16 Best Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipes
Mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks can provide a unique opportunity for experimenting with drink recipes that combine sweet, sour, fruity or even spicy flavors. From frozen favorites to bubbly spritzers, mocktails are only limited by your imagination. Skip the alcohol and try a refreshing mocktail that rivals its boozy counterparts with a colorful presentation and complex flavors. Learn how to craft your own with this list of the best mocktail recipes for your next gathering or the perfect entree pairing.
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What Is a Mocktail?
A mocktail is a non-alcoholic drink that is shorthand for “mock cocktails.” Similar to cocktails, mocktails can be curated frozen or on the rocks with a mixture of fruit, syrups, juice, soda, tea and more—except without the alcohol. If you’re in the mood for a hand-crafted, refreshing drink that’s ideal for any event or evening at home, a mocktail is the right option for you. Explore a variety of mocktail recipes and experiment with ingredients to add a unique twist to yours.
Fruit Mocktails
A fruit mocktail allows you to encapsulate summer in a glass for a refreshing, sometimes fizzy, drink with all of the flavors and none of the alcohol. Whether it’s a sparkling sangria or a celebratory holiday mocktail or punch, feel free to let your creative juices flow and mix and match your favorite fruit ingredients.
1. Non-Alcoholic Watermelon Sangria Recipe
Along with fresh watermelon chunks, top off your sangria with your berries of choice for a sweet flavor infusion, such as raspberries. For this fizzy watermelon sangria recipe, substitute the white wine with sparkling grape juice and garnish with fresh mint leaves. And instead of the vodka and triple sec, add a cup of club soda or tonic water, with a dash of orange extract.
2. Sparkling Holiday Mocktail Recipe
Ideal for holidays, a Friday night gathering or anything in between, this versatile mocktail recipe can be crafted with your choice of fruit, herbs or spices and sparkling water.
3. Watermelon Lemon Coconut Drink
If you’re looking for a mocktail that brings back memories of summer beach days, look no further than this tropical blend. Use a KitchenAid® blender to combine lemon juice, sugar, watermelon and coconut milk, then garnish with mint for a pop of color and flavor contrast.
4. Grapefruit Tea-Ni Smoothie
This drink is a fruit-forward blend of grapefruit, apple and pineapple for days when you’re searching for a healthy pick-me-up. A dash of red pepper and matcha add a touch of spice and savoriness to cut the sweetness of the fruits, and the rich green color comes from the nutritious blend of avocado and spinach.
5. Melon Infused Agua Fresca
Let summer flavors inspire you to create this mocktail that combines mellow melon sweetness and the taste of juicy watermelon. With a bit of agave and lime juice, this agua fresca lives up to its name as a refreshing, fruity drink you can enjoy on a hot summer day.
Frozen Mocktails
With similar flavors and textures as their alcoholic counterparts, frozen mocktails can be just as refreshing of a treat on a hot day as frozen cocktails. Bring the beach to you with these frozen daiquiri and margarita recipes, and get tips for making blended frozen drinks.
6. Ginger Lavender Infused Slushy
The bright, floral notes of lavender mingle with the crisp tartness of ginger in this recipe which makes for a unique mocktail when you substitute the vodka for soda water. With the help of a blender, you can get just the right texture for this icy treat that pairs well with a fruit salad or decadent dessert.
7. Frozen Virgin Daiquiri Recipe
Skip the alcohol in this mango jalapeno daiquiri and substitute pineapple juice for a sweet frozen treat with a spicy kick. Using a blender or hand blender from KitchenAid brand, combine the ingredients for a smooth, slushy texture in this mocktail daiquiri.
8. Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Margarita Recipe
For a tart, fruity margarita that’s made for everyone, substitute tequila with water and lime juice. Blend and garnish with fresh lime slices for an instant favorite.
Shop KitchenAid® Blenders for Making Mocktails
Soda Mocktails
Crisp soda mocktails and spritzers don’t need alcohol to enhance their flavors. Instead, skip the liquor and experiment with soda flavors, homemade syrups and fruit for your own version of classic cocktails.
