Cherry Limeade Sparkling Mocktail

Hey friend — want a party-ready mocktail that looks like you tried way harder than you actually did? Meet the Cherry Limeade Sparkling Mocktail: bright, fizzy, slightly tart, and suspiciously easy to make. This is the kind of drink that gets photographed more than your aunt’s layered trifle at family gatherings.

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings: 1

Course: Drinks, Mocktail

Cuisine: American

Calories: 81

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

1/4 cup frozen cherries dark, sweet or red tart
Juice of 1/2 fresh lime about 1 tablespoon
2 tbsp R. W. Knudsen Just Tart Cherry Juice unsweetened (see notes)
Ice crushed or cubed — crushed looks prettier
1 can Spindrift Sparkling Water Lime, Raspberry Lime, or Nojito – Lime & Mint
Fresh mint for garnish
Lime wedge for garnish
Bold tip: use frozen cherries — they chill and slightly dilute the drink in a tasty way while keeping that gorgeous color.

Equipment

You don’t need a home bar to rock this recipe. Keep it simple:
Tall glass (collins or highball)
Muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon)
Measuring spoons (for the cherry juice)
Citrus juicer (optional, but makes lime life easier)
Ice crusher (optional — crushed ice looks and drinks better)
Cocktail spoon or stirrer
That’s it. See? No special station required.

Method

Muddle the base.
Place the frozen cherries, lime juice, and tart cherry juice into your tall glass. Muddle slightly to crush the cherries and release juices. Don’t turn it into baby food; just bruise enough to get color and flavor.
Add the ice.
Fill the glass with crushed ice to the top. Crushed ice chills faster and makes the drink extra refreshing.
Top with sparkle.
Pour the can of sparkling water over the ice. Give it a gentle stir so the cherry and lime mix with the bubbles. You want fizz, not a flat sadness — so stir gently.
Garnish and serve.
Tuck a sprig of mint and a lime wedge on the rim. Snap a picture (IMO the garnish is the part that gets all th
That 2 tablespoons of tart cherry juice gives depth without making the drink syrupy. If you want more color, add a splash more, but taste as you go.
The original recipe calls out a specific sparkling water brand. I prefer one that uses real fruit for flavor because it tastes brighter and cleaner. Use whatever you like, but if you care about real-fruit flavor, try the one recommended below.
(Yes, I just said brand preferences out loud. Sue me — we all have them.)

Notes

Nutrition & calories (estimated)

You asked for calories — here’s a clear, honest estimate based on common ingredient values. Remember, brands and flavors change numbers, so treat this as a reasonable estimate.

Estimated calories per single serving (the recipe above): ~81 kcal

How I arrive at that total (estimates):

1/4 cup frozen cherries: ~30 kcal
Juice of 1/2 lime: ~6 kcal
2 tbsp tart cherry juice (unsweetened): ~20 kcal
1 can sparkling water (real fruit flavored): ~25 kcal

Total: ~81 kcal per serving. Depending on the sparkling water flavor and exact juice brand, the drink can range roughly 60–100 kcal. Want it even lower? Use plain sparkling water and skip the tart cherry juice — you’ll drop it to about 40–50 kcal.