15 Fruity Mocktail Recipes for Non-Drinkers Who Still Want to Feel Fancy

You’ve probably started noticing bar menus stacked with summery, non-alcoholic drinks, but if you’re craving one at home, you can easily craft your own fruity mocktails with simple staples you may already have in your fridge.

Like their cocktail counterparts, mocktails—a.k.a. zero-proof, virgin, or booze-free beverages—embody lively mixtures of refreshing ingredients, making them fun, tasty choices to serve at your next dinner party, BBQ, or any get-together.

And there’s no better way to experiment with these drinks than infusing them with different kinds of fruit, Julie Reiner, co-owner of The Clover Club and Leyenda in Brooklyn, judge of Netflix’s Drink Masters, and author of The Craft Cocktail Party, tells SELF. These easy-to-come-by ingredients—whether that’s a juicy mango, ripe peach, or tart raspberry—act as the base of your drink and, depending on the fruit, add the essence of fresh nectars, vibrant hues, and silky or frothy textures.

If you’re serving mocktails at your next gathering, the drink’s recipe isn’t the only thing to keep in mind. Beyond the taste, you also want to make sure you’re crafting an environment where folks choosing not to drink don’t feel alienated. That means giving mocktails the same care in presentation that you would give to cocktails. (“There is always a way to provide something so that everyone gets to feel fancy,” Reiner says. More on that below!)

For some inspiration for your zero-proof journey, we’ve rounded up 15 mocktail recipes crafted with fruity yet innovative flavors—including two from Reiner herself. But before we get into those delicious drinks, keep reading for a few tips that’ll help you master your mocktails.

How do you avoid making overly sweet mocktails?

Nothing is worse than a too-sweet mocktail that overwhelms your palate. Thankfully, there are a bunch of things you can do to avoid this common mistake, and it starts with being mindful of the ingredients you use. Mixology—which, yes, includes alcohol-free drinks—is all about balancing intense flavors. You want to find harmony among sweet, sour, and bitter, Reiner says.

You should also do a taste test of the fruit you’ll be using to get a sense of its ripeness and freshness. For instance, if you’re working with a sweet mango purée, you may want to combine it with tangy limes. (In fact, Reiner says she always keeps a couple of limes on hand when making fruity mocktails.) Another example: If you have tart cherries, you can pair them with a creamy base, like coconut milk, which should calm down the sourness of the fruit.

Then, Reiner says, get your hands on some bitters. These extracts made from plants (like bark, flowers, and roots) help to enhance your drink—just like salt does your food—and more alcoholic-free bitters brands are now hitting the market. For the best fruity mocktails, the powerful droplets of bitters, though minuscule, help ensure “you have your sweet and sour in balance,” she says.

How can you elevate your non-alcoholic drinks?

“Vinegars are such a great way to add acidity,” Reiner says. Not only does vinegar help balance sweetness, but it also adds depth to a drink. You can incorporate vinegar into your fruity, booze-free beverages by making a “shrub”: This syrup consists of equal parts sugar, fruit, and vinegar and pairs perfectly with a dash of sparkling water. Since mocktails nix the powerful punch of alcohol, shrubs can offer alternative matured flavors—similar to what you’d get by infusing an aged wine or spirit into a recipe.

Another tip: Think about where and how you’re serving them. Forget about those sad-looking side tables with boring pitchers and one non-alcoholic option. Instead, consider having several alternatives on hand—like you probably would for cocktails—and serving them in fun containers like stained coupe glasses.

Remember the power of garnishes too. Just as you’d dress up a cocktail, mocktails deserve a level-up as well. For example, try assembling a lemon twist instead of adding a traditional wedge; that way, you don’t waste the rinds. Or consider incorporating fresh herbs like mint as a finishing touch.

Okay, now that you’re a master mixologist, on to the fruity mocktail recipes!

Shannon Sturgis via Carandini1Emilio Spritz from Julie ReinerThis spritzer embodies a playful take on macerated strawberries, which involves soaking the fruit in liquids like vinegar to bring out their sweetness. Balsamic vinegar is the star of this drink, providing the perfect amount of acidity to complement the strawberries and ginger.Get the recipe here.
Shannon Sturgis via Carandini2Carandini Club from Julie ReinerWhite vinegar harmonizes sweetened tart raspberry syrup that’s shaken up with pasteurized egg whites, yielding a frothy mouthfeel. The drink is topped with a zero-proof sparkling rosé, which adds fizz and a floral aroma.Get the recipe here.

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Shanika Graham-White via Orchids and Sweet Tea3Pineapple Jalapeño Lime Mocktail from Orchids and Sweet TeaFor tropical fruit lovers, this delicious mocktail involves tangy lime simple syrup complemented with muddled pineapples and jalapeños. To calm the heat in the drink, it’s infused with freshly squeezed orange and lime juices and topped with fizzy, alcohol-free ginger beer. (Don’t have ginger beer? You can use sparkling water or lime soda for a just-as-peppy result.)Get the recipe here.
Leigh Ann Chatagnier via My Diary Of Us4Citrus Thyme Punch from My Diary of UsThis recipe ensures no citrus goes to waste. Grab whatever you have on hand, ideally oranges or grapefruits, and juice them as the base for this zero-proof drink. The thyme-infused syrup complements the zesty flavors of the citrus.Get the recipe here.

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Trish Bozeman via Rhubarbarians5Strawberry Merlot Slushy Mocktail from RhubarbariansAlcohol-free wine opts in as an easy, excellent base for fruit mocktails. This drink calls for a zero-proof merlot and gets spun into a cool and refreshing slushy—perfect for summer. Thanks to the ripe strawberries, this needs no added sweetener.Get the recipe here.
LaKita Anderson via SimplyLakita6Blackberry Thyme Mocktail from SimplyLakitaThinking of doing a U-pick activity with berries this summer? If so, consider using your blackberry bounty to make a fruity-herb-infused syrup. After the syrup comes together with sprigs of thyme, the drink is practically made for you, following just a scoop of ice and a splash of soda water for some bubbles.Get the recipe here.

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Eden Westbrook via Sweet Tea and Thyme7Simple Paloma Lemonade Mocktail from Sweet Tea and ThymeThe Paloma is already a no-fuss summer mocktail, but this recipe pushes the simplicity even further. Lemonade stands in for the fresh citrus typically found in this drink, helping you save time and energy from making lemon juice.Get the recipe here.
Marisa Moore8Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail from Marisa MooreThis Insta-worthy blood orange-infused non-alcoholic drink is doused with sparkling water and boasts hues of bright orange, making it cute to snap pictures of with your friends and equally refreshing to drink.Get the recipe here.

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Jennifer Drummond via Peanut Butter and Peppers9Cranberry Kiss Mocktail from Peanut Butter and PeppersThis three-ingredient mocktail is pretty much foolproof. Simply combine fresh orange and cranberry juice and top it off with sparkling water. To add some dazzling decor to the drink, garnish with fresh cranberries or orange slices.Get the recipe here.
Deborah Harroun via Taste and Tell10The Princess Nojito from Taste and TellSomething about mojitos represents an escape, whether that’s a dreamy, tropical destination or simply sitting on your patio during the scorching summer. This take on the classic mojito subs the rum with fresh ingredients like mint, limes, lemons, and grapefruit.Get the recipe here.

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Christin via Spicy Southern Kitchen11Frozen Peach Bellini Mocktail from Spicy Southern KitchenReminding us of warm peach cobbler on a summer day, these bellinis may as well be dessert. Depending on what you have on hand, fresh or frozen ripe peaches get blended together with sparkling apple juice and a hint of lime juice.Get the recipe here.