9. Shirley Temple Recipe
A popular mocktail, Shirley Temples can be crafted with three simple ingredients for a crisp beverage that can please any palate. Mix lemon-lime soda or ginger ale with grenadine and a maraschino cherry garnish for yours. Customize this recipe by making your own homemade soda infused with fruit or herbs; blackberry and rosemary can lend sweet and complex flavor profiles to your next mocktail.
10. Non-Alcoholic Blackberry Spritzer
Craft a mocktail version of this spritzer with soda water, agave syrup, lime juice and blackberries. Enhance its presentation with a lime wedge garnish and fresh mint leaves for a fizzy drink for any occasion.
11. Virgin White Wine Sangria Spritzer Recipe
Typically crafted with soda water, lemons, and raspberries, wine and Grand Mariner, this tart, yet tasty, drink can be substituted with lemon-lime soda and a few dashes of orange extract for a more refreshing twist. You can use a KitchenAid® food processor to effortlessly slice a variety of fruits that can be added to sangria.
Juice Mocktails
With fresh juice, syrups and garnish, you can transform the classic Bloody Mary or Tequila Sunrise into a refreshing non-alcoholic treat for any time of day.
12. Virgin Mary Recipe
Forgo the vodka and blend tomato, lemon and olive juices with horseradish and cayenne pepper for an optimal flavor blend of salty, savory and spicy. Unleash your creativity and garnish with skewers of peppers, grilled shrimp, pickle spears or whatever ingredients inspire you.
13. Tropical Sunrise Recipe
A twist on the classic Tequila Sunrise, this smoothie combines orange juice with coconut milk, plain yogurt and fruit for a refreshing Tropical Sunrise mocktail with a vibrant color and sweet flavor.
Palate Cleanser Mocktails
Whether you’re looking for a comforting tea-inspired drink or something to satisfy your sweet tooth, these mocktail recipes allow you to enjoy a range of flavors as a post-dinner treat.
14. Spiced Caramel Hot Toddy Recipe
For this fall favorite, nix the bourbon and mix chamomile tea, honey and lemon juice for a spiced, cozy drink to help you warm in the winter. You can also add a teaspoon of non-alcoholic vanilla or bourbon extract to amp up the flavor.
15. Hot Apple Cinnamon Shrub Tea
A shrub is a great way to intermingle sweet and tart flavors for interesting non-alcoholic drinks. Taken from the Arabic word “sharab,” which means “to drink,” a shrub is syrup made from the concentrate of fruits, aromatics, sugar and vinegar. Create the homemade shrub ingredient for this recipe by steeping a mixture of apples, sugar and apple cider vinegar for a few days; then, combine with tea and garnish with a cinnamon stick for added visual appeal.
16. Matcha Ginger Ice Cream Float
With just the right touch of savory and bitter matcha flavor, this drink recipe hits the right notes for a sweet, ice-cream-based treat. You can add your own personal touch to this recipe by making your own soda and ice cream with the KitchenAid® Ice Cream Maker Attachment.
Create Your Own Mocktail Recipe
Now that you have a repertoire of mocktail recipes to experiment with, you can explore creating your own unique recipes with these basic tips:
Start with a base. Your personalized mocktail recipe can start with a base like ginger beer, tonic or soda water, sparkling apple or grape juice.
Create a simple syrup: To give your mocktail a bit of sweetness, create a homemade syrup on your stovetop by combining one part water and one part sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer until sugar is dissolved.
Gather your mix-ins: Depending on the flavor profile you’re going for, some ideas for mix-ins include grenadine syrup, non-alcoholic extracts, fresh herbs, sliced or pureed fruits or simple syrup.
By adding some simple syrup and complementary flavors to your mocktail base liquid, you can get creative with colors, flavors and textures to coin your very own recipe.
Explore KitchenAid® blenders
KitchenAid® blenders and hand blenders are designed to create smooth results with a range of ingredients. So, the next time you are crafting a frozen margarita mocktail or a frozen lemonade, use a KitchenAid® blender with a three-part blending system to give you the ideal taste and texture you need for a uniquely crafted drink recipe. Discover the possibilities for your next mocktail.
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