This Virgin Poinsettia Will Be Your New Favorite Holiday Mocktail

The holidays are upon us, and it is time to get festive! Whether you are looking for a non-alcoholic option for your holiday party or you want to try something new, this poinsettia mocktail is the perfect holiday drink.

Cranberry juice, sparkling grape, and a hint of orange extract come together in a bubbly and refreshing drink that is the perfect addition to your holiday menu. Fresh cranberries are visually stunning and full of antioxidants, making this drink delicious and healthy!

So, if you are looking for a new favorite holiday drink, your search is over. This drink is guaranteed to be a hit! Everyone I have made this drink for for has loved it. I have even surprised grown men who prefer the hard stuff with this alcohol-free drink, only to witness their delightful shock.

Everyone can enjoy this Poinsettia.

This drink is a hit with all ages. It’s also a safe way to introduce kids and sober friends to the fun of mixology. After all, mixology is a skilled form of art and a beneficial culinary skill for anyone to learn.

If you have a young chef in the family, this is a great way to introduce them to pairing different flavors. Creating concoctions like simple syrups and herbal infusions can help nurture a love of cooking and encourage quality time in the kitchen.

One glance at the ingredients will surely remind you of another popular drink. If you jump to the recipe and immediately think mimosa or, more accurately, mockmosa, you guessed it. This drink is so close to the classic, which is likely why some people refer to it as a poinsettia mimosa.

I almost made this mistake before I made a simple discovery. The popular brunch staple borrowed its name from the golden mimosa tree because it is reminiscent of the same golden hue of the trees flowing flowers. It makes perfect sense that a nature enthusiast might’ve come up with the name for such a refreshing summer drink.

So, it’s also no surprise that its seasonal counterpart carries the name of another one of nature’s gorgeous seasonal gifts; the poinsettia.

What makes this poinsettia special?

It isn’t clear where this drink originated, but one thing that makes this version so special is how quickly it comes together. The hardest part for some of us will be rimming the glass. I might have done this once years ago, so it took me a little longer to figure it out. But, oh , was it worth it!

Another feature of this drink is the health benefits of fresh cranberry. If you can stand the tartness, here are some of the reasons you’ll want to snack on these crimson berries:

• rich in antioxidants like phenols
•  anti-microbial
•  anti-inflammatory
•  said to promote urinary-tract health and improve vision

Cranberries are one superfruit that you don’t want to toss aside. Luckily, this mocktail is on the sweeter side and makes munching on these bitter berries much easier. If you can get past the sharp taste of cranberries the reward is in the synergy of the nutrients they contain.

If you really can’t stomach them and your health allows it, I recommend rolling the cranberries in a bit of sugar. I did this for my toddler after he handed me back a half-eaten cranberry. Once I added a fresh coat of sugar, he ate three.

I’d be remiss to say I didn’t prefer them this way myself. I might even serve up a small bowl of sugared cranberries the next time I serve this virgin poinsettia for a healthy holiday treat.

How to make the perfect poinsettia mocktail.

There are a few different ways to prepare this drink to make it your own. Here’s how we made ours:

1. We start by washing and freezing fresh cranberries for about thirty minutes.
2.  Our next step is to break open one of the fresh cranberries to run around the rim of our champagne flute.
3.  Dip the rim into table sugar.
4.  Add our frozen cranberries to our sugared glass.
5.  Add cranberry juice, sparkling white grape juice, and a few drops of orange extract.
6.  Tie it all together with a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Follow these steps for a perfectly refreshing drink that fits right in with your holiday decor. We prefer one part cranberry juice to two parts sparkling grape juice, but feel free to experiment with this ratio to suit your taste.

Tips for making this mocktail

The best glass to serve this in is a champagne flute because the shape helps to preserve the bubbles. Though, it was equally delicious in a regular glass with a straw.

Remember not to stir this drink, as doing so will release the bubbles. The bubbles also help to mix the two juices. I used Welch’s this time, but I’ve heard that Lyre’s Classico is a good dupe for those who prefer a taste closer to real champagne.

Poinsettias are sometimes made by rimming the glass with lime. However, I wouldn’t want to waste a lime that isn’t going to make another appearance in this drink. I found a single cranberry to be equally juicy. It also left a pale trace of light pink around the rim that was so pretty. Keep in mind that the juice of a cranberry runs a bit easier. So, try not to squeeze it.

I chose orange extract for this drink for a couple of reasons; I had it on hand, and I wanted just a hint of orange without the added acidity and mouthfeel of orange juice. You could accomplish this with orange peel or zest as well. Fresh squeezed orange juice just might be fantastic in this.

Lastly, unless you have a strong distaste for rosemary, do not skip adding a fresh sprig for the garnish. Rosemary adds an incredible fresh earthiness to the flavor of this drink, It is so easy to grow year-round indoors. It is also the signature greenery that helps to mimic the look of the familiar holiday plant that inspired the name.

Enjoy your holiday poinsettia mocktail!

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share this lovely poinsettia mocktail with you. It is the perfect holiday drink that is practically effortless! It’s festive, refreshing, and non-alcoholic, so everyone can enjoy it together. With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll be saying cheers in no time.

Have you ever tried a poinsettia this way? If not, give it a try and let us know what you think in the comments below. If you loved this post, subscribe for more holiday inspiration!