Sparkling Pomegranate Mocktail

Stir up a Sparkling Pomegranate Mocktail that’s sweet-tart and succulent. Made with pomegranate, lemon and sparkling apple cider, this non-alcoholic cocktail is perfect for celebrating everything.

Two glasses of pomegranate juice with lemon garnishes on a table, next to a bowl of pomegranate seeds and a half pomegranate. Glasses have a star pattern on them.

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About this Pomegranate Mocktail recipe

Pomegranate has always been one of my favorite underrated ingredients — it’s tangy, vibrant and just so fun to work with.

Its bold flavor and stunning ruby hue make it a perfect choice for creating non-alcoholic mocktails that feel just as special as their boozy counterparts.

This Pomegranate Mocktail is my go-to when I want a non-alcoholic option that feels just as celebratory as a cocktail. It’s great for nights when I don’t want to drink and for serving teetotaling guests. It’s a stunning alternative to the pomegranate mimosa at brunch or a glass of champagne.

With the tartness of pomegranate juice, a splash of lemon for brightness, sparkling apple cider for fizz, and a hint of non-alcoholic bitters for depth, it’s a drink that never fails to impress. It’s proof that mocktails can be exciting and full of personality!

More mocktail recipes: Apple Cider MocktailSparkling MocktailVirgin MuleSunrise Mocktail

Two tall glasses of pomegranate juice with star patterns and orange twists, surrounded by pomegranate seeds and a sliced pomegranate.

Why you’ll love this recipe

This Pomegranate Mocktail is the perfect choice for a non-alcoholic drink that isn’t just another soda.

  • With help from zesty lemon, tart pomegranate and sweet sparkling apple cider, this mocktail is sweet and fruity.
  • You can serve it for just about any occasion, from brunch to dinner parties. The sparkling quality and pomegranate flavor would make them the star of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve too. And Dry January of course!
  • It’s perfect for just about any occasion because there’s no alcohol! Even the kids can enjoy them!

Tools & glassware

You don’t need more than a basic bartending set to make this holiday mocktail. A cocktail shaker and a jigger are really all you need.

I used stemless champagne flutes for these, but you could serve them in highball glasses or rocks glasses too. You could even serve this delicious drink in a mason jar if you wanted to!

Two tall glasses of pomegranate cocktail with gold star patterns, garnished with lemon twists. A bowl of pomegranate seeds and a halved pomegranate are nearby on a wooden board.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

  • pomegranate juice: You can usually find this in the refrigerated juice aisle and in the shelf-stable juice aisle of the grocery store. I like the fresher one better but either works!
  • lemon juice: Freshly-squeezed is always best but the store-bought concentrate is handy to have around too. You could swap in orange juice or lime juice if needed (but the flavor will be slightly different).
  • sparkling apple cider: I grew up drinking this festive bubbly whenever the grown-ups had champagne. You could also use sparkling lemonade or ginger beer, but I love the sweet, fruity flavor of apple against the bolder pomegranate. Club soda is good too, but it will be much less sweet.
  • bitters: You can use Angostura bitters or any other bitters you like. However, if you aren’t drinking alcohol at all, know that most bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol. Non-alcoholic aromatic bitters work well here too!
decorative icon of a rocks glass.

try non-alcoholic bitters

We love adding bitters to drinks to add a little extra depth and flavor complexity. I’ve teamed up with my friends at All the Bitter — who make fantastic non-alcoholic bitters — to bring you an exclusive discount on your purchase. Use code fwbitters for 10% off!

Garnishes

Top this cocktail off with some pretty garnishes to make a stylish statement, but they’re totally optional. Garnishes do more than just look good though — they can add fragrance and extra flavor to a drink. With mocktails, it’s helpful to bring in as many layers of flavor as you can, so garnishes really take them up a notch!

Pomegranate seeds (AKA arils) are totally edible and they look like little rubies on top of this mocktail. A lemon twist adds a whiff of zesty citrus flavor as you sip.

Other ideas? You could use a lemon wedge or lime wedge instead, or an apple slice would also be fitting with the cider. Cranberries are festive, and fragrant herbs like fresh mint leaves or rosemary would also be fine!

Instructions

Here’s how to make this delicious Pomegranate Mocktail recipe:

Pomegranate juice being poured into a decorative glass with a star pattern, with a whole pomegranate in the background.
A hand pours a light liquid into a star-patterned glass containing a dark drink. A pomegranate is in the background on a white surface.

Pour the pomegranate juice and lemon juice into a champagne flute. If you don’t have a flute, don’t stress; any glass will do!

A glass with a star pattern being filled with a fizzy pink liquid from a bottle. A pomegranate is on the table next to the glass.
A sparkling beverage is poured into a decorative glass with gold star patterns. A whole pomegranate is visible in the background on a white surface.

Slowly top it off with sparkling apple cider. Pour gently so you don’t lose all those lovely bubbles! They can bubbly over just like sparkling wine would.

A tall glass with a star pattern, filled with a dark red drink, is being garnished with pomegranate seeds from a gold spoon. Another similar glass is in the background.
A glass of red sparkling drink with pomegranate seeds, garnished with an orange twist, in a star-patterned glass. Another drink and pomegranate seeds are in the background.

