A bright, refreshing mocktail made with fresh orange juice, pomegranate juice, lime, and sparkling water. Lightly sweetened and easy to make, this recipe makes 2 drinks but can easily be scaled up for holidays, brunches, and special occasions.
This orange pomegranate mocktail is refreshing, and festive without being overly sweet. Orange juice and pomegranate juice give it an appealing, balanced sweet-tart flavor, while lime and a little simple syrup round everything out without making the drink feel heavy or syrupy.
When we first tested it, we used more pomegranate juice than orange juice, and the pomegranate completely took over. Shifting the balance toward orange gave us a much more enjoyable drink, with enough pomegranate to add depth and color without overpowering everything else. The pomegranate softens the tartness of the orange juice nicely.
We originally developed this mocktail as a Halloween drink, but it really works well beyond fall. The color makes it a natural fit for the holidays, while the citrus flavor also works nicely for brunch or anytime you want a simple nonalcoholic drink that feels party worthy. The recipe as written makes 2 drinks. You can easily scale it up to make as much as you need.
A Few Tips
- Keep everything chilled. Use chilled ingredients so the drink stays cold without the ice melting too quickly.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste. Taste the juice mixture before adding the sparkling water. Depending on the sweetness of your oranges and pomegranate juice, you may want a little more simple syrup.
- Add the sparkling water last. Add the sparkling water last and stir gently so you don’t lose the bubbles.
Make It Ahead
You can combine the orange juice, pomegranate juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and salt several hours ahead and refrigerate until serving.
Wait to add the sparkling water and ice until just before serving.
Serving Ideas
This mocktail is a natural fit for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday brunches, dinner parties, or any occasion when you want something a little more special than sparkling water.
For a larger gathering, simply scale up the juice mixture as needed and add sparkling water to each glass just before serving.
Storage
If you have leftover mocktail, store it in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The sparkling water will lose its fizz over time, so the drink is best enjoyed right away.
If possible, store the juice mixture before adding the sparkling water, then add fresh sparkling water just before serving.
More Refreshing Drink Recipes
- ¼ cup pomegranate juice chilled
- 1 cup orange juice chilled
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup to taste
- small pinch fine sea salt
- 1 cup chilled sparkling water
- ice
- thin orange slices for garnish
- fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish, optional
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Add the ¼ cup pomegranate juice, 1 cup orange juice, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon simple syrup, and a small pinch fine sea salt to a cocktail shaker or glass measuring cup. Stir well to combine. Taste and add up to ½ tablespoon more simple syrup, if desired. (Note 1)
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Fill two glasses generously with ice. Divide the juice mixture evenly between the glasses.
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Top each glass with about 0.5 cup chilled sparkling water. Stir gently once or twice to combine.
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Garnish each drink with a thin orange slice and a rosemary sprig, if desired. Serve immediately.
- Adjust the sweetness. Orange and pomegranate juices can vary in sweetness and tartness. Start with 1 tablespoon simple syrup, then add the remaining ½ tablespoon only if needed.
Simple Syrup
Combine ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let cool completely before using. Store leftover simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 332mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 252IU | Vitamin C: 64mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
Servings: 2 drinks
Calories: 101kcal
Cost: 5.20
