This festive blood orange mocktail recipe is made using freshly squeezed blood orange juice, sparkling water and homemade thyme simple syrup. It's a tart and refreshing beverage that is fun and enjoyable for non-drinkers of all ages.
This blood orange mocktail uses fresh ingredients that are in peak season throughout the Winter and early Spring seasons. It's a beautiful and delicious drink that boasts a touch of sophistication with notes of fresh thyme.
This easy recipe is perfect for Dry January, baby showers and any time you need a zesty little refreshment. For another tasty mocktail, try our Virgin Painkiller recipe.
For a perfect food pairing, serve this drink with our Citrus Salad with Fennel, Pistachios & Poppyseed Dressing.
Why You'll Love This Drink
- Easy - Simple to make and drink.
- Balanced Flavors - Tart and sweet with a touch of savory thyme and bubbles!
- Bloody Gorgeous! - That color! Those bubbles! A pretty garnish! This mocktail is a beauty!op-box
- Healthy - This fruity beverage is low in calories, full of antioxidants and boasts a full days dose of Vitamin C.
- Fun for All Ages - This booze-free spritz is safe for the kids and appealing to the adults.
Ingredients
This drink is made from freshly-squeezed blood orange juice, homemade thyme simple syrup and a splash of sparkling water.
All About Blood Oranges (FAQs)
Blood oranges are a type of Sicilian citrus fruit made from crossing a pomelo and a tangerine. On the outside, they don't look all that different to a typical navel orange. However, once you cut inside, you will reveal a thick skinned fruit with crimson colored flesh and juice. The color comes from high levels of anthocyanin, an antioxidant that produces rich pigments.
Blood oranges are both sweet and tart. Their flavor is similar to navel oranges with notes of flowers and tart raspberries.
Yes! Blood oranges are highly nutritious and support immune system functions with high level of Vitamin C. They are also high in fiber, potassium, Vitamin B and several antioxidants. Blood oranges are also low in calories and linked to supporting healthy pregnancies.
How To Make This Drink
1. Start by making our homemade thyme simple syrup. The syrup recipe is included in the recipe card below, but also has its' own thyme syrup post with step by step photo instructions and other serving suggestions.
2. Squeeze 4 ounces (a ½ Cup) of blood orange juice per drink (about 2 - 3 blood oranges). I recommend tasting the juice to see how sweet or tart it is.
3. Add the juice to a cocktail shaker. The add ¾ ounce of thyme simple syrup. (If the juice is very tart, or if you prefer a sweeter drink, you may want to increase the syrup to a full ounce.)
4. Top with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour the shaken juice over fresh ice cubes in a large fancy glass. We used a big red wine glass. Top with 2 ounces of soda water and stir gently to combine without loosing too many bubbles!
5. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and a sprig of fresh thyme. Cheers!
Recipe
Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail with Thyme
ADJUST SERVINGS
Special Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker (or Mason Jar)
- 1 Hawthorne Cocktail Strainer
Ingredients
Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail (1 Mocktail)
- 4 ounces blood orange juice freshly squeezed
- ¾ ounce thyme simple syrup
- 2 ounces sparkling water mineral water, club soda or seltzer
- Ice as needed for shaking and serving
- Blood orange slice and a sprig of thyme optional garnish
Thyme Simple Syrup (About 20 Mocktails)
- ½ ounce fresh thyme loosely bundled with kitchen twine**
- 1 Cup granulated sugar
- 1 Cup water plus more for blanching
Instructions
Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail
- In a cocktail shaker (or mason jar) combine blood orange juice and thyme simple syrup. Top with ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds or until ice cold.
- Pour shaken juice over a glass filled with ice. Top with soda water and stir gently. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and fresh thyme, as desired. Cheers!
Thyme Simple Syrup
- In a small pot, bring some water to a boil. Remove from heat, add thyme and blanch for 30 seconds. Remove thyme and set aside. Discard the blanching water and rinse the pot.
- Bring 1 Cup water and 1 Cup sugar to a simmer. Stir until sugar is fully dissolved and the syrup is clear. Add blanched thyme and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Steep syrup in the refrigerator for 12 - 48 hours. When ready to use, discard the thyme sprigs.Thyme syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 - 2 weeks.
* A Note About Salt
Unless otherwise noted, all recipes on The Sage Apron are developed using Diamond Crystal Kosher salt. It is a great all-purpose salt for cooking and baking. If using table salt, reduce quantities by about half.
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