15 Great Mocktail Recipes (2024)

This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.

Here are all the best mocktail recipes to try! These non alcoholic co*cktails make virgin drinks just as delicious as the real thing.

Looking for mocktail recipes? Turns out, you don’t need alcohol to make a tasty drink! A mocktail is a non alcoholic co*cktail: a mixed drink without the liquor (either eliminated entirely or with a non-alcoholic spirit). Mocktails are the perfect choice for people who are pregnant or avoiding alcohol.

There are a few different ways to make a mocktail. You can follow a mocktail recipe to make virgin drinks based on classics, from the Margarita to the Mojito! Or, you can make a free-form mocktail without a recipe. You’ll just need to keep a few tricks in mind when building your drinks so they don’t come out tasting like bubbly fruit juice. Ready to get started?

And now, our top mocktail recipes

Margarita Mocktail

Craving a margarita but can’t drink? Or serving a crowd and need a non-alcoholic option? Enter the Margarita Mocktail! It’s tangy and refreshing, punctuated by that classic salt rim. Even better, it’s got a surprise that brings a bit of “funk” to the flavor that’s reminiscent of tequila. It’s the non alcoholic mocktail spin on ourClassic Margarita.

Ingredients: Lime juice, lemon juice, pickle juice, simple syrup, tonic water

Virgin Mojito Mocktail

Are there any co*cktail drinks more refreshing than a mojito? This iconic Cuban drink is one of the greats. Here’s a recipe for it that’s spot on perfection: not too sweet, bubbly, and minty fresh. For the mocktail version, just omit the rum! Or for our favorite version, substitute double the simple syrup for orgeat, an almond flavored syrup that adds a delicious complexity.

Ingredients:Lime juice, fresh mint, soda water, simple syrup or orgeat

Piña Colada Mocktail

A virgin piña colada is really just a fancy name for apineapple smoothie…but giving it a mocktail moniker makes it all the more fun! It comes out frosty and tropical, with a hint of fruity coconut and just sweet enough. It's the mocktail spin on our Frozen Piña Colada: hold the rum.

Ingredients: Pineapple, coconut milk, simple syrup

Lime Rickey

Here’s a bubbly drink that’s equally as refreshing as a co*cktail or mocktail: theLime Rickey! This refreshing drink is a cousin of the classicGin Rickey, with no alcohol. Take one sip and it’s fizzy, bubbly, and ultra tangy: with effect of jumping into a cold pool on a hot summer day.

Ingredients: Lime juice, simple syrup or caper juice, soda water

Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri

Here’s everyone’s favorite mocktail: theVirgin Strawberry Daiquiri! Hands up: who ordered as a tween to feel sophisticated and grown up? This recipe makes a beautifully fruity version of the classic drink, no rum required. There are a few secrets to avoid tasting like astrawberry smoothie This delicious homemade mocktail is berry-forward, sweet tart and fruity, with a hint of intrigue on the finish.

Ingredients: Frozen strawberries, lime juice, simple syrup, tonic water or lemon lime soda

Shirley Temple

Here's the most famous mocktail of them all: the Shirley Temple! This isn’t the overly sweet, syrupy version of this drink. The classic way is actually made without soda: just three ingredients and totally clean flavors. It’s not just for kids! This mocktail works for anyone looking for a bubbly, refreshing non-alcoholic drink. Even better: try our all-natural homemade grenadine that skips the artificial flavors and colors.

Also try: Roy Rogers, a variation with cola!

Ingredients: Grenadine, lime juice, ginger ale or ginger beer

Non Alcoholic Mimosa

Here’s a greatmocktailtrick that works for people of all ages: theNon Alcoholic Mimosa! This drink is so simple to put together, and it’s totally customizable for kids or people avoiding alcohol. You can make this virgin drink at the same time as theclassic Mimosa, and it works for a crowd! It tastes surprisingly balanced: citrusy and bubbly with a hint of ginger on the finish.

Ingredients: Orange juice, ginger ale

Bloody Mary Mocktail (Virgin Mary)

Craving a Bloody Mary but can’t do alcohol? Make thisBloody Mary mocktail, aka the Virgin Mary, and you’ll hardly know the difference! It’s so full of flavor: savory, tangy, spicy, and salty all at once! You’ll hardly believe it’s a mocktail. In fact, we almost like this one even better than ourclassic Bloody Mary, especially because you can drink as many as you want.

