26 Best Mocktail Recipes

Nonalcoholic, no-proof drinks everyone can enjoy

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/21/24
A Virgin Mojito with mint and a lime wedge on the rim

The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf

Mocktails are nonalcoholic mixed drinks, and they can be just as exciting and refreshing as any cocktail. There are many ways you can mix up juices, sodas, and syrups to create invigorating beverages that everyone can enjoy.

Some of these recipes mimic favorite cocktails, like the mojito and piña colada, and simply skip the alcohol. Others employ techniques and flavor pairings used by bartenders to fashion tantalizing drinks. From favorites like the Shirley Temple to tropical delights, steaming warmers, and mocktails worthy of dinner parties, you'll love exploring these virgin drink recipes that anyone can make at home.

  • 01 of 26

    Non-Alcoholic Piña Colada

    A Virgin Pina Colada with an orange slice on the rim

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

    Fire up the blender and create a virgin Piña Colada! This made-from-scratch recipe uses just three ingredients: pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and ice. It's a fabulous tropical smoothie with a taste that outshines any nonalcoholic Piña Colada mix you can buy at the store.

  • 02 of 26

    Non-Alcoholic Mojito

    Two Virgin Mojitos with mint and lime wedges on the rim

    The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf

    Enjoy the refreshing taste of a mojito without the rum. The virgin mojito recipe is a quick, simple drink with fresh lime juice and mint leaves. It's sweetened with honey syrup and topped with club soda and is a fantastic family-friendly drink for summer barbecues.

  • 03 of 26

    Virgin Mary

    The Virgin Mary drink garnished with a pickle and a slice of celery

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

    Start your morning off right with a freshly prepared Virgin Mary. It has all the spice that makes the Bloody Mary great, but there's no vodka. Use fresh tomato juice if you like, or pick up a bottled version and have fun customizing the recipe to suit your taste. You can also keep a pitcher in the fridge for a quick drink.

  • 04 of 26

    Citrus Fizz

    Two Citrus Fizz mocktails with slices of orange on the rim

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    Eggs add texture and flavor to drinks and are commonly used in fizz cocktails. They don't make many appearances in mocktails, so this citrus fizz is a delightful surprise. The base is a tempting mix of orange, lemon, and lime sweetened with grenadine. It's shaken, strained over ice, and topped with sparkling water. The taste is fascinating and it's a recipe you'll want to experience.

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  • 05 of 26

    Sweet Sunrise

    Sweet sunrise mocktail with an orange slice

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    The sweet sunrise is an excellent breakfast, brunch, or afternoon drink that skips the liquor of a very popular cocktail. Also called the virgin sunrise, it is nothing more than a tequila sunrise; hold the tequila. Grenadine adds a great contrast to fresh-squeezed orange juice to give the ideal sweetness.

  • 06 of 26

    Sweet Pepper Spritzer

    Sweet Pepper Spritzer Mocktails in glasses

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    The sweet pepper spritzer is a zero-proof cocktail recipe with a most unusual and intriguing flavor. Featuring red bell pepper and basil, it's a savory, lightly sweetened, sparkling drink that is a fantastic refreshment on warm days.

  • 07 of 26

    Sundowner

    A Sundowner Mocktail with mint leaves on top

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    The sundowner is a wonderful last-minute choice for any occasion. Made simply of white grape juice and sparkling water with a little mint, the taste is reminiscent of sparkling wine. Depending on how many people you're serving, you can make it by the glass or scale it up to fill a pitcher.

  • 08 of 26

    Cinderella

    A Cinderella Mocktail with a pineapple and orange slice on the rim

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    As lovely and innocent as its namesake, the Cinderella is a sweet, fruity drink with a wonderful flavor. This recipe combines equal parts of lemon, orange, and pineapple juices with a little grenadine for sweetness. Top this off with ginger ale and a sparkling beverage is yours to enjoy.

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  • 09 of 26

    Baby Bellini

    Two Baby Bellini drinks top with a peach slice

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    The Bellini is a popular choice when you're hosting a fancier brunch. The Champagne cocktail can quickly be transformed into an innocent beverage without losing any of the taste. When you switch the wine out for a sparkling cider, you have the baby Bellini, a lovely peach-flavored sparkling drink everyone will love.

  • 10 of 26

    Planter's Punch

    A bowl of Planter's Punch

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

    While there are rum-based recipes of the same name, this planter's punch recipe skips the booze. The tropical fruit punch combines orange, pineapple, and lemon juices and sweetens the mix with grenadine. It's a great one for parties and, in keeping with punch tradition, is best when adorned with as many fruits as your punchbowl will hold.

  • 11 of 26

    Miami Vice Mocktail

    A white and red Virgin Miami Vice drink

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    This Miami Vice is a fun mocktail for summer, and it looks fabulous. The base of this layered frozen drink tastes like a Piña Colada, while the top is a sweet strawberry-lime smoothie. It's easy to make and a perfect way to cool down on hot summer days.

  • 12 of 26

    Green Lemonade

    Three glasses of Green Lemonade

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

    Homemade lemonade and limeade come together in the super refreshing green lemonade recipe. It's even more tempting when you discover that it features fresh kiwifruit as well. Easy to mix up, this is ​a delicious green drink you'll want by your side on a hot summer day.

