Imagine making a healthy drink at home that has sophisticated cocktail bar energy and aims to be anti-inflammatory and heart-healthy. This dark cherry black pepper elixir mocktail doesn’t just take the alcohol out, but adds in science-backed functional health benefits for cardiovascular health and longevity. There are a lot of strong flavors going on in this healthy mocktail, and you can’t taste them individually, but they blend together perfectly into something that’s balanced, nuanced, and unexpected but somehow just right—kind of like a great relationship. That makes this a sweet, intentional drink recipe for your next date night in!

Judging by this mocktail recipe’s title, it’s clear there are some surprising ingredients, like black peppercorn. Another one you might not’ve seen coming is coffee (I used decaf). Last year, I had Dr. William Li on the Liz Moody Podcast who shared some surprising health benefits about coffee (which, as someone who’s not a fan of coffee, I challenged myself to drink more of). Dr. Li is an internationally renowned Harvard-trained medical doctor, researcher, and president and a founder of the Angiogenesis Foundation. His groundbreaking work has impacted more than seventy diseases including cancer, diabetes, blindness, and heart disease. On the episode, he shares how coffee is actually one of the best foods to help prevent cancer, inflammation, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and more. So, I took advantage of coffee’s complex flavors to be a base for this mocktail recipe! Paired with tartness from the dark cherry juice and the richness of cacao powder, it is absolutely delicious.

What’s in this cherry mocktail recipe?

I’ve been on a bit of a cherry kick recently, as you might remember from my healthy frozen amaretto cherry mocktail. Cherries aside, the ingredients inside this mocktail are utterly delicious together. Plus, this recipe’s designed to bring functional health benefits to your nights.

• Black peppercorns: The piperine in black pepper has notable anti-inflammatory properties.
• Strongly brewed coffee (you can use decaf!): It’s loaded with antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and melanoidins which help combat free radicals. Some studies also show that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of stroke and heart failure.
• Dark cherry juice: Cherry juice is a natural source of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
• Maple syrup: It adds a touch of natural sweetness that’s lower in glycemic index with a quasi-caramel flavor.
• Vanilla and almond extracts: They bring a blend of nutty and sweet flavors to this healthy mocktail.
• Cacao powder: The flavonoids in cacao can help improve heart health by increasing nitric oxide levels in the blood, which improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure. It’s also packed with antioxidants, like flavonoids, which help reduce inflammation.
• Aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas): This is like the plant-based, vegan alternative to using egg whites in a mocktail. Shaking it into the mocktail at the end gives the drink that creamy, frothy top.

How to make a dark cherry black pepper elixir

Making this evening mocktail for date night couldn’t be easier. In fact, you can do it in just three, easy steps:

1. Brew coffee. Let it come to room temperature or pop it in the fridge briefly.
2. Steep peppercorns to make ‘tea’. Add black peppercorns to a liquid measuring cup, then crush them a bit with a wooden spoon or muddler. Add half a cup of boiling water to the peppercorns and let it steep for at least 10 minutes. Then, strain it like tea.
3. Make the dark cherry base. Add the cherry juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, cacao, and almond extract, and aquafaba to a large jar with a lid. Add the coffee and black peppercorn tea into the jar.
4. Shake it up. First, shake this WITHOUT the ice (it’s called a dry shake which helps produce more body) and then add ice and shake again. Strain into two cocktail glasses and top with any remaining foam. Enjoy!

More unique mocktail recipes to try:

Rosemary Orange Spritz

Creamy Olive Oil Citrus Thyme Cooler

Turmeric Ginger Grapefruit Spritz

White Tea Paloma

Dark Cherry Black Pepper Elixir

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• Author: Liz Moody
• Yield: 2 1x

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Ingredients

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• 2 tbsp black peppercorns
• 2 tbsp strongly brewed coffee (you can use decaf!)
• 1/2 cup dark cherry juice
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp cacao powder
• 2 tbsp aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas)

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Instructions

1. Brew coffee. Let it come to room temperature or pop it in the fridge while you make the rest of the mocktail. 
2. Make a peppercorn tea. Add the black peppercorns to a liquid measuring cup, then crush them a bit with a wooden spoon or muddler. Add 1/2 cup boiling water and let it steep for at least 10 minutes. Then, strain the tea. 
3. Meanwhile, add the cherry juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, cacao, and almond extract, and aquafaba to a large jar with a lid. Make sure the coffee and black pepper tea are at least room temperature before adding coffee and strained black pepper tea into the jar.
4. First, shake this WITHOUT the ice (it’s called a dry shake which helps produce more body) and then add ice and shake again. Strain into two glasses and top with any remaining foam. Enjoy!