Cherry + Orange + Cinnamon = a match made in heaven! I saw black cherry juice at the store the other day and immediately started craving a mocktail, so I grabbed it and started testing combinations when I got home! This Spiced Cherry Orange Mocktail is truly the perfect cherry mocktail that you can drink during the winter because there’s no need for fresh cherries – yet we’re going to incorporate fresh orange juice and ground cinnamon for a winter season finish. This cinnamony mocktail has truly been my obsession lately, and I know you will love it too!
Why I love this mocktail
- There are no artificial alcohol “alternatives” – most alcohol alternatives rely on natural or artificial flavoring which can also contain thousands of hidden chemicals and preservatives.
- It’s not loaded with refined sugars – most mocktails (especially ones you get in restaurants!) are loaded with sugar, particularly more refined sugars like white sugar, corn syrup, or simple syrups.
- It doesn’t rely on artificial / ‘natural’ flavors – we’re relying on real ingredients for the flavor! Mocktails usually rely on syrups that have artificial (or “natural” flavors).
- There’s no citric acid – yet another common ingredient for mocktail syrups – citric acid is most often taken from black mold, which is very toxic. Some companies are good and actually take it from citrus or cassava root, but most don’t have a healthy source.
Nutritional benefits of this Spiced Cherry Orange Mocktail
- Cinnamon is known keep blood sugar balanced, is rich in antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. I recommend using Ceylon instead of Cassia/Saigon/Vietnamese because it is up to 250 times lower in coumarin than the other varieties. The product will specify if the cinnamon is Ceylon, but if it just says “cinnamon” then it’s likely Cassia cinnamon like Saigon or Vietnamese cinnamon.
- Oranges have a wonderful profile of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and more. It’s nutrient dense and delicious.
- Cherries are packed full of beneficial antioxidants and nutrients. They’re also delicious!
- Maple syrup is a natural sweetener (from the sap of maple trees) so it’s healthy and also rich in antioxidants and minerals such as manganese, riboflavin, and copper.
Ingredients for Spiced Cherry Orange Mocktail
Pure black cherry juice – this is NOT juice from concentrate! I used Buy 100% pure black cherry juice from Lakewood Organic – I love that it’s pure, organic juice (no added sugar and not concentrated) and that it’s also in a glass jar instead of plastic.
Naval orange – Definitely don’t skip the fresh orange here – you’re going to use the fresh juice s well as the rind for this drink (and it makes a beautiful garnish!)
Ground Ceylon cinnamon – I love ceylon cinnamon way more than the Saigon / Cassia / Vietnamese varieties because it’s significantly lower in coumarin (up to 250 times more). Coumarin is a naturally occurring compound that can be harmful to the liver and kidneys if consumed in large amounts over time. Also keep in mind that ceylon cinnamon is much more mild in flavor than the other varieties, so use less if you are using Vietnamese, cassia, or Saigon cinnamon.
Sparkling water – I used San Pellegrino because it’s from natural springs and is in a glass bottle – and tastes so good! It’s a sparkling mineral water, meaning it has some natural minerals in it that add flavor, and the carbonation is more mild. If you like heavy carbonation and pure flavor, then use regular sparkling water. If you like heavy carbonation that has a salty flavor, then use club soda.
Maple syrup – adds just the perfect hint of sweetness that helps meld the flavors together. You can omit it or decrease it if you want very very mild sweetness. I already don’t use as much as most people would use, so if you want to increase it for a sweeter mocktail then you can do that too.
Salt – just the tiniest pinch. Omit this if you are using club soda.
Ice – a crushed ice or small cubed ice is best here!
How to make Spiced Cherry Orange Mocktail
- Put the maple syrup into a small glass cup.
- Add several large pinches of ground ceylon cinnamon – I use about 1/8 tsp, but adjust to taste. And remember, if you are using saigon/vietnemese/cassia cinnamon, then make sure to use less and adjust to taste because it’s stronger.
- Mix together the maple syrup and cinnamon in the bottom of the cup.
- Carefully peel a couple strips of the orange peel (without the white pith) and express the orange peel into the glass by twisting it to release the oils. Set aside to use as a garnish at the end.
- Juice about 1 oz of the orange juice into the glass (1/2-2/3 of the orange).
- Add 1.5 oz of black cherry juice.
- Add 4 oz of sparkling water. Stir it all together.
- Put an orange slice into the cup, then fill the rest of the glass with crushed ice (or small cubed ice).
- Garnish with the strips of orange peel, an orange slice, and a cinnamon stick.
Why I Use Ceylon Cinnamon
Not all cinnamon is the same! Most cinnamon you’ll find in grocery stores is Cassia cinnamon (like Saigon or Vietnamese cinnamon). While it has a bold, sweet-spicy flavor, it also contains significantly higher levels of coumarin (up to 250 times more). Coumarin is a naturally occurring compound that can be harmful to the liver and kidneys if consumed in large amounts over time.