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  • 13 of 26

    Designated Appletini

    An Appletini Mocktail with slices of apple on top

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

    Appletinis are extremely popular, but you can skip the vodka and enjoy an elegant, fruity drink. The designated appletini is a simple twist on the vodka martini that shakes apple juice with lemon juice and simple syrup. Serve it in a cocktail glass, and no one will know the difference.

  • 14 of 26

    Hibiscus Tea

    Dried Hibiscus Tea in a glass

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    Hibiscus has a fruity, tart flavor and a bright red color. The sugar in this tea recipe helps balance out the tartness of the flowers, but it can be left out, or reduced if desired. Additional flavorings can easily be added to this recipe if you like.

  • 15 of 26

    Sparkling Peach Sunrise

    A Sparkling Peach Sunrise drink in a glass

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    A simple twist on the virgin sunrise, this recipe switches from orange to peach juice. The sparkling peach sunrise tops the drink with lemon-lime soda to give it a zesty touch. You get the same visual effect as any sunrise drink; it just comes with a unique flavor.

  • 16 of 26

    Chicha Morada

    Two glasses and a pitcher full of a Chicha morada drink

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    Chicha morada means "purple beverage," and this is a favorite refreshment from Peru. The key ingredient to this unique drink is purple corn, which is boiled to create an almost-black liquid. Add cinnamon, cloves, apples, and key limes and you're all set to enjoy this refreshing drink.

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  • 17 of 26

    Non-Alcoholic Sangria

    Two glasses and a pitcher filled with a Virgin Sangria Mocktail

    The Spruce Eats/ Abbey Littlejohn

    A summer party calls for sangria. While it's traditionally a wine-based punch, it can quickly become a virgin sangria with a few strategic ingredient swaps. The essential element in this recipe is a trio of fresh-squeezed citrus juices. A combination of red and white grape juices is used to replace the wine, and it's finished off spectacularly with sparkling apple cider.

  • 18 of 26

    Dark 'n Stormy Mocktail

    Dark 'n Stormy Mocktail in a glass, garnished with a lime wedge

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

    Cool, refreshing, and not too sweet, it's hard to beat the crisp taste of a Dark 'n Stormy. This non-alcoholic drink is just as refreshing as the original. It maintains its classic rum flavor and iconic layers thanks to a rich simple syrup.

  • 19 of 26

    Zero Proof Margarita

    A fresh Virgin Margarita with salt and a lime wedge on the rim

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    Skip the tequila and mix up a refreshing margarita mocktail. This nonalcoholic drink features a trio of citrus juices with a bright, lively taste that rivals the original margarita. It's a fantastic option for hot summer days but equally enjoyable year-round, and you can switch this mocktail up in various ways.

  • 20 of 26

    Hot Not Toddy

    Three glasses of a Nonalcoholic Hot Not Toddy

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

    In the dead of winter, you'll want a steaming beverage to warm you up, and the Hot (Not) Toddy will do just that. It skips the liquors traditionally used in toddies, opting for freshly brewed tea, lemon juice, and an array of warming spices instead. It's also a great comfort when you're feeling under the weather.

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  • 21 of 26

    Sweet Adeline

    Sweet Adeline Pomegranate and Black Tea Drink

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

    There will be days when you need a soothing drink to help you warm up in the winter. The sweet Adeline is a perfect choice and takes your average cup of tea to a new level. For this one, you'll steep an orange-spice black tea blend into a hot mix of pomegranate juice and cinnamon syrup.

  • 22 of 26

    Watermelon Lemonade

    Fresh Watermelon Lemonade topped with mint and a lemon wedge

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    Summer is the time for both watermelon and lemonade. The two come perfectly together in this watermelon lemonade recipe. Fantastic for birthday parties and backyard soirées, it's made by the pitcher with fresh watermelon juice, and is sure to please everyone.

  • 23 of 26

    Egg Cream

    Egg Cream in glasses

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

    Step back in time with a favorite from the days of old-fashioned soda fountains. New York Egg Cream is fun, refreshing, and easy to make at home. Though the original version was made with egg, this modern rendition requires nothing more than milk, chocolate syrup, and seltzer. It's like carbonated chocolate milk, but the taste is so much more than that.

  • 24 of 26

    Roy Rogers

    Roy Rogers Drink with a cherry on top

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    When you're in the mood for a fruity cola on a warm afternoon, mix up a Roy Rogers. Though it's sometimes called cherry cola, it's flavored with grenadine, a syrup pomegranate-flavored syrup. The only other thing you need is your favorite cola.

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  • 25 of 26

    Arnold Palmer

    Two Arnold Palmer Drinks with lemon wedges on the rim

     The Spruce Eats

    Arguably the best-known of all the virgin drinks, there is no big secret to making a great Arnold Palmer. Created by and named for the famous golfer, this refreshing drink is iced tea and lemonade. Though it may be simple, there are ways to enhance the base and give it a fresh new spin.

  • 26 of 26

    Apple Soda

    Homemade Apple Soda With Fresh Apple Juice

    The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

    When autumn approaches and you head out to the apple orchards, put your newly picked apples to use with homemade apple soda. This recipe shows you how to make a delicious apple syrup topped with club soda. It's a great family kitchen activity, and the results are impressive.