Spicy and berry-sweet, the Virgin Yule Mule mocktail is the ultimate non-alcoholic sipper for the holiday season. Bedazzled with cranberries and festooned with an array of fresh rosemary, this popular sweet cranberry version of the classic Moscow mule can be made with or without a zero-proof spirit.
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About this Virgin Yule Mule recipe
Lately I have been loving incorporating more creative mocktails into my party menus, and I just had to work on a non-alcoholic version of my ever-popular Yule Mule cocktail. It’s essentially a non-alcoholic, cranberry Moscow mule with a fun Christmas name.
This popular Christmas cocktail is a true winner! Year after year, my family and friends beg me to make it for festive get-togethers and thousands of my readers and followers make it for their holiday parties too.
But I get it: Not everyone wants to drink alcohol, but why should they have to miss out on this merry and bright beverage? Not anymore!
In this version, I’ll show you how to swap in zero-proof spirits to replace the usual vodka or whiskey, or you can omit the booze entirely. Let’s get our jingle on and make this delicious cranberry mule mocktail!
More holiday mocktail recipes: Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail • Apple Cider Mocktail • Virgin Espresso Martini • Virgin Mary
Why you’ll love this recipe
The holiday season has rolled around once again, and this cranberry ginger beer mocktail is here to make it more jolly and delicious.
- With help from zesty lime, tart cranberry and spicy ginger beer, this mocktail is sweet and spiced with tons of holiday flavor.
- You can make this holiday cocktail non-alcoholic with ease. Use a zero-proof spirit for a deeper flavor or omit the booze. (I’ll show you both ways!)
- It’s a crowd-favorite for holiday parties and will be gone in no time! Even the kids can enjoy virgin yule mules.
- It’s perfect for just about any occasion this season because there’s no alcohol!
What is a Yule Mule?
A Yule Mule is a holiday variation of the classic Moscow Mule, which is made with vodka, lime juice and ginger beer.
The Yule Mule has the added element of sweet and tart cranberries and their juice. It’s really just a Christmas-y Moscow mule! Honestly, it can be a Thanksgiving Moscow mule too! The cranberry juice makes it a perfect fit for this holiday.
It can be made with the classic vodka, or you can swap in whiskey, rum, gin or tequila for a delicious twist. And it can even be made non-alcoholic!
I find this cocktail to be so light and refreshing and filled with holiday spirit! It is festive and bright, and your holiday celebrations need it. Promise.
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.
Copper Moscow mule mugs help to keep these drinks super-duper cold. They are not a must-have, but a nice-to-have for sure. (Add some to your holiday wishlist, maybe?) If you don’t have any, rocks glasses will work great.
favorite mule mugs
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Buy Now → Ingredients
You’ll need to grab a few things from the grocery store to make these Yule Mule mocktails. I’ll go into more detail below, but here are a few tips on what to buy:
- zero-proof spirit: You can use just about any, but I recommend a gin, rum, whiskey or tequila alternative for best results.
- lime juice: I recommend juicing limes for the freshest flavor. Use a citrus squeezer if you are just making a couple. If you’re planning to make a lot, see if your grocery store sells fresh-pressed lime juice.
- cranberry juice: Make sure to get 100% cranberry juice. Cranberry juice cocktail is fine, but it does have added sugar and can make this drink overly sweet.
- ginger beer: Ginger beer is non-alcoholic and can have a strong spiced ginger flavor. I recommend a mild to medium spice level for this cocktail. Check out my ginger beer brands list for some tried-and-true options.
- non-alcoholic bitters: Totally optional, but while we’re zhuzhing up this mocktail, we can add some layers of flavor with bitters. I used orange, but aromatic would be great too. (Regular bitters contain trace amounts of alcohol, but if that is okay with you, feel free to use them.)
try non-alcoholic bitters
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Garnishes
If you’re wearing your best sparkly dress or favorite ugly sweater, you might also want to dress up your drink! I used a rosemary sprig and fresh cranberries on a cocktail pick, but there are tons more holiday garnishes you can play with.
Pomegranate seeds, fresh mint and lime wedges are all appropriate and festive. Sugared cranberries would also be stunning! Or make cranberry ice cubes to float on top for a pretty garnish.
Best zero-proof spirits
There are two main ways to make a Virgin Moscow Mule. You can cut the vodka entirely and have a drink that’s non-alcoholic but still delicious. (Ginger beer is non-alcoholic!)
Another idea is to use non-alcoholic spirits. Yes, that’s a thing! Seedlip and Ritual Zero Proof are two brands I really like. You can even buy them online since they don’t contain alcohol! They don’t have the same bite as alcohol does, but they do bring in layers of flavor the way spirits do to cocktails.
As you can make the cocktail version with vodka, gin, tequila, rum or whiskey, you can have a lot of fun with trying different non-alcoholic spirits.
- Ritual Zero Proof: The Ritual gin alternative is fantastic in the Yule Mule because it has those juniper and pine flavors that taste like Christmas, but you can also try the Ritual whiskey alternative or the Ritual rum alternative. Any of them would be delicious in this cocktail!