Then, add a few dashes of non-alcoholic bitters to take the flavor up a notch. It’s a small touch, but it makes a big difference.

For the garnish, toss in a few pomegranate arils for a burst of color and a little texture. Finish it with a lemon twist — just give the peel a little twist over the glass to release its oils before dropping it in. It’s such an easy way to make the drink feel fancy!

Two tall glasses with a star pattern, filled with red pomegranate drink, garnished with orange peel. A bowl of pomegranate seeds and a cut pomegranate are beside the glasses.

Tips & tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making this easy mocktail recipe:

  • Make sure the pomegranate juice, sparkling apple cider and even the champagne flute are well-chilled before making the drink. This keeps your mocktail crisp and refreshing without needing to add ice, which can dilute the flavors.
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice makes a big difference in taste. It adds a bright, natural tartness that pairs beautifully with the pomegranate and cider.
  • Pour the cider gently and slowly down the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles and prevent it from spilling over. This also helps blend the flavors without stirring, which can flatten the drink.
  • Use soda water (or a mix of part cider, part soda water) for a less sweet drink.
Two tall glasses with a star pattern, filled with red pomegranate drink, garnished with orange peel. A bowl of pomegranate seeds and a cut pomegranate are beside the glasses.

Food pairings

This mocktail is so versatile. Serve it at brunch instead of a mimosa alongside cinnamon sugar donuts or a breakfast casserole.

Dinner parties and holiday celebrations are also the perfect time to serve this non-alcoholic mocktail. It’s perfect with elegant appetizers like sausage balls and a charcuterie board.

You can serve it with anything pomegranate of course too, like these shrimp tacos with pomegranate salsa! This pomegranate salad is a great festive side dish.

FAQ

Can I use a different sparkling drink instead of sparkling apple cider?

Absolutely! If you don’t have sparkling apple cider, try sparkling water, sparkling lemonade, ginger ale, ginger beer or even a non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Each option will give the drink a slightly different vibe, so pick one based on your taste preferences.

Are bitters alcoholic?

Yes, bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol. You can skip them, but the drink will lose a bit of complexity. As a substitute, you can try non-alcoholic bitters or a drop (one drop!) of vanilla extract to add a little more depth.

Can I make this mocktail in a larger batch?

Yes! This recipe is easy to scale up for a crowd. Just mix the pomegranate juice and lemon juice in a pitcher. When you’re ready to serve, pour the mix into individual glasses and top with sparkling apple cider to keep the bubbles fresh. Don’t forget to add bitters and a garnish!

Two tall glasses of pomegranate cocktail with lemon twist and star patterns, next to a wooden board with pomegranate seeds and a glass bowl filled with seeds.

More pomegranate recipes

— Did you make this recipe? —

Please leave a ★★★★★ review or comment below.

Two glasses of pomegranate juice with lemon garnishes on a table, next to a bowl of pomegranate seeds and a half pomegranate. Glasses have a star pattern on them.

Pomegranate Mocktail

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Bright, refreshing, and bursting with flavour! This Sparkling pomegranate mocktail combines the tangy sweetness of pomegranate juice with a splash of citrus and fizzy cider for a perfectly balanced, alcohol-free tipple.
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ingredients

instructions

  • Add pomegranate juice and lemon juice to a champagne flute.
  • Top with sparkling apple cider. Add a few dashes of bitters.
  • Garnish with a few pomegranate arils and a lemon twist.
  • Posts to link to: sparkling holiday mocktail, apple cider mocktail, pomegranate mimosa (alcoholic alternative). virgin mimosa.
  • if possible, one or both of our pomegranate cocktails (there’s a martini and a margarita)

notes

Chill out: Make sure the pomegranate juice, sparkling apple cider and even the champagne flute are well-chilled before making the drink. This keeps your mocktail crisp and refreshing without needing to add ice, which can dilute the flavors.
How to prevent spilling over: Sparkling cider can be just as fizzy as champagne, which is famous for its overflowing bubbles! To prevent spillage, pour the cider gently and slowly down the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles. This also helps blend the flavors without stirring, which can flatten the drink.
Garnish ideas: Garnishes are an easy way to make the drink feel fancy! Pomegranate arils look like little rubies on top of this mocktail and a lemon twist adds a whiff of zesty citrus flavor as you sip. (Even better: Give the peel a little twist over the glass to release its oils before dropping it in.) You could use a lemon wedge instead, or an apple slice would also be fitting with the cider. 
Glassware: I used champagne flutes, but you can serve this in wine glasses, rocks glasses or highball glasses too. 

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nutrition information

Yield: 1 drink

amount per serving:

Serving: 6ounces Calories: 74kcal Carbohydrates: 19g Protein: 0.4g Fat: 0.4g Saturated Fat: 0.1g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g Sodium: 8mg Potassium: 225mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 15g Vitamin A: 6IU Vitamin C: 20mg Calcium: 22mg Iron: 0.2mg
did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #feastandwestrecipes!

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