Blood Orange Vanilla Spritzer

With flavors reminiscent of an orange cream soda, this Blood Orange Vanilla Spritzer is deliciously creamy, orange-y, and refreshing! It's also zero-proof, making it the perfect mocktail for morning, afternoon, and evening.

Ever wonder why an orange cream soda contains no cream? Me too.

It turns out the creamy taste in the soda comes courtesy of added vanilla. The flavor is associated with vanilla ice cream. And that popular childhood frozen treat, Orange Creamsicles!

I had to laugh when I also discovered that cream sodas became popular as an alternative to beer and other alcohol. The late 19th-century/early 20th-century temperance movement had its share of creative non-alcohol hacks to encourage the moderation, then later, the abstinence from alcohol.

Now, why did I laugh? Because now that I am firmly in my middle-aged years, I too moderate and sometimes abstain from alcohol. My gut and my sleep schedule benefit when I do!

This lovely mocktail is a pretty, fizzy, fancy drink that anyone can enjoy at any age.

Lessons Learned

• Prior to making this zero-proof drinkie, you'll want to make a quick blood orange simple syrup. It is incredibly easy and yields enough for several drinks!
• Don't have access to blood oranges? Valencia or navel oranges work, too. They just won't have the same color.

Hat Tips

Many thanks to Olive and Mango's blood orange vodka sparkler recipe that I modified into a mocktail.

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