- Seedlip: I’ve tried them all and any would be good. Seedlip Grove 42 is my favorite for its citrus undertones but the others are also fantastic. Seedlip Garden 108 brings an herbal flavor and Seedlip Spice 94 has a bit of festive spices.
- Lyre’s: Another brand I like is Lyre’s. Their American malt has a realistic whiskey flavor without any of the booze.
But if you don’t have a non-alcoholic spirit alternative, you are not out of luck! I like to make homemade zero-proof spirits! They are super easy. Keep reading for how to omit them while keeping the drink delicious.
Substitutions & variations
Mix things up with one of these variations:
No zero-proof spirits? You may omit them entirely, just use 1 ounce more cranberry juice and 1 ounce more ginger beer. You could add some flavor with a little bit of rosemary simple syrup (about ½ to 1 ounce, to your liking).
Lower sugar version: Ginger beer comes in a diet version in some brands, like Zevia. You can also make a ginger simple syrup to tailor the sweetness to your liking and use club soda for the bubbles.
Pomegranate Yule Mule: Swap in bittersweet pomegranate juice for the cranberry and float pomegranate arils on top for the garnish.
White Christmas Mule: Use white cranberry juice instead of regular for a light and sweet twist.
Cocktail version: Of course, you can also add some alcohol if you’d like! Vodka, rum, whiskey, gin and tequila are all lovely.
Instructions
Let’s get merry and make Virgin Yule Mules! Here’s how to do it:
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake together the zero-proof spirit, lime juice and cranberry juice.
Then, fill a copper mule mug or old-fashioned glass with ice. Strain the drink into the glass. Top up with ginger beer.
Add a few dashes of orange bitters. Garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. Serve immediately!
Tips & tricks
Here are some tips and tricks for making this mocktail recipe:
- Use cranberry juice that has no added sugars. Cranberries are naturally sweet and tart and there is enough sugar in the ginger beer to make this drink sweet on its own.
- If you do use cranberry juice cocktail, you may wish to use a little bit less than the recipe calls for.
- Experiment with different zero-proof spirits to find your favorite festive combination.
- Add the ginger beer last so that it can bubble and foam to the top, making the best drinking experience.
Holiday Moscow mules for a party
Yule Mules would be a cinch to whip up en masse for a holiday party. Everyone will rave about your non-alcoholic Christmas Moscow Mules!
To prepare your Yule Mule mix for your holiday party, just make a big batch of the cranberry/lime/NA-spirit base. You can also skip the spirit and put a few bottles of alcohol and/or zero-proof spirits out for guests to build their own drinks.
You can either top each glass with ginger beer right before you serve the drinks or add it to the pitcher (or punch bowl) just before the party begins. Set up a bowl of cranberries and rosemary sprigs to garnish drinks with quickly and easily.
Here is a basic recipe to follow that makes ~8 cocktails:
- 2 cups zero-proof spirits
- 1 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice (about 6 limes)
- 2 cups unsweetened cranberry juice
- 3 cups ginger beer
- plus fresh cranberries and rosemary for garnishes.
Food pairings
Anything with cranberries or ginger will be a hit with this Christmas mocktail!
Appetizers: For your appetizer spread, some pretzels with beer cheese dip and cranberry mustard would be delicious. And we love cranberry brie bites — they always go fast!
Main dish:These drinks also go well with your holiday meal! Try it as a Thanksgiving mocktail with turkey with cranberry sauce. Cranberries are also a lovely flavor for pulled pork and chicken salad.
Dessert: Don’t forget dessert! These white chocolate cranberry cookies are a favorite at my holiday parties. Or you could whip up these gingery Moscow mule cookies!
FAQ
Ginger beer provides the spicy kick that makes a Yule Mule special. Most ginger beers used for cocktails are non-alcoholic. However, always check the label if you’re unsure.
Ginger beer can have a bit of a kick. If you prefer something less spicy, you can substitute ginger beer with ginger ale or a lemon-lime soda for a milder flavor.
Yes! You can pre-mix the zero-proof spirit, cranberry juice and lime juice, then refrigerate. Just add the ginger beer right before serving to keep the drink fizzy.
Absolutely! Scale up the recipe and serve it in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Just wait to add the ginger beer until right before serving to keep it bubbly.
More non-alcoholic holiday drink recipes
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Virgin Yule Mule
ingredients
- 2 ounces zero-proof spirit such as a gin, rum or tequila alternative
- ¾ ounces lime juice
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 3 ounces ginger beer
- 2-3 dashes non-alcoholic orange bitters
- cranberries for garnish
- rosemary sprig for garnish
instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake together the zero-proof spirit, lime juice and cranberry juice.
- Fill two copper mule mugs or old-fashioned glasses with ice. Strain half of the cocktail into each glass.
- Top each glass with ginger beer. Add a few dashes of non-alcoholic orange bitters.
- Garnish with cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. Serve immediately.
notes
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