Ingredients: Tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, olive juice, Tabasco, celery salt, black pepper

Photo Credit:www.gimmesomeoven.com

Spicy Grapefruit Ginger Fizz Mocktail

Try this Spicy Grapefruit Ginger Fizz mocktail! Full of bold, spicy, and fresh flavors, it might remind you of a Moscow mule. It’s minimally sweet, and it’s easy to whip up in just 5 minutes. via Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients: Grapefruit juice, lime juice, mint, jalapeno pepper, ginger beer

Honey, Blackberry and Sage Refresher

This Honey, Blackberry and Sage refresher taste sweet, tart and woodsy. Each sip of this non-alcoholic pick-me-up is packed with crisp, cool flavor. via Grandbaby Cakes

Ingredients: Blackberries, honey, sage, lime juice, ginger beer, seltzer water

Photo Credit:www.crowdedkitchen.com

Tequila Sunrise Mocktail

Take the tequila out of the sunrise with this mocktail! It uses only 4 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make! Its refreshing sweet, tart flavor makes it the perfect sweet nonalcoholic drink. via Crowded Kitchen

Ingredients: Orange juice, lime juice, grenadine, non alcoholic tequila

Photo Credit:www.skinnytaste.com

Jalapeno Paloma Mocktail

Skip the tequila for these zero-proof Palomas and use muddled jalapeño for a spicy take on the classic! This virgin drink is topped off with fresh grapefruit and lime juices and sparkling water for a refreshing drink without the alcohol. via Skinny Taste

Ingredients: Jalapeno pepper, grapefruit juice, lime juice, sparkling water, agave syrup

Arnold Palmer

Here’s an iconic drink that’s more than the sum of its parts: theArnold Palmer! It’s simple, but somehow it stuck: a mix of zingy lemonade and earthy iced tea. There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day! This works well as a party drink or mocktail.

Ingredients: Lemonade, unsweetened iced tea

Photo Credit:marisamoore.com

Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail

This mocktail made with blood orange juice, honey, and vanilla is citrusy and refreshing! If you can't find blood oranges to make this sparkler, substitute fresh orange juice. via Marisa Moore

Ingredients: Blood orange juice, honey, vanilla, lime sparkling water

Cherry Lime Rickey

Here’s a bright, beautiful mocktail: theCherry Lime Rickey! Something about the combination of cherries and lime is pure genius, where the tart of the citrus perfectly accentuates the sweet berry. So combining it into a homemade mocktail or co*cktail? Well, it’s pretty darn perfect. Here you’ll take alime rickeymocktail and add a cherry syrup to bring in that candy-colored flavor. (You can also add gin for the alcohol drinkers!)

Also try: Raspberry Lime Rickey

Ingredients: Lime juice, cherry co*cktail syrup, soda water

How to make a mocktail without a recipe

How to make a mocktail? It’s easy to mix something together: but often with no alcohol it ends up testing like fruit juice. Instead, here are a few tricks for adding complexity to the flavor of your free-form mocktails:

Use bubbly mixers. Soda water, tonic water, and even ginger ale or ginger beer and great for adding lift to your mocktails with carbonated bubbles. When in doubt: add bubbles!
Consider a “mock” alcohol to add complexity. Here’s a cool mocktail trick: a teaspoon or two of caper juice or pickle juice can taste like alcohol! It sounds weird, but it actually works. Our Virgin Margarita recipe below has a hint of pickle juice, which gives a finish that tastes oddly like tequila.
Try fancy simple syrups. Layering flavors helps mocktail recipes taste interesting instead of one-note. Try a homemade syrup like Mint Simple Syrup, Ginger Simple Syrup, Rosemary Simple Syrup or Lavender Simple Syrup.
Consider non-alcoholic bitters. A few dashes of bitters add herbal complexity to co*cktails. There are some non-alcoholic brands that you can experiment with for mocktails, too! See also: this Bitters and Soda almost mocktail!
Load up on fancy garnishes and clear ice. It’s all about presentation! The fun thing about our co*cktail recipes is not just that they taste good: they look beautiful, too! Try clear ice, artisan style crystal clear ice that makes your drink look like it came from a fancy bar. Depending on the drink, load up on co*cktail cherries, citrus wedges, or fresh herbs.

Mocktails are low calorie drinks

Mocktails are very low calorie, since the alcohol is what contributes the most calories to co*cktails. They’re great if you’re looking for a fitting low-cal replacement for your favorite co*cktail. Or, looking for low calorie alcoholic drinks? Try our Top 10 Low Calorie Alcoholic Drinks!

See also: Best Non Alcoholic Beers