Sparkling Apple Cider Mocktail with Pomegranate

Sparkling Apple Cider Mocktail

These five-minute mocktails are pale gold and bubbly, with red pomegranate arils among the ice and a curled lemon peel on each rim. Fresh lemon juice balances the sweet apple cider without turning it into a juice blend. Build the drinks in individual glasses and pour the chilled cider last so they reach the table with plenty of fizz.

Ingredients for 2 Mocktails

• 12 fluid ounces chilled nonalcoholic sparkling apple cider
• 1 medium lemon, for 2 tablespoons juice and 2 long peel curls
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate arils (about 20g)
• About 2 cups ice, enough to fill both glasses generously

How to Make Sparkling Apple Cider Mocktails

1. Prepare the lemon: Before juicing it, use a citrus peeler or vegetable peeler to cut two long strips of yellow peel, taking as little bitter white pith as possible. Curl the strips loosely, then juice the lemon to get 2 tablespoons.
2. Fill the glasses: Divide the ice between two short, clear glasses large enough to hold the ice and about 6 1/2 fluid ounces of liquid each. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon pomegranate arils to each glass.
3. Add the cider: Slowly pour 6 fluid ounces chilled sparkling cider into each glass. Stir once or twice gently, hook a lemon curl over each rim, and serve immediately. The drinks should be pale gold and visibly bubbly, with distinct red arils. If the cider tastes especially sweet, add a small squeeze of lemon.

How to Keep the Cider Bubbly

Keep the cider cold and unopened until the glasses are ready. Pour it last and stir gently rather than shaking it. Serve as soon as the drinks are assembled: waiting gives the bubbles time to fade and the ice time to dilute the cider.

Make It for a Crowd

For six drinks, use 36 fluid ounces nonalcoholic sparkling cider, 6 tablespoons lemon juice, 6 tablespoons pomegranate arils, ice, and six lemon-peel curls. Prepare the juice and peels ahead, but keep the cider cold and separate. Add ice to individual glasses and pour the cider when guests are ready to drink, rather than letting a mixed pitcher sit.

For another alcohol-free party drink, try this non-alcoholic cranberry punch.

Adjusting Sweetness and Substitutions

Sparkling cider varies in sweetness. Taste an assembled drink before adding more lemon; no sweetener is needed by default. Check the label for nonalcoholic sparkling apple cider—hard cider contains alcohol.

Sparkling apple juice also works, though it may taste sweeter. If you have only still apple cider, combine it with club soda, adding the soda gradually to taste. Still cider alone will not give the drink its fizz.

Keep the pomegranate arils separate and visible in this golden version. Adding pomegranate juice would make a pinker, fruitier variation.

Serving and Make-Ahead

Serve the mocktails right after pouring. You can prepare the lemon juice, peel curls, and arils ahead, but fully assembled drinks are not well suited to storage: they lose carbonation as the ice melts.

For a fall dinner, serve them alongside stuffed butternut squash.

Nutrition

Approximate per drink, based on 2 servings: 100 calories, 0g protein, 0g fat, and 25g carbohydrates. Approximate per 100g of liquid and fruit, excluding ice: 50 calories, 0g protein, 0g fat, and 12g carbohydrates. Values vary by cider brand and do not account for melted ice.