This Orange Moscow Mule Mocktail is delicious, perfect if you want a grown up adult cocktail without the alcohol.

Orange Moscow Mule Mocktail
A Moscow mule is a cocktail traditionally made with vodka, spicy ginger beer served in a copper mug, which takes on the cold temperature of the liquid. It’s delicious and easy to make into a mocktail since you don’t really taste the vodka. Here I used Cara Cara oranges from California in place of lime, because they are in season and so delicious!! They turned out wonderful – I’ve been drinking them all month!
Anyone doing a dry challenge? I love my cocktails but I also love to take a break from time to time. It can be tough to find non alcoholic cocktails that have complex flavors and feel grown up. Which is why I love these Orange Moscow Mules, the spicy ginger beer adds that zing you normally get, and since vodka is flavorless you really don’t miss it. The best part, no hangover the next day!
And if you’re like me and often forget to get your serving of fruit in each day, this mocktail is perfect as a single Cara Cara orange provides 100% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C.
Cara Cara Oranges from California
Cara Cara oranges offer an exceptionally sweet flavor and a delightful tropical aroma. While they look like classic Navel oranges from the outside, they are slightly less acidic and their seedless interior is a rich pink hue due to the natural presence of the antioxidant, lycopene. Not only are California-grown Cara Cara oranges a delectably sweet addition to any recipe, they also add a gorgeous pop of rich pink color when segmented into a salad or are freshly squeezed into a cocktail. This outstanding orange is in season December through May.
What to look for when buying and storing oranges
- When shopping for Cara Cara oranges, or any citrus for that matter, choose fruit that smells fresh and feels heavy for its size. That’s a sure sign it’s going to be juicy!
- Leftover or cut oranges should be refrigerated within 2 hours.
- Keep your citrus fresh longer—up to three weeks–by storing it in the refrigerator at a temperature below 42 degrees.
Why I like to go dry for a month?
- I don’t want the empty calories.
- I sleep so much better.
- No hangover the next day, which means more energy to exercise.
- Save money
That being said, if you want to have a cocktail I won’t judge! You can add 1 to 2 ounces of vodka to this drink. I will be sharing more mocktail recipes here. If you have requests please let me know in the comments! Check out these Spicy Zero Proof Palomas I shared last week.
More Mocktail Recipes You Will Love
Orange Moscow Mule Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 Cara Cara orange, juice of
- 1 cup ice
- 6.8 oz bottle light ginger beer, I love Fever Tree Refreshingly Light
- fresh mint leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Slice the orange in quarters, then cut 2 to 3 slices for garnish and set aside. Juice the rest of the orange and place it in a copper mug (or any glass). Fill the glass with ice to the top. Add the ginger beer and garnish with orange slices and mint leaves.
Last Step:
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by California Oranges. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Skinnytaste possible. All thoughts are my own. Photo credit: Erin Alvarez
This is now my go to evening “drink.” My husband and I can’t get enough of it. I feel like I’m on the beaches of Hawaii and can come down from a hard day. Go make it and you won’t regret using calories or points on this drink. Great way to end dinner. Yum! Please, post more mocktails for the future. Thanks Gina!
This is soooooo good! Enjoying now and I wish I could post a pic along with it because it’s as cute as it is delicious!
Awesome!
I loved this mocktail! What a delicious spin on a Moscow Mule. Perfect for this pregnant mama! Thank you, Gina!
This was a perfect sweet drink to end dinner with. Satisfied that dessert craving.
I decided to go dry for the month of February. The first week was kind of hard but I’m really kind of loving it. Mocktail recipes, especially this one will help me make better decisions. Thanks for sharing!
Made this tonight…OMG-so good and refreshing…
This looks so good. Love a mule. Maybe some orange bitters on top. Have never heard of these oranges but will keep an eye on out for them. They’re really a pretty color. Just a question – we love Fever Tree Refreshingly Light but only know of the Tonic – is there a ginger beer too? Just want to know what to look for.
Never mind. I see there is a ginger beer too. Can’t wait to try it as we love the tonic so much.
Isn’t ginger beer alcoholic?
No.
No.
It isn’t. It’s just a soda/pop. Sort of like ginger ale but more “gingery” and a bit less sweet b
Nope….same theory as root beer.
There are alcoholic ginger beers. They won’t be in the same section of the recommended ginger beer. just check the labeling.
I know, this was a surprise to me too!!! 🙂
I’m pregnant so some kind of sprizter mock tails would be yummy!!
Thank you. Always looking for non alcohol alternatives.
Thanks for the lesson on citrus fruits !
This is the PERFECT mocktail! Cara Cara’s are the best, I weep when the season is over! The combo w/ginger beer is brilliant! Cheers!
Thank you so much for adding mock tails to your recipes, Gina! I love your cookbooks and recipes. I’m not drinking and was trying to figure out a SuperBowl mock tail and this will be it!
Thank you for this recipe! We don’t drink and this was such a fun drink for us to try tonight. A good treat without just drinking a soda. I didn’t have mint leaves though so I used a drop of wintergreen essential oil and it was awesome.