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Reviewed 8/5/2024
Mix your own mocktails
You don't need alcohol to create a delicious and festive beverage for yourself or party guests. Mocktails are alcohol-free, and they look and taste amazing. They’re a great option if you’re pregnant or avoiding alcohol for any other reason.
You can learn to make your own mouthwatering mocktails by experimenting with different ingredients. Start with these basic steps:
Pick your base
Your base is your main ingredient. Club soda, sparkling water, tonic water or sugar-free lemonade are a few good, calorie-free options. You could also use green, herbal or flavored teas.
Add fresh fruit
Chop up or puree fruits like melons, strawberries, citrus or tropical fruits and mix them with your base.
Include a splash of juice
Use any flavor you like. Some options that will add great color and flavor to your mocktail are cranberry, pineapple, cherry, mango and orange juices. To help control calories, choose 100% juice with no sugar added, and put in just a splash.
Choose your mixing method
Great ways to mix your mocktail include:
- Classic—in a glass with ice.
- Frozen—blend your base and juice with crushed ice.
- Shaken—use a cocktail shaker and ice to chill the ingredients before straining them into a glass.
Finish with garnish
Hang a lemon, lime, orange or cucumber slice onto the rim of a chilled glass. Or decorate with tropical fruit, berries or melon wedges. Experiment with herbs and spices, like fresh mint or basil leaves and cinnamon sticks.
Two tasty mocktails
Now that you know the basic formula, you are ready to make your own mocktail recipe. Or you can try one of the recipes below.
Fresh fruit sangria: In a pitcher, stir together 100% cranberry juice and apple juice. Add sparkling water. Garnish with raspberries, blueberries and citrus slices.
Minted melon cooler: Combine melon, unsweetened pineapple juice, crushed ice, honey and fresh mint leaves. Blend until smooth.
Good reasons to go alcohol-free
Alcohol can harm your health in a number of ways.
Sources
- American Heart Association. "Ring in the New Year With a 'Mocktail.'" https://www.aicr.org/news/party-with-colorful-alcohol-free-drinks/.
- American Institute for Cancer Research. "Party With Colorful Alcohol-Free Drinks." https://www.aicr.org/news/party-with-colorful-alcohol-free-drinks/.