The 3-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Mocktail I’m Drinking All January Long

Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

After all of the holiday parties and New Year’s toasts, January is a time for slowing down. I have several friends that, after the indulgence of the end of the year, cut out all alcohol and celebrate Dry January. They use it as a time to reset and ease back into normal life.

While I don’t participate in Dry January, I do tend to slow it down at the start of the new year. Plus, I like to accommodate any guests that don’t drink whether they’re taking a break, non-drinkers all year long, or underage.

While I keep a few different sparkling waters stocked, it’s nice to be able to offer something that’s cocktail-level, especially if you’ve got a mix of drinkers and non-drinkers. Don’t shortchange your no-alcohol friends—they deserve a drink just as festive as the next person!

My latest mocktail obsession comes courtesy of Trader Joe’s. It’s just three simple ingredients and it’ll please adults and kids alike. I tend to mix myself up a glass of this Cranberry Ginger Sparkler after work and enjoy it with a handful of spiced nuts. Bliss!

Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

How To Make My Trader Joe’s Cranberry Ginger Sparkler

To make one drink, you’ll need:

• 2 lime wedges
• Ice
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) Trader Joe’s 100% Cranberry Juice
• 6 ounces (3/4 cup) Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Brew

Squeeze one lime wedge into a rocks or highball glass. Fill 2/3 full with ice, preferably crushed. Top with the cranberry juice and ginger beer. Garnish with the other lime wedge and serve.

Play With the Recipe

For me, this simple recipe strikes the ideal balance between tart, sweet, and fizzy. It’s just plain delicious. You can easily adjust the ratios to suit your tastes and find the perfect blend.

This mocktail is equally good with Trader Joe’s 100% Cherry Juice and you’ll still achieve a nice red color. For a drier and less sweet non-alcoholic drink, swap up to half of the ginger beer for plain sparkling water.

If you’re not taking a break from alcohol, then you can spike this drink with two ounces of vodka or white rum. Blanco tequila is also a good choice.

Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

Other No-Alcohol Options at Trader Joe’s

Zero-proof, non-soda beverages have risen in popularity over the last few years, leaving us with far more options than ever before. Trader Joe’s has been adding some festive drinks to their shelves that make great no-alcohol sippers. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Sparkling White Tea with Pomegranate Juice: The packaging and the cans are cute as a button, so anyone holding one of these fit right into the stylish seltzer crowd. The flavor is sophisticated but refreshing and the bubbles make it fun to drink.
• Sparkling Coconut Water with Yuzu: A tasty combination of smooth, almost soft coconut water, bright and tangy yuzu, and fizz. It feels like a treat and is especially good garnished with a squeeze of fresh lime.
• Sparkling Pomegranate Punch Beverage: While the website says it’s not available, there were still some packs of this seasonal sipper at my local TJ’s mere days ago. If you spot any during your next trip, pick up a package. This one is also better with a squeeze of fresh citrus.
• Sparkling Green Tea with Pineapple: You can’t beat the combo of green tea and fresh pineapple. This perfectly balanced drink is ultra-refreshing.

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