These Christmas Ice Cubes are made with just 4 ingredients and are such a festive way to take your holiday cocktail or mocktail to the next level! You can prep them in advance as a fun touch for holiday parties. All you have to do when it comes time to serve is add your beverage of choice on top. The best part is that as the ice melts, the flavors will infuse into your holiday drink!
As a dietitian, I love finding creative ways to use fresh ingredients for the holiday season! I had leftover oranges from making my Cranberry Orange Granola and when I saw people online using orange slices and rosemary to make cocktail ice cubes, I knew I had to try it!
These festive ice cubes with pomegranate seeds & juice, oranges, and sprigs of rosemary are a flavorful way to take your sparkling water or holiday drinks from basic to beautiful with a pop of color & extra flavor!
This was inspired by my Apple Pie Mocktail that I love to make at the holidays. I wanted an easy way to make something similar to serve at a holiday party I threw for my friends this year and these Christmas ice cubes were a huge hit. I served them with a variety of beverages like Prosecco, orange juice, and sparkling water for everyone to make their own spin on a holiday cocktail!
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Key Ingredients and Substitutions
These Christmas Ice Cubes are made with simple ingredients. Below is the list of ingredients. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and complete recipe.
- Pomegranate Seeds - pomegranates aren't just gorgeous in color. They also add antioxidants and contain dietary fiber for gut health. The small amount used in these ice cubes honestly won't add much fiber to your day, but you can eat the leftover pomegranate seeds in Greek yogurt or on their own for a healthy snack!
- Oranges - oranges add a nice citrus flavor to these Christmas ice cubes. They also add some color and vitamin C. Feel free to substitute them with lemon or lime instead.
- Pomegranate Juice - just like pomegranates contain antioxidants, pomegranate juice is high in powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Look for pomegranate juice without added sugar. If you can't find pomegranate juice, you can use orange juice or cranberry juice instead! I've even tried a half and half combo of orange juice and pomegranate juice and they turned out delicious.
- Rosemary Sprigs - to add a holiday flavor and pop of green color. Other fresh herbs that work are thyme, mint, or even basil.
How to Make Christmas Ice Cubes
Below is a summary of the steps for how to make this holiday ice cubes recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Add a layer of pomegranate seeds to the bottom of your ice cube trays.
- Step 2: Top the pomegranates with pomegranate juice or your favorite fruit juice. Add a sprig of rosemary.
- Step 3: Add a small slice of orange to each ice cube.
- Step 4: Freeze for at least 4 hours before either transferring to a freezer-safe bag or serving in a nice glass with your beverage of choice on top.
Hint: You will need a silicone ice mold for this recipe. This is the one I use and I love it!
Dietitian Tip
Add these ice cubes to a hot glass of your favorite tea! It's a win-win to cool down your tea and also turn it into a festive and flavorful beverage!
Video of How to Make Christmas Ice Cubes
Here's a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Variations
The great thing about making Holiday Ice Cubes at home is you can customize them to your taste. Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative!
- Cranberry Ice Cubes - replace the pomegranate seeds with fresh cranberries and the pomegranate juice with cranberry juice if you prefer a flavored ice cube that's a bit less sweet!
- Pomegranate Mint - substitute the rosemary with fresh mint leaves if you can't find fresh rosemary or don't like the taste of it.
How to Serve Christmas Ice Cubes
Once you've made a batch of these holiday pomegranate ice cubes, you can use them in so many different ways.
- Holiday Pomegranate Mimosas - add a splash of orange juice and top it with champagne for holiday gatherings!
- Christmas Punch - add fresh orange juice or apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and soda water to turn it into a punch!
- Christmas Tea - add these ice cubes to a cup of hot water or your favorite tea and let the flavors infuse for a perfect way to end the day with a little something special during the Christmas season.
- Holiday Mocktail - add your favorite fruit juice and sparkling water or club soda on top for a delicious mocktail during the holiday season.
Storage
Freezer - store these Christmas ice cubes for up to 1 month in the freezer. You can store them in your ice cube trays or once they are frozen, add them to a freezer-safe bag or container.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to use a silicone ice mold for this recipe. You can find the one I use here.
- For best results, use fresh pomegranate and oranges.
- Slice your orange into small triangular pieces to add to the ice cubes.
- Fill the ice molds very carefully and let them freeze completely before trying to remove them from the mold.
- Use ice trays with a fun shape for a creative spin on this recipe.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, these Christmas ice cubes do provide some important nutrients including antioxidants, vitamin C, and vitamin K. They contain less added sugars and calories than many holiday drinks.
You definitely can but if you do so, I would suggest adding a splash of juice to your beverage. I like to use the juice to make the ice cubes because it won't water down my drink. Instead it will make the drink even tastier as you drink it.
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📖 Recipe
Christmas Ice Cubes with Pomegranates, Festive DIY
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 cups pomegranate juice more as needed to fill the molds
- ½ a large orange, cut into thin triangular pieces
- a few sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Add a layer of pomegranate seeds to the bottom of your ice cube trays.
- Top the pomegranates with pomegranate juice or your favorite fruit juice.
- Add a small sprig of rosemary and a small slice of orange to each ice cube.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours before either transferring to a freezer-safe bag or serving.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to use a silicone ice mold for this recipe. You can find the one I use here.
- For best results, use fresh pomegranate and oranges.
- Slice your orange into small triangular pieces to add to the ice cubes.
- Fill the ice molds very carefully and let them freeze completely before trying to remove them from the mold.
- Use ice trays with a fun shape for a creative spin on this recipe.
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