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.
This Is Ina Garten’s Foolproof Technique for Non-Alcoholic Cocktails That Don’t Suck
How Sweet Eats
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.
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Gimme Some Oven
Make-your-own-mocktail bar, anyone? This simple drink pairs well with flavored simple syrups and all kinds of citrus juice.
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How Sweet Eats
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes
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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.
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A Classic Twist
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.
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How Sweet Eats
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes
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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.
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The Modern Proper
What’s a shrub, you ask? It’s like a cocktail, only it gets its kick from vinegar, not booze. Sound crazy? With sweet fruit and simple syrup, we promise it works.
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What’s Gaby Cooking
A light and refreshing mocktail that just screams brunch. Mix with some seltzer if you fancy a few bubbles.
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The Bojon Gourmet
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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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.
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Pinch of Yum
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Time Commitment: 5 minutes
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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.
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Healthfully Ever After
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.
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The Bojon Gourmet
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes, plus resting time
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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.
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Gimme Some Oven
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Time Commitment: 5 minute
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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.
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The Bojon Gourmet
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Time Commitment: 15 minutes, plus resting time
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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.
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Half Baked Harvest
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Time Commitment: 5 minutes
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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.
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Half Baked Harvest
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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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.
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Gimme Some Oven
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Time Commitment: 5 minutes
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Why We Love It: Summery, sweet and fresh with a spicy, salty twist
The Tajín-dusted rim makes it feel extra fancy.
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Cookie and Kate
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes, plus cooling time
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Why We Love It: Not too sweet, floral and simple
You can thank hibiscus tea for the festive pink color and tart flavor.
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What’s Cooking Good Looking
Omit the vodka and add more coconut water to make it booze-free.
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Cookie and Kate
This is so much tastier than store-bought mystery punch and carbonated water.
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Damn Delicious
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Time Commitment: 5 minutes
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Why We Love It: Super easy, guaranteed crowd-pleaser
The value of a properly made Shirley Temple cannot be overstated.
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How Sweet Eats
The candied ginger and vanilla bean really take it over the top.
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Darn Good Veggies
Because it’s fizzy and a little bit tart, kombucha makes an excellent substitution for wine in this fruit drink.
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Feasting at Home
A little tart, a little sweet, a little bitter—basically, everything we want in a drink, alcoholic or not.
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What’s Gaby Cooking
It doesn’t get better than freshly-squeezed mandarin juice, don’t you think?
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Salt and Wind
It’s like a sparkling lemonade, but chic and French.
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Half Baked Harvest
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.
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Grandbaby Cakes
This one screams “summer in the backyard,” but we plan on drinking it year-round.
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Salt and Wind
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Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus resting time
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Why We Love It: Ginger adds a little spice to this fizzy lemonade rendition
This is sure to put a pep in your step.
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I Am a Food Blog
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes
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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.
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Simply LaKita
A homemade blackberry syrup makes this one taste like summer in a glass.
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Half Baked Harvest
This cozy cocktail (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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PureWow
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Time Commitment: 5 minutes
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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.
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The Butter Half
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.
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In Mama Maggie’s Kitchen
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.
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Half Baked Harvest
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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Alcohol-Free Cocktails Are Trending (and They Actually Sound Really Good)