Ceylon cinnamon (often called “true cinnamon”) has a softer, more delicate flavor with subtle citrusy notes. It contains much lower levels of coumarin, making it the better choice if you use cinnamon regularly.
Modifications and variations
- Adjust the maple syrup to preference – you can omit it completely and just rely on the fruit juice for sweetness, or you can decrease it to 1/2 tsp for a little less sweetness. On the other hand, feel free to increase it if you’re looking for an indulgent, particularly restaurant-worthy mocktail.
- Substitute honey in place of the maple syrup if desired.
- Adjust the cherry juice and orange juice to your own personal preference.
- Add a touch of fresh lime juice for an extra burst of citrus flavor and a hint of tartness.
- If it’s summertime and you have access to fresh cherries, then feel free to use fresh cherries for this recipe! It’s winter for me right now, so I made this a winter-friendly mocktail by using cherry juice. If using fresh cherries, then just remove the pits and stems and muddle them at the bottom of the glass after mixing together the cinnamon, salt, and maple syrup. Then top off with the orange juice, sparkling water, and ice.
Other recipes you’ll love
I hope you love this Spiced Cherry Orange Mocktail! Please be sure to leave a comment and a rating if you give it a try. I would love to know how it turned out for you, and your engagement on my website helps me more than you know!
Verse of the Day: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? – Matthew 6:26
PrintSpiced Cherry Orange Mocktail
A healthy mocktail that uses real ingredients – no simple syrups, no artificial or “natural” flavors, and no alcohol alternatives. The combination of orange + cherry + cinnamon truly is so magical!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 mocktail 1x
- Category: Beverage, mocktails
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free
Ingredients
3 large pinches ground ceylon cinnamon (about 1/8 tsp) – I like a lot! You’ll need less if using Vietnamese/Saigon/Cassia cinnamon
8g pure maple syrup (1 tsp), adjust to preference – or sub honey
2 orange peels, see instructions
1 oz fresh squeezed orange juice (about 1/2–2/3 naval orange)
2 small orange slices
1.5 oz pure black cherry juice (NOT concentrate) – I love Lakewood Organic!
4 oz sparkling water
Crushed ice
Instructions
- Put the maple syrup into a small glass cup.
- Add several large pinches of ground ceylon cinnamon – I use about 1/8 tsp, but adjust to taste. And remember, if you are using saigon/vietnemese/cassia cinnamon, then make sure to use less and adjust to taste because it’s stronger.
- Mix together the maple syrup and cinnamon in the bottom of the cup.
- Carefully peel a couple strips of the orange peel (without the white pith) and express the orange peel into the glass by twisting it to release the oils. Set aside to use as a garnish at the end.
- Juice about 1 oz of the orange juice into the glass (1/2-2/3 of the orange).
- Add 1.5 oz of black cherry juice.
- Add 4 oz of sparkling water. Stir it all together.
- Put a small orange slice into the cup, then fill the rest of the glass with crushed ice (or small cubed ice).
- Garnish with the strips of orange peel, an orange slice, and a cinnamon stick.
- Please be sure to leave a comment and rating if you try this recipe! I would love to hear your feedback and your engagement on my website means more than you know!
–
Modifications and variations
- Adjust the maple syrup to preference – you can omit it completely and just rely on the fruit juice for sweetness, or you can decrease it to 1/2 tsp for a little less sweetness. On the other hand, feel free to increase it if you’re looking for an indulgent, particularly restaurant-worthy mocktail.
- Substitute honey in place of the maple syrup if desired.
- Adjust the cherry juice and orange juice to your own personal preference.
- Add a touch of fresh lime juice for an extra burst of citrus flavor and a hint of tartness.
- If it’s summertime and you have access to fresh cherries, then feel free to use fresh cherries for this recipe! It’s winter for me right now, so I made this a winter-friendly mocktail by using cherry juice. If using fresh cherries, then just remove the pits and stems and muddle them at the bottom of the glass after mixing together the cinnamon, salt, and maple syrup. Then top off with the orange juice, sparkling water, and ice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mocktail
- Calories: 65
- Sugar: 11
- Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 0
key words: healthy mocktail, winter mocktail recipes, winter mocktail ideas, best winter mocktails, orange mocktails, citrus mocktail recipe, orange mocktail recipe, cherry mocktail recipe, orange cherry mocktail recipe, spiced orange cherry mocktail, spiced mocktail recipe, cinnamon mocktail, healthy cinnamon mocktail, healthy cherry mocktail, healthy orange mocktail, healthy winter mocktail, adrenal mocktail, adrenal mocktail recipes, no artificial alcohol mocktail recipes, mocktail recipes with real ingredients, mocktail recipes without artificial alcohol, cinnamon cherry mocktail, cinnamon orange mocktail, christmas mocktail, fun christmas mocktails, fun citrus mocktails, fun mocktail recipes, the best mocktails, homemade mocktails, real ingredient mocktails, mocktail recipes with real ingredients, mocktails with fruit juice, mocktails with real fruit
