Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Christmas Apple-Cranberry Cinnamon Sparkler for Kids
Stir 120 ml chilled apple juice, 60 ml sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, 10 ml lemon juice and 5 ml maple syrup, then add 90 ml sparkling water. Makes one 5-minute Christmas apple-cranberry sparkler, approximately 105 kcal before optional apple garnish, with zero alcohol.
A Christmas Apple-Cranberry Cinnamon Sparkler for Kids is a lightly fizzy, golden apple drink with a little cranberry tang and a hint of cinnamon. Unlike hot cocoa or a frozen slush, this is a five-minute, pour-and-stir drink that can be made right before a family holiday toast. It uses ordinary non-fermented apple juice, not hard cider, and contains zero alcohol (0% ABV): no spirits, bitters, alcoholic extracts or fermented drinks.
Five-minute assembly with pre-chilled ingredients; no cooking or advance infusion.
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WHAT YOU NEED
Ingredients
METHOD
How to make it
- Chill the ingredients. Refrigerate the apple juice, cranberry juice cocktail and plain sparkling water beforehand. Wash an apple if using the optional decoration and cut two very thin slices, removing the hard core and seeds. Use a clean mug and spoon, not equipment that just held alcohol.
- Dissolve the cinnamon. In the serving mug, stir 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup with 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice and a tiny pinch of ground cinnamon until the cinnamon is evenly dispersed. It may leave fine specks; this is normal.
- Add the fruit juices. Pour in 1/2 cup apple juice and 1/4 cup sweetened cranberry juice cocktail. Stir gently to combine. The apple juice keeps the drink golden rather than bright red.
- Top with bubbles. Slowly add 3 fl oz (90 ml) plain sparkling water down the side of the mug. Stir just once so the drink stays lively.
- Garnish safely. For an older child, slide the two thin apple slices onto the rim or float them briefly. If you want the cinnamon-stick look in the photo, use one whole cinnamon stick to stir, then remove it before handing over the drink. Do not add the whole cranberries shown in the styling photograph.
- Serve immediately. Use a child-appropriate cup and supervise younger drinkers. If serving a toddler, omit the apple garnish and any other small or hard decorations; serve only the liquid.
Recipe notes
Estimated 105 kcal for the liquid drink, using 120 ml 100% apple juice, 60 ml sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, 10 ml lemon juice and 5 ml maple syrup; optional 15 g apple garnish adds about 8 kcal. Fully zero alcohol (0% ABV), no alcoholic extracts or bitters. Use only non-fermented apple juice and plain sparkling water. Whole cranberries in the photo are styling only and are not served. Remove the cinnamon stick before serving. Not physically tested or tasted by the owner.
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More in this article 4 sections
Why apple juice instead of hard cider?
In some regions, apple cider means fresh, unfiltered, nonalcoholic juice; elsewhere it means an alcoholic fermented drink. To remove any ambiguity for a children's recipe, use a carton or bottle clearly labeled 100% non-fermented apple juice. The sparkling water supplies all the bubbles. Do not substitute alcoholic cider or wine, even if a product is marketed as festive.
Is this just another cranberry Christmas punch?
No. Christmas Morning Punch for Kids is built around cranberry and orange flavors. This recipe is apple-forward, with just enough cranberry juice cocktail for tartness and a small pinch of cinnamon for a holiday aroma. It is a single-serving sparkler, not a pitcher punch. For something warm, try Christmas Gingerbread Caramel Hot Cocoa for Kids; for a frozen treat, see the Raspberry-Cranberry Snowman Slush.
Can I make a batch ahead?
Mix the apple juice, cranberry juice cocktail, lemon juice, maple syrup and cinnamon in a covered jug and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Stir again before pouring because cinnamon settles. Do not add sparkling water until serving or the drink will go flat. Multiply the quantities by the number of guests, then pour 90 ml sparkling water into each cup. Keep the children's drinks separate from adult cocktails; an adult option for the same table is the Christmas Cherry-Almond Rye Sour.
Calories, alcohol content and testing note
Estimated 105 kcal for one serving without optional apple slices, using typical values for 120 ml 100% apple juice, 60 ml sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, 10 ml lemon juice and 5 ml maple syrup; sparkling water and cinnamon contribute negligible calories. Two small apple slices add about 8 kcal. Sweetness and calories vary by juice brand.
This recipe is 0% ABV when prepared with the specified alcohol-free ingredients and contains no alcoholic extracts or bitters. The cinnamon stick and whole cranberries in the image are decorative and must not be left in a young child's drink. This recipe is an editorial draft and has not been physically tested or tasted by the owner. Browse the Christmas drinks collection for more ideas.
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