11 Fun Mocktail Recipes That Don't Need Booze to Be Good (2024)

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Karla Walsh

11 Fun Mocktail Recipes That Don't Need Booze to Be Good (1)

Karla Walsh

Karla Walsh began her career at FITNESS magazine in 2010. Since, she's worked at a wide variety of publications full-time, including BHG.com, Recipe.com and as a cross-brand social media specialist. From search engine optimization to features for print to video strategy, she has a diverse background in all things magazines. At the start of 2019, Karla chose to pursue full-time freelance writing and has contributed to more than 3 dozen brands.

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Updated on January 14, 2021

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Instead of serving bottled juice or cola at your gathering, fill up those glasses with our best mocktail recipes. Whether you want to cut the calories in traditional alcoholic drinks or you simply prefer to skip the liquor, these family-friendly, easy mocktails will hit the spot.

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Honey-Ginger Limeade

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The spice is right in one of our best mocktail recipes for parties. Jalapeño and fresh ginger might sound like strange additions to a drink, but these unexpected ingredients add the just-right amount of heat to the cool lime juice-and-honey concoction. Rim the glasses with brown sugar before serving for a sweet touch.

Swap for: Pisco Sour

Pomegranate Fizzes

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Juicy pomegranate is the star of this gorgeous and easy mocktail recipe. A simple syrup made with mint leaves and pomegranate juice sweetens as it stands, and sparkling water adds festive fizz for your party. Fresh pomegranate seeds in each glass make a fruity finishing touch.

Swap for: Orange-Ginger Pomegranate Punch

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Watermelon Cooler

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It'll be love at first sip when you make this easy four-ingredient margarita mocktail. (Psst…each glass has just 44 calories!) Watermelon pieces become clever, fruity "ice" cubes when frozen, and a curly lime peel garnish adds a pretty touch.

Swap for: Watermelon Margarita

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Minted Cucumber No-Jitos

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Capture all the refreshing mint and lime flavor of the classic Cuban co*cktail in a delicious mojito mocktail. Cucumber slices lend an extra cooling touch to each drink. Omitting alcohol brings calories to just 97 per serving in this drink recipe.

Swap for: Classic Mojitos

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Pink Lemonade Slush

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Perfect for a barbecue or an afternoon picnic, this so-easy slushy mocktail gets its start from frozen pink lemonade concentrate. The raspberries float to the top of the finished sweet-tart drink after you mix in refreshing lemon-lime soda. Its icy, slushy-like texture makes this one of the best mocktail recipes for sharing with kiddos.

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Orange-Mango Agua Fresca

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Kick back with a tropical-inspired nonalcoholic drink that evokes memories of relaxing days on the beach. Fresh mangoes sweeten each sip, while orange and lime juice add tart citrus flavor. Top each glass with orange and lime slices to complete the easy mocktail recipe.

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Honeydew-Basil No-Jitos

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Stir up a melon-infused play on the mojito for a crowd-pleasing mocktail everyone can enjoy. Muddled basil and lime juice offer refreshing flavor, and a quick honeydew puree saves you precious prep time. Rim glasses with fine sugar for a sophisticated presentation.

Swap for: Watermelon-Basil Daiquiris

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Mock Sangria

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Say to a quick and summery sangria mocktail. A medley of three juices replaces the wine, and lemon-lime soda adds the bubbles. Slice up your favorite fresh fruit and divide among the glasses before pouring.

Swap for: Strawberry Sangria

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Ginger Soda

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Hop on the Moscow mule trend, minus the alcohol. Made with fresh lemon and ginger root, this ginger beer mocktail recipe is amazing as-is. Or, on nights you're craving a spiked mule, just add vodka.

Swap for: Summer Storm co*cktail

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Easy Tailgating Punch

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Because tailgating parties at home are often family affairs, we're big fans of this nonalcoholic, berry-citrus punch. The sweet-tart flavors of the ginger ale mocktail will surely score a touchdown with your fellow fans. Mix the juice ahead, then add ice and soda to the drink dispenser when it's game time.

Swap for: Raspberry Mojito Punch

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Citrus-Thyme Cooler

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If you haven't added herbs to your drinks before, this drink will have you hooked. Grapefruit and fresh thyme sprigs make the perfect pairing in this quick and easy mocktail recipe. You make your own herb-infused simple syrup and the whole drink is still ready for sipping in 10 minutes or less.

Swap: Apposata co*cktail

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11 Fun Mocktail Recipes That Don't Need Booze to Be Good (2024)

FAQs

What is the most famous mocktail? ›

What is the most popular non-alcoholic drink? The most popular mocktail right now is a Shirley Temple. Add cherries to it for a pretty garnish.

What do you replace alcohol with in mocktails? ›

The best mocktail recipes incorporate ingredients like fresh juices, flavorful syrups, sparkling sodas, and often non-alcoholic spirits to create balanced, refreshing drinks without the negative health effects of traditional booze.

What is the basic mocktail formula? ›

Most mocktails start with four parts base (like club soda or iced tea) combined with one part sour and one-half part sweet. If you want to create your own easy mocktail recipes, follow this formula for success.

What is the new name for mocktail? ›

As Clark points out, “mocktail” can sound like it's mocking something. “Zero proof” has adherents in some regions, while “free spirits” (which is actually a brand name) and “spirit-free” are used for N/A mixed drinks elsewhere.

What's an easy mocktail to order at a bar? ›

Club Soda and Lime. It's so simple yet so refreshing. Order a club soda and lime, and it'll look just like the vodka version but booze-free. This one is easy enough that it may even be a free co*cktail if your bartender is feeling generous.

What are zero proof mocktails? ›

Quick Answer: What Does Zero Proof Mean? In a nutshell, "zero proof" refers to drinks that contain no alcohol, making them completely non-alcoholic beverages. Proof generally refers to Alcohol By Volume, so a spirit with 40% ABV would be considered 40 proof.

Are mocktails healthier than alcohol? ›

Is a non-alcoholic drink healthier? In short, yes. Mag Ayyad, an exercise dietitian at Houston Methodist, says that taking alcohol out of any beverage is the biggest benefit of a mocktail. "Any alcohol going into our system is essentially a toxic substance," he says.

What tastes like alcohol but isn't? ›

Drinks that taste like alcohol
  • 0% macerated spirits. Skip the hours of soaking, heating and pressurising raw materials by buying some ready-made macerated alcohol-free spirits. ...
  • Alcohol-free co*cktails (mocktails but better) ...
  • NoLo beer. ...
  • Sparkling tea.

What alcohol gets you drunk the fastest? ›

Highly concentrated beverages, like vodka and gin, are absorbed faster by your body. It also absorbs fizzy and bubbly drinks, like champagne or soda mixes, quicker than other drinks. How fast you drink: Chugging rather than sipping will increase your BAC faster and cause you to feel drunker.

Does cranberry juice taste like alcohol? ›

Similar to red wine, cranberry juice contains a reasonable amount of tannins. Riddled with these bitter and mouth-drying compounds, the juice functions as a zero-alcohol stand-in for wine. Juxtaposing decadence and umami, tart cranberry juice proves itself as an equally effective palate cleanser.

What is the golden ratio for mocktails? ›

That old ratio of two parts alcohol, one part sour, and one part sweet doesn't quite work without the alcohol. But there's a formula that does: four parts base, like club soda or iced tea, to go with one part sour and one-half part sweet.

What is the secret to a good mocktail? ›

The secret to making a mocktail is using fresh ingredients, just as you would with a co*cktail. Using a non-alcoholic, botanical alternative is one of the best things you can do when making a drink without alcohol. Then, you need a citrus base and a simple syrup.

What is the most popular non-alcoholic drink in the world? ›

Water is, by far, the most consumed non-alcoholic beverage in the world.

What is the name of the world's first mocktail drink? ›

The Shirley Temple is probably the most famous mocktail ever. This classic mix of ginger ale and grenadine with a squeeze of lemon or lime topped with maraschino cherries is believed to be the world's first mocktail. And it's still alive and well today.

What to order in a bar when you don't drink? ›

11 Most Popular Mocktails To Order At A Bar
  • Virgin Mojito. At number one (but in no particular order) is the alcohol-free Mojito. ...
  • Virgin Bloody Mary. Fan of cooking a tomato soup? ...
  • Shirley Temple. ...
  • Arnold Palmer. ...
  • Non-Alcoholic Moscow Mule. ...
  • Roy Rogers. ...
  • Virgin Piña Colada. ...
  • Non-Alcoholic Gin and Tonic.
Oct 26, 2022

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