Sleepy Girl Mocktail

This healthy Sleepy Girl Mocktail with tart cherry juice, ginger beer, apple cider vinegar (ACV), and sparkling water is my new favorite way to wind down at the end of the day. The tart cherry juice has been shown to improve sleep, and the ginger beer and ACV have gut health benefits and aid digestion. And did I mention it’s also delicious? I love the cherry-ginger beer combo. It’s very refreshing!

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Sleepy Girl Mocktail Recipe

Why tart cherry juice? Glad you asked. Tart cherry juice is rich in antioxidants and many vital nutrients. It may also be linked to several health benefits, including decreased muscle soreness, immunity support, and improved sleep quality. Below are some of the benefits that various studies have found. 

Muscle Soreness

In a 2010 study, runners who consumed 16 ounces of cherry juice in the days before and right after “a marathon experienced less muscle damage, soreness, and inflammation” and recovered faster.

Sleep

Tart cherries also contain a little “tryptophan, an amino acid that is converted into serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that can boost your mood and may also help regulate sleep. Serotonin can also eventually be converted into melatonin.”

Research has shown that taking tart cherry juice supplements increases melatonin levels and helps improve sleep duration and quality. In another study, “people with insomnia drank either 16 ounces of tart cherry juice or the same amount of a placebo juice each day for two weeks. The cherry juice increased sleep time by an average of 84 minutes!”

Brain Function and Immunity

Tart cherry juice’s high antioxidant levels “may help improve cognitive function” when drank regularly. It also contains many “nutrients that may strengthen the immune system.”

🍹Sleepy Girl Mocktail Ingredients 

Find all of the mocktail ingredients below in my Amazon storefront!

• Tart Cherry Juice: I prefer organic cherry juice with no added sugar or preservatives. I buy Stanton Orchards Tart Cherry Concentrate from Amazon since it has only one ingredient. I mix one ounce of the concentrate with four ounces of water to make juice. 
• Ginger Beer: Betty Buzz Ginger Beer is my favorite since it uses real ginger juice and no artificial ingredients. If you can’t find Betty, look for one with clean ingredients.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Also known as “ACV” for short. My go-to brand is the raw, unfiltered one from Bragg.
• Sparkling Water: Top off your drink with your favorite bubbly water. 
• Pomegranate Seeds: The pomegranates aren’t necessary but are pretty and fun!

👩‍🍳 How to Make a Sleepy Girl Mocktail

This sleepy girl mocktail without magnesium is so easy to make! 

1. Pour the cherry juice, ginger beer, and ACV into an ice-filled glass.
2. Top the glass with sparkling water and garnish with pomegranate seeds. 

🪄 Tips and Tricks

• Fancy Glass: For a fun nighttime drink, serve this zero-proof cocktail in a fancy glass, like a wine glass or rocks glass. 

🗒 Variations

• Citrus: Add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice.
• Magnesium: Some sleepy girl mocktail recipes call for magnesium to get double the sleep benefits. Feel free to add magnesium powder to this drink.

🗒 Substitutions 

• Cherry Juice: If you don’t buy the concentrate from Amazon, any juice without added sugar, like Whole Foods’ Tart Cherry Juice, will work.
• Fruit Juice: If you’re not a fan of cherry juice, try kiwi juice. Studies have shown it can improve sleep quality and quantity.
• Sparkling Water: Use flavored sparkling water, like lime or lemon, to switch up the flavors.
• Fruit: Garnish with another fruit, like a lemon slice or a few raspberries.

👝 How to Store

This zero-proof cocktail is best consumed right after mixing, so it’s cold and fizzy. And to get the sleep benefits, it’s best to drink it all at once. If you don’t finish it, you can refrigerate it and drink it the next day. 

🤔 Common Questions