This spiced orange ginger ale mocktail is a refreshing chilled drink to enjoy this winter. The fizzy bubbles, citrus, and spice make this drink nice for the whole family.
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This refreshing citrus mocktail has a hint of ginger and a kick of cinnamon and cloves making it perfectly comforting in every sip. Whip up this festive mocktail recipe all winter long and don't forget to enjoy it during the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Seasonal drinks like this Peppermint Iced Coffee, Homemade Pumpkin Spice Creamer, and Butterfingers Hot Chocolate are great all season long, but when you want something bubbly and special, this mocktail really hits the spot.
Spiced Orange Ginger Ale Mocktail is perfect for parties too!
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's family-friendly. Mixing up drinks is fun, but it always gets better when you make it so that the whole family can join in on the fun. Mocktails are a great non-alcoholic drink that everyone can enjoy together, and if you want another one to try, check out our Blue Lagoon Mocktail.
- Minimal ingredients. You won't need much to pull this recipe together, which is great for meal planning on a budget.
- It's bubbly and fun! You can adjust the spices in your glass to make it more or less flavorful, but enjoying a fizzy ginger ale during the holidays is always a festive and enjoyable experience.
🛒 Ingredients
Ginger Ale- This is the base of the drink and is what gives us a bubbly consistency.
Orange Slices- For a fresh citrus taste in every glass. They can also be used as garnish too!
Star Anise- These look pretty and will give us some great seasonal flavor too.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Soda Swap: Instead of ginger ale, you can use other clear soda varieties like Sprite. Even lemonade or Fresca would be delicious substitutes.
Kid-Friendly Option: For kid's drinks, omit the garnishes to avoid any worries about consuming cloves or cinnamon sticks. Simply serve them orange slices and ginger ale for a kid-friendly version.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Choose Store Brand Ginger Ale. Generic soda works just as well. Once it is poured and flavored with spices, no one will notice the difference.
Skip the Fancy Garnishes. Star anise and cinnamon sticks are optional. If you are trying to save money, just use clove-studded oranges for flavor and visual appeal.
Make it Pitcher Style for Parties. Buying one liter of ginger ale and slicing a few oranges goes much further than making individual glasses. This reduces cost per serving and stretches ingredients.
🥄 Instructions for Spiced Orange Ginger Ale Mocktail
Step 1: Take a whole orange and cut it into slices about ¼ of an inch thick or thinner.
Step 2: Press your whole cloves into the orange slices. Arrange them in the slices nicely spaced.
Step 3: Fill half of your drinking glass with ice cubes.
Step 4: Place the clove studded orange slice into the glass, pressed up against the sides if the glass is clear. If the glass isn't clear you can just lay them on top of the ice.
Step 5: Add in more ice cubes.
Step 6: Pour in your ginger ale until the glass is full.
Step 7: Garnish the drink with a star anise and two cinnamon sticks.
Enjoy while the drink is cold and fresh.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Chill Everything First. Cold ginger ale and pre-chilled glasses help keep the drink fizzy longer.
- Control Spice Strength. Cloves and star anise get stronger the longer they sit. Remove them after a few minutes if you prefer a lighter flavor.
- Add Ice Slowly to Protect Bubbles. Pouring over ice too quickly can flatten the drink. Add the soda gently down the side of the glass.
- Serve Immediately. This mocktail loses carbonation as it sits. Assemble right before serving for the best fizz.
❄️ Make Ahead
Make Ahead. Prep the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise up to one day in advance. Keep refrigerated and assemble drinks right before serving.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve this spiced orange ginger ale mocktail with holiday charcuterie boards, cheese and crackers, breakfast pastries, cinnamon rolls, or cookies. It also pairs well with brunch menus, roasted turkey, ham dinners, or simple appetizer spreads during parties.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
A mocktail is a drink similar to alcoholic beverages but without any actual alcohol. This spiced ginger drink is very similar to a few popular cocktails, but because it is made without any alcohol they are "mocktails" and therefore safe for anyone to consume. Think of them as a flavored soda/beverage.
You can make this drink scaled up for a pitcher or punch bowl if desired. Scaling the recipe down to fit a smaller glass may be a little more tricky as you'll need to cut the orange slices to fit your glass.
I do not recommend making this drink too far in advance. You want to make it just before serving so that the drink doesn't become flat. You can prep the orange slices in advance and have them ready so all you need to do is assemble your drinking glasses.
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🐝 If you tried this Spiced Orange Ginger Ale Mocktail, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Spiced Orange Ginger Ale Mocktail
Ingredients
- 2 orange slices, cut ¼-inch thick - ($0.22)
- 5 whole cloves - ($0.10)
- ice cubes - ($0.00)
- 1 can (12 ounces) ginger ale - ($0.58)
- 1 star anise - ($0.08)
- 2 cinnamon sticks - ($0.22)
Instructions
- Prep. Cut a whole orange into slices about ¼ inch thick. Press the cloves evenly into the orange slices.
- Build the glass. Fill a clear drinking glass halfway with ice. Press a clove-studded orange slice against the inside of the glass. If using an opaque glass, place the slice directly on the ice.
- Fill. Add more ice, then pour in the ginger ale until the glass is full.
- Garnish and serve. Garnish with a star anise and two cinnamon sticks. Serve immediately while cold and fizzy.
Notes
- Soda swaps. Ginger ale can be replaced with other clear sodas like lemon-lime soda.
- Kid-friendly option. Omit whole spice garnishes to avoid accidental chewing.
- Make ahead. Prep orange slices in advance and assemble just before serving to prevent the drink from going flat.
- Scaling. Easily doubled or tripled for pitchers or punch bowls; best assembled fresh for individual glasses.
Nutritional Information
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