food
By Katherine Gillen
•
Published Jan 23, 2023
Additional reporting by
Marissa Wu
Mocktails: Great in theory, but more often than not, they’re just fruit juice and seltzer masquerading as booze in a punch bowl. Just because you’re not drinking alcohol doesn’t mean you should settle for something straight from a plastic jug (hi, fruit punch). From decidedly grown-up Shirley Temples to shrubs, tonics, muddles and more, here are 35 mocktail recipes that are delicious in their own right.
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1. Triple Citrus Kombucha Fizz With Salty Chili Sugar
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: Endless kombucha flavor options mean you can play around
The kombucha adds just the right amount of fizz, and you can play with the flavors to find your favorite. Suddenly, dry January and Sober October don’t seem so bad.
2. Agua De Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)
- Time Commitment: 22 minutes
- Why We Love It: The hibiscus tea is a great mix-in for co*cktails and mocktails alike
Make-your-own-mocktail bar, anyone? This simple drink pairs well with flavored simple syrups and all kinds of citrus juice.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Italian grapefruit soda gives this virgin drink an elevated, fizzy touch
Who needs Champagne when you have fancy Italian soda? Don’t skip the sugared (or salted) rim—it makes this drink feel extra special.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Only three ingredients to paradise
If we didn’t know any better, we’d think we were on vacation. If you prefer a more piña colada-like consistency, try blending the coconut cream and coconut milk with ice.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Bright, colorful mocktail with an underrated citrus kick
The key to a really refreshing mocktail? Coconut water. That, plus lots of citrus, will have everyone coming back for another.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: It's equal parts tangy and sweet
What’s a shrub, you ask? It’s like a co*cktail, only it gets its kick from vinegar, not booze. Sound crazy? With sweet fruit and simple syrup, we promise it works.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Sweet and tart
A light and refreshing mocktail that just screams brunch. Mix with some seltzer if you fancy a few bubbles.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: Summery, floral lavender notes plus happy orange kumquats give this drink an irresistible effervescence
Make the kumquat-lavender mixture beforehand, then set it out with ice and sparkling water and let everyone mix their own drink.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Tart, fresh and loaded with lime and lemongrass
Psst: This drink is blended with two whole limes, so it’s super refreshing.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Using fresh-pressed ginger gives the drink a lively kick
Purple bordering on burgundy, this blueberry and ginger concoction wows for any occasion, and you can mix it with water, seltzer or spirits to make your drink of choice.
11. Cherry Vanilla Maple Shrub
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes, plus resting time
- Why We Love It: Think of it as an elevated Shirley Temple
We’d take a glass of this slightly sweet shrub over a bad margarita any day.
- Time Commitment: 5 minute
- Why We Love It: Just one step and plenty of mint make up this delightful, fizzy drink
FYI, most ginger beers aren’t alcoholic. That makes them the perfect fizzy base for a thirst-quenching mocktail.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes, plus resting time
- Why We Love It: Elevates the simple soda into a grown-up drink
If you can’t find huckleberries, any berry would make a fine substitute.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Gentle floral notes mingle with a little citrus in a bubbly, non-alcoholic drink
The rose water is optional, but since it’s what gives this drink its irresistible peachy hue, we think it’s worth adding.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: Coconut milk, espresso and plenty of spices take chai from good to great
As a mocktail, this recipe calls for apple cider. If you want to offer a boozy take as well, Half-Baked Harvest blogger Tieghan Gerard recommends subbing equal parts Kahlúa and vodka. Permission to sip this at breakfast granted.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Summery, sweet and fresh with a spicy, salty twist
The Tajín-dusted rim makes it feel extra fancy.
17. Refreshing Hibiscus Mocktail
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes, plus cooling time
- Why We Love It: Not too sweet, floral and simple
You can thank hibiscus tea for the festive pink color and tart flavor.
18. Concord Grape and Coconut Water Smash
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Sweet and refreshing with a dashing purple hue
Omit the vodka and add more coconut water to make it booze-free.
19. Pink Drink
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: Have the beloved Starbucks drink at home
This is so much tastier than store-bought mystery punch and carbonated water.
20. Shirley Temple
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Super easy, guaranteed crowd-pleaser
The value of a properly made Shirley Temple cannot be overstated.
21. Watermelon Ginger Sparklers
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: Light and sparkling with a ginger kick and fruity vanilla
The candied ginger and vanilla bean really take it over the top.
22. Cranberry Orange Kombucha Sangria
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Low in sugar but packed with bright flavor
Because it’s fizzy and a little bit tart, kombucha makes an excellent substitution for wine in this fruit drink.
23. Rhubarb Shrub
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: Make it ahead so it's always on hand for unexpected company
A little tart, a little sweet, a little bitter—basically, everything we want in a drink, alcoholic or not.
24. Mandarin Spritz
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Citrus and mint meet fizzy water for a fun drink that elevates any meal
It doesn’t get better than freshly-squeezed mandarin juice, don’t you think?
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Lavender simple syrup delicately perfumes this elevated take on lemonade
It’s like a sparkling lemonade, but chic and French.
26. Virgin Chocolate Espresso Martini
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: The mocktail version requires just four ingredients
The iconic chocolate and coffee duo meet in this delectably rich martini. But, the mocktail rendition instantly becomes something you might even serve at breakfast to change up your ritual morning coffee.
27. Honey, Blackberry and Sage Refresher Mocktail
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Woodsy sage meets tart blackberries and sweet honey
This one screams “summer in the backyard,” but we plan on drinking it year-round.
28. Sparkling Honey Lemon Gingerade
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus resting time
- Why We Love It: Ginger adds a little spice to this fizzy lemonade rendition
This is sure to put a pep in your step.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Sweet, tart and a little salty
It’s as pretty as it is tasty, thanks to all that fresh grapefruit juice.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: This bubbly drink defines easy elegance
A homemade blackberry syrup makes this one taste like summer in a glass.
31. Vanilla Cinnamon Maple Sour
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: Make it a mocktail by swapping bourbon for apple cider
This cozy co*cktail (or mocktail) is perfect for fireside sipping. It's loaded with all the comforting ingredients: Vanilla, cinnamon and maple plus a hint of lemon and rosemary for brightness.
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32. Non-Alcoholic Chocolate Cherry Martini
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Special-occasion worthy, can be alcoholic by swapping crème de cacao syrup for vodka
Jazz up any get-together with this cool, sweet chocolate and cherry martini. It’s good at any time of the year thanks to frozen cherries, and the turbinado sugar gives the rims a satisfying crunch.
get the recipe
33. Non-Alcoholic Moscow Mule Mocktail
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: Packs a fresh citrus punch
In five minutes, you can have an ice-cold Moscow Mule mocktail with the help of some ginger soda. Make sure to have some extra limes on hand for the garnish—it’ll elevate the presentation.
34. Pineapple Banana Agua Fresca
- Time Commitment: 12 minutes
- Why We Love It: Fruity and refreshing with condensed milk for richness
One-up the fruit juice addition with actual fruit. Loaded with a super-ripe banana and fresh pineapple, this rendition of the agua fresca is exactly what you want on a warm day.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: Loaded with good-for-you ginger and turmeric
This drink can easily be made alcoholic with the addition of a generous amount of vodka, but even without it, this drink will wow a crowd. Do not, we repeat, do not skip the chamomile garnish.
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Katherine Gillen
Senior Food Editor
Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...
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Marissa Wu
Associate SEO Editor
I’ve covered the lifestyle space for the last three years after majoring in journalism (and minoring in French) at Boston University. Talk to me about all things sustainable &...
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