1. Put the maple syrup into a small glass cup. 
2. 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.
3. Mix together the maple syrup and cinnamon in the bottom of the cup.
4. 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.
5. Juice about 1 oz of the orange juice into the glass (1/2-2/3 of the orange).
6. Add 1.5 oz of black cherry juice.
7. Add 4 oz of sparkling water. Stir it all together.
8. Put a small orange slice into the cup, then fill the rest of the glass with crushed ice (or small cubed ice).
9. Garnish with the strips of orange peel, an orange slice, and a cinnamon stick.
10. 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!

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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.