This sparkling cherry mocktail combines fresh sweet cherries, mint leaves and sparkling water. It's a delicious sweet smash mocktail that's perfect for summer drinks and comes together in just 5 minutes!
Much like my popular peach mocktail and blueberry mocktail, this recipe makes the most of sweet summer seasonal produce! We mash (or smash!) fresh cherries so they release their juices and combine with mint for lots of flavor.
It's an easy no cook summer mocktail, with just a few ingredients and no fancy kitchen equipment is needed. So add this sweet cherry mocktail to your next party menu!
Have a peek at my elderflower fizz mocktail for another no-cook mocktail for summer!
This recipe was updated on April 8, 2026 with slight amendments to the recipe, new photos and recipe tips.
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🍒 Ingredients
All the ingredients, and their quantities, are in the recipe card below.
- Cherries - we use fresh sweet cherries (rather than tart cherry juice) for this mocktail. You can also use frozen cherries, just make sure to thaw them fully first.
- Mint leaves - use fresh not dried of course!
- Sparkling water - I suggest using a plain sparkling water rather than already flavored or heavily mineralised as that will take away from the sweet cherry taste.
📖 Swaps and variations
Add lime juice. Although I've made this a citrus-free mocktail so it is more suitable for my low histamine readers, you can add lime juice if it works for you.
🔪 How to Make Cherry Mocktails
Making a homemade cherry drink is very easy, with just a handful of ingredients. You can use simple kitchen equipment too!
All the instructions are set out in the recipe card below, but these step by step photos should help guide you.
Step 1: Prep the cherries
Use a cherry pitter (or a straw) to remove the stone from the cherries. Cut roughly into quarters (image 1).
Step 2: Muddle the cherries
Add the cherries and fresh mint leaves to a glass and use a muddler (or a wooden spoon) to press, mash and 'smash' the cherries so they break down and release their juices (image 2).
Step 3: Add ice
Tip ice cubes into your glasses (image 3).
Step 4: Add sparkling water
Top the glass with sparkling water, give it a stir, and garnish with fresh mint leaves and a cherry! (image 4).
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- Use ripe cherries. Make sure your cherries are ripe, so they are soft enough to muddle and break down.
- Thaw frozen cherries. If using frozen cherries, it's best to allow them to thaw for around an hour before use so they are soft.
- Stir the mocktail before serving. This helps the cherry juice to combine with the sparkling water.
- Use a plain sparkling water. On a recipe test I used a highly mineralised water and it meant I couldn't taste the sweet cherries as much.
📋 Frequently asked questions
You can use either fresh or frozen fruit to make cherry mocktails, but it's best to allow frozen fruit to thaw before use.
A sturdy wooden spoon is a good substitute for a muddler when making mocktails.
Tart cherry juice and fresh sweet cherries can both be used to make a mocktail.
🍹 More Mocktails
Whether it's for summer parties or holiday celebrations, find lots of inspiration on my mocktails page, including my cantaloupe mocktail, passion fruit mocktail and cranberry juice mocktail. Some recent recipes:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And please do leave a star rating ⭐ if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Cherry Mocktail (3 Ingredients)
Equipment
- Muddler or wooden spoon
- Cherry stone pitter or straw
Ingredients
- 12 cherries fresh or frozen (thawed)
- 4 mint leaves
- sparkling water
- ice
Instructions
- Use a cherry pitter or straw to remove the stones from the cherries. Slice the cherries into quarters (or smaller if the cherries are larger in size).
- Add the cherries and the mint leaves to your glasses. Use a muddler or wooden spoon to mash the cherries so they release their juices and break down into small pieces.
- Tip ice cubes into your glasses, then top with sparkling water. Garnish with a fresh cherry and mint leaves and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh ripe cherries so they break down and release their juices. Under-ripe cherries won't be as soft.
- Frozen cherries can also be used, just be sure to thaw them before use.
- Nutritional information is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- cherries score 0, with a note, 'controversial'. As always, only use if you know you tolerate well.
- sparkling water isn't rated on the list.
Nelia says
Thank you you are saving me!
Claire says
Glad you like the drink!