Apple Cider, Raspberry & Tonic Mocktail
A colourful and refreshing, non-alcoholic, big-batch mocktail for any season.
In winter, I crave fresh and bright-tasting drinks that are homemade and not from a can of concentrate.
Citrus, in its many forms, is great for satisfying this craving, and in the cold months, I also rely on frozen berries for their bold flavours and vibrant colours.
In my Apple Cider, Raspberry & Tonic Mocktail recipe, I’ve paired raspberries with a few simple winter ingredients for a drink that’s as delicious as it is pretty. Get ready to stir and sip!
Many of us are cutting back on cocktails, and alcohol in general after the holidays. I even know a few people who are adhering to Dry January and that is highly commendable.
Danny and I tend to leave the drink-drinks to weekends, which is why it’s fun to stir together a pretty mocktail during the week. Enter the Apple Cider, Raspberry & Tonic Mocktail, which is so fresh tasting, you might just forget about winter outside.
I suggest you whip up this non-alcoholic drink up for your next ‘spirit-free’ happy hour or bookmark the recipe for an upcoming Valentine’s Day celebration. It makes around six or eight servings, so go ahead and invite a few people over.
Apple Cider, Raspberry & Tonic Mocktail
The raspberries in simple syrup form bring a beautiful crimson hue to this refreshing beverage, while sliced apples and lemons make for a pretty edible garnish.
If you’re growing any indoor herbs over the winter, then a sprig of rosemary or thyme would look lovely as an additional garnish.
This mocktail is on the sweeter side, so you can adjust the acidity to your taste with additional lemon juice. You could also choose a tart apple cider over a sweet one.
Fans of a traditional G&T will appreciate the tonic water mixer in this mocktail, but you could also use sparkling water or club soda.
The elements for this mocktail can be prepared in advance and kept chilled. Just before serving, simply stir it together in a pitcher or a punch bowl and float the garnish on top.
I serve the mocktail in a highball glass but it would also be pretty in vintage punch cups. Use whatever you have. Cheers!
Apple Cider, Raspberry & Tonic Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen raspberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 cups fresh-pressed apple cider
- 1/2 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 2 cups tonic water
- 1/2 lemon sliced
- 1 apple sliced
Instructions
- In a small pot, combine raspberries, sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool, then strain through a fine sieve, pressing gently to gain the raspberry pulp. This is your raspberry simple syrup. Zero Waste Tip: save the raspberry seeds to stir into chia pudding or yogourt.
- In a 2qt pitcher, stir together apple cider, raspberry simple syrup and lemon juice. Tip in the ice and stir to chill the batch mocktail.
- Add in the tonic water, stir once or twice. Garnish with slices of lemon and apple. Serve at once.
It’s also perfect for summer, nut I would substitute sugar with something else, or even used light tonic