took a leftover Thanksgiving pie and added the pomegranate arils and rosemary for a winter look. 

    Girls eating individual charcuterie boards at a table

    Serve up your food with this tasty cranberry mocktail or change it up with our Christmas White Russian mocktail or Prosecco drink with pomegranate and cranberries. 

    Cranberry mocktail in a glass in a hand

    Holiday Dinner Party Menu

    Start with a delicious individual charcuterie board on each girls plate. They will LOVE this personalized appetizer!

    Individual charcuterie boards

    Next, have some hot fresh gluten-free crescent rolls or gluten-free sourdough bread. 

    Gluten-free crescent rolls

    I like to then add a sweet fresh touch with a simple fruit salad topped with pomegranate arils. 

    Fruit salad in a bowl with spoon

    Our leftover turkey, cranberry and brie savory bread pudding is a fantastic main course! It is both beautiful and so delicious. 

    Savory cranberry, turkey and brie bread pudding in a white dish

    I of course have to have veggies at any meal so this salad is great as well since it doesn’t require you to bake. 

    Salad with tortilla strips multicolored in a wood bowl

    Girls Gifts to Give

    I always love having a little gift to give guests. These little Red Apple Lipstick bags filled with my FAVORITE gluten-free makeup are perfect for a girls gathering!

    Gluten-free make up is so important to those with celiac disease because the average woman ingests over 7 pounds of lipstick! Crazy right?! 

    It may surprise you but you actually lick your lips quite often and all that gluten in make up can add up. You may be living 100% gluten-free to manage your celiac disease but if what you put on your lips contains gluten, you’re still getting small amounts that could be making you sick or be keeping you from getting better. That’s where Red Apple Lipstick helps. 

    Two hands holding makeup

    I always tell people, especially those new to living gluten-free, how important it is to choose beauty products that are gluten-free. I personally love and use Red Apple Lipstick products every day because they are not only gluten-free but also non-toxic and cruelty free. The pigments in the lipsticks, eyeliners, lip liner’s and eyeshadows are fantastic.

    I love that you don’t sacrifice on the look for having a gluten-free make up brand! While I mostly use their lipstick I also love their shadows. They have a huge array of colors and I love their cute little magnetic cases for each.Lipstick tube in a hand with holiday painted nailsHoliday box filled with goodies

    I use the purple eyeliner everyday for an extra POP! I also use their brown eyeliner to fill in my eyebrows. They even have mascara that brings together the whole look.

    Red Apple Lipstick also has a variety of beautiful lip liners as well as a ralleye balm that helps keep the lips soft. I like to apply a thick layer of this right before bed for getting those lips extra silky soft while you sleep.

    To learn more about Red Apple Lipstick products head over to their site and use my code: TVL for 22% off!

    You can give the cute makeup bags to your gal pals with some of your favorite treats and some holiday cookie cutters for a festive trio. Everyone will love that these gifts are both amazing AND practical!

    Two women smiling, one gifting the other with a small bag Two sets of hands one giving a small bag to the other Five ladies smiling opening gifts

    Individual Charcuterie Boards

    I love making individual charcuterie boards because they are SO CUTE! They are also much more sanitary then sharing a big board, although I love making a gluten-free charcuterie and cheeseboard or the BEST charcuterie board as well. 

    With just a few ingredients you have a WOW factor on each plate when guests arrive. It is perfect for munching on with your cranberry mocktail or gingerbread martini mocktail.

    Start with some cute mini wood boards and layer them with your favorite things. Here’s what we love…

    Individual charcuterie board on a wood slab on a white plate

    Items we included…

    • One Boursin cheese wheel per plate topped with rosemary sprigs for that winter touch
    • Gluten-free crackers
    • Salami or another cured meat
    • Artichoke hearts
    • Olives
    • Honey or honeycomb with a honey stirrer 
    • A tiny Christmas tree for a more festive look

    Smiling girl holding a wood tray of chocolate

    For a little sweet charcuterie board, just put your favorite chocolates, toffee, and brittles on an small wood board with a tiny Christmas tree. You can also make our charCOOKuterie board or charcuterie cheese board cookies for a fun treat!

    Holiday tablescape with garland and white plates

    Fancy Farmhouse Holiday Decor

    My sisters house is decorated so cute for the holidays! She has lots of white and natural wood tones with a few metals that make it the perfect fancy farmhouse holiday set up. Here are some ideas…

    • Metal deer by driftwood
    • Wood and glass trees with a modern green candle
    • White beaded stockings hung on antlers
    • Gold deer with mini Magnolia tree
    • Green bottle brush Christmas trees
    • White farm struck with sparkly snowballs in a basketFancy farmhouse holiday decor collage

    If you love this mocktail, be sure to check these out as well…

    Non-Alcoholic Bloody Mary Mocktail

    Non-Alcoholic Gin and Tonic

    Non-Alcoholic Vodka and Dirty Martini Mocktail

    Need an EASY and delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert?
    Take a look at my Sheet Pan Meals and More!

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    Cranberry Mocktail & Holiday Dinner Party

    4.75 from 4 votes
    This cranberry mocktail is perfect for any holiday or winter gathering! Cranberry sauce, cranberry simple syrup and pomegranate arils come together beautifully in an artful non-alcoholic beverage. Serve it up at your next holiday dinner party for the perfect toast.
    PRINT RECIPE
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Total Time: 10 mins
    Course: Drinks, Mocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cranberry, mocktail
    Servings: 8 glasses
    Calories: 139kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 apple, cut into 4 large slices and cored
    • 1 orange, peeled
    • 2 C fresh cranberries, divided
    • 1/2 C sugar
    • 4 tsp cranberry simple syrup, divided
    • 8 tsp pomegranate arils, divided
    • 1 bottle 0.0% non-aloholic brut, champagne or sparkling wine (sparkling apple cider works too but it will be much sweeter)
    • rosemary sprigs (optional)

    Instructions

    • Make simple syrup by bringing 1/2 C sugar and 1/2 C water to a boil with 1/2 C fresh cranberries. Let boil 3 minutes then set aside cranberries (great for sugared cranberries) and pour simple syrup into a jar.
    • In a blender, combine the orange, apples, 1 1/2 C fresh strawberries and 1/2 C sugar
    • Place 1 tbsp cranberry sauce in the bottom of 8 champagne flutes, refrigerate remainder of cranberry sauce
    • Add 1/2 tsp. cranberry simple syrup to each cup
    • Add 1 tsp. pomegranate arils
    • Add 0.0% non-alcoholic sparkling wine, brut or champagne pouring slowly as not to overfill

    Notes

    Pro Tip: Sparkling apple cider works in this recipe as well but it is much sweeter so remove the cranberry simple syrup if using it
    Pro Tip: Save the leftover cranberry jam to enjoy with turkey, ham or our cranberry brie savory bread pudding. It's also great for making our cranberry Christmas crack and cranberry shortbread lemon trifle.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 169mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 64IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Filed Under: Christmas, Entertaining, Mocktails

    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi, I'm Chandice!

    Parties, gatherings, gorgeous food and ESPECIALLY holidays with my people are what make my heart pitter patter. Having a place to share our favorite traditions, recipes and celebrations is very important to me. I live each day with unapologetic, authentic happiness and hope to help others do the same. More About Chandice

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    Comments

    1. Cassandra D says

      January 1, 2021 at 4:37 am

      5 stars
      I really like the bread pudding.

      Reply
    2. Kelly Woods says

      January 1, 2021 at 1:51 am

      5 stars
      This recipe looks and sounds delicious. Thank you

      Reply
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    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi there, I’m Chandice!

    I love sharing ways to live more vivaciously! Celebrate life with us through unforgettable gluten-free recipes, easy mocktails and everyday entertaining ideas…

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    Get your FREE Gluten-Free Holiday Treats Electronic Cookbook!

    Subscribe to get your FREE electronic Cookbook of our 10 Favorite Gluten-Free Holiday Treats Recipes & our Newsletters!

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