51 Easy Mocktail Recipes To Mix Up Well Beyond Dry January
Zero proof and (basically) zero-effort.
As we get further from New Year's, a dry or damp January starts to look very appetizing. Even if you're just generally not about booze, there's LOTS of reasons to have a fun, signature mocktail recipe up your sleeve. Think about it: They keep everyone refreshed, and will be hugely appreciated by those not wanting to drink, whether they’re abstaining forever or just right now. Plus, they taste amazing (looking at you, virgin piña colada). Check out these zero-proof (and basically zero-effort!) mocktail recipes for inspiration—we bet you won’t even miss the alcohol.
We’ve got everything from virgin versions of some of our cocktail faves, like our non-alcoholic mulled wine, our blackberry virgin mojitos, or our virgin cranberry basil sangria, plus some simpler options and extra-exciting coffee drinks. When you’re at brunch and everyone is getting bottomless mimosas, those abstaining from champagne deserve a fun drink too. Try whipping up a copycat Starbucks drink (we’ve got 4!), a frothy dalgona coffee, or Thai iced tea for a caffeine boost with that little something special.
Speaking of special drinks, nothing says it best like a freezie or a float. We’ve included a few recipes here, like our not-so-naughty Jack frosties, our frozen cherry coke slushies, or our Shirley Temple floats, but get creative and turn any of your favorite drinks into a frozen delight. Drop some ice cream, sherbet, or sorbet into a drink or blend one up with something extra creamy like sweetened condensed milk, and it’ll SCREAM celebration.
Sometimes when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, the simpler the better. Like a rum and coke or a vodka tonic, teetotalers (and those making their drinks) want something easy too! When we’re aiming for no-stress and delicious, we lean towards lemonades and iced teas that are refreshing and fun. You could go basic, but we like to add extra flavors, like strawberry or watermelon. The added touch doesn’t take much extra effort, but still feels that much more special.For more inspiration, check out our guide to our favorite non-alcoholic spirits and wines.
NOjito!
NO booze, no problem is the name of the game with this NO-jito! This mojito-inspired mocktail is light and refreshing and has all of the flavor and none of the alcohol. You can have as many as you want without worrying about the headache the next day.
Get the NOjito! recipe.
Dirty Coconut Coke
Milk and Coke?? Don't knock it until you've tried it! If you've been wanting to try the viral dirty sodas, then follow this recipe to make one right at home. For this refreshing drink, we are riding “dirty” with our take on a Dirty Soda where the creaminess from the coconut milk and cream mix effortlessly with lime juice and cola to create this delicious mocktail that welcomes summer on the coldest winter day.
Get the Dirty Coconut Coke recipe.
Porn Star Mock-tini
This mocktail has all the flavors of the original porn star martini but none of the hangover. The star flavor of the passion fruit juice adds a tart zippiness that’s balanced lovingly with a warm vanilla simple syrup and a bright bubbly side car of club soda.
Get the Porn Star Mock-tini recipe.
Espresso Mocha Crunch Mocktail
Everyone is espresso martini-crazed these days, but you don’t need to drink alcohol to enjoy this decadent trend. Our espresso mocktail packs a punch with an espresso base, creamy top, and tons of Oreo crunch, with none of the alcohol.
Bee’s Knees Mocktail Spritz
Whether you're practicing dry (or damp) January or not, winter is the perfect time to swap your favorite cocktail for a mocktail. This Bee’s Knees mocktail spritz, inspired by the gin-based classic drink, has lemon, a sweet honey syrup, and is topped off with club soda.
Get the Bee’s Knees Mocktail Spritz recipe.
Blood Orange Mocktail Spritzer
This blood orange and ginger spritzer hits all the right notes: a little sweet, a little sour, and a little spiced. Finished off with a bouquet of fresh garnishes, it’s the perfect winter cocktail mocktail to toast with all season long.
Reset Lemonade
Lemonade is a classic summer bev to cool off with when the weather gets too hot, but did you know it can also be a hot drink to warm your soul in the cold winter months? If you're not feeling your best but aren't in the mood for a hot toddy, then this is the drink you should turn to. With fresh lemon juice, honey for sweetness, and spices like ginger, cloves, and cayenne (trust me here), this non-alcoholic drink will give you the reset you've been needing.
Get the Reset Lemonade recipe.
Touchdown Tea
This autumnal iced tea is made with brewed black tea, apple cider, and maple syrup for a cooling drink that holds its own. Serve it for game day to wash down seven-layer dip and pigs in a blanket, or sip it as an afternoon pick-me-up that’s just sweet enough and totally refreshing.
Get the Touchdown Tea recipe.
Grapefruit-Rosemary Mocktail Spritz
This easy-to-make, booze-free cocktail hits all the marks. It’s tart, herby, slightly sweet, a little smokey, and definitely an adult mocktail that isn’t too heavy on the fruit juice or sweetener. Serve with some bite-size apps, and get ready to really get the party started.
Virgin Piña Colada
Sit back and sip those cares away with a non-alcoholic piña colada that's basically a tropical milkshake. The classic version might be a bit more smoothie or Icee-like in texture, but we are obsessed with this slightly richer and creamier take.
Get the Virgin Piña Colada recipe.
Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine
When the weather outside gets frightful, we can all agree that there’s nothing nicer than curling our hands around a piping hot mug some mulled wine…that is, unless you’re not drinking alcohol. Rather than simply skip that sip of pure coziness, make this non-alcoholic mulled wine instead!
Get the Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine recipe.
Strawberry-Lemonade Shrub
Originating in 17th century England as a method to preserve fruit, shrubs eventually made their way over to colonial America, evolving into fruit- and vinegar-infused syrups used as a mixer for water, seltzer, and cocktails. This strawberry-lemonade version only takes 4 ingredients to create, and will be the base for the most refreshing mocktails (and more!).
Get the Strawberry-Lemonade Shrub recipe.
Brazilian Lemonade
Don’t get us wrong, a classic lemonade is great, but Brazilian lemonade is extra special. It gives Key lime pie vibes, in the very best way.
Get the Brazilian Lemonade recipe.
Wassail
Wassail is a warm, spiced punch that’s traditionally served when celebrating the ancient English Yuletide tradition of the same name. The combination of warm spices, like cinnamon, star anise, and cardamom, infuse a heady, pleasing essence into each steaming mug.
Get the Wassail recipe.
Frozen Cherry Coke Slushies
This childhood favorite is peak 7-Eleven nostalgia in the best possible way. Frozen cherries are blended with Coke (both frozen into cubes and straight up) with a splash of lime juice for a surprisingly balanced and totally drinkable frozen drink.
Get the Frozen Cherry Coke Slushies recipe.
Blackberry Virgin Mojito
This non-alcoholic mojito is still every bit as refreshing with an easy mint simple syrup and fresh blackberries. It makes extra syrup, so you can use it in cold brew or lemonade too!
Get the Blackberry Virgin Mojito recipe.
Virgin Raspberry Mango Margarita Slushies
When it's a real scorcher, refresh with these gorgeous virgin frozen margaritas, made zesty with lots of lime. We love layering raspberry and mango for the sweet-tart tropical flavor, but strawberry and pineapple is a solid combo too.
Not-So-Naughty Jack Frosties
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean a chilled, blended drink doesn’t hit the spot too. This vibrantly blue, not-so-naughty (read: non-alcoholic!) take on our Jack Frost cocktail is a refreshing departure from the hearty flavors of the holiday season.
Get the Not-So-Naughty Jack Frosties recipe.
Hot Chocolate
A good hot chocolate is the perfect balance of rich chocolate and creamy milk, sweet enough to satisfy your sugar craving but not too sweet that you can’t finish the whole cup. Here, we use a blend of dark and semisweet chocolate and add a pinch of salt to give you a perfectly rich, creamy, and delightfully satisfying cup.
Get the Hot Chocolate recipe.
Shirley Temple Float
With the Dirty Shirley being the drink of summer 2023, we thought, Why not float-ify it for summer 2024? The result was this foamy, fruit, smooth, and creamy confection that’s 50% drink, 50% dessert, and 100% a sweet tooth satisfier.
Get the Shirley Temple Float recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine and if wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
Expertise: Vegan cooking and baking, holiday party foods, and grammar.
Education: Boston University College Of Communication / Natural Gourmet Institute
About Me: As the Digital Food Producer/Editor at Delish, Camille provides myriad insights into our new and existing content, juggles our newsletter offerings, and coordinates between teams to guarantee our recipes and recipe round-ups are the best they can be. Camille worked at/managed several New York restaurants and cafes, focusing on fostering good relationships between the front and BOH (IYKYK). She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma. When she's not writing, editing, or debating the appropriate ingredients in everything from beer cheese to Sichuan chicken, she reads any fantasy or sci-fi she can get her hands on, goes thrifting, and spends time with her wife and their dog, Bacon.
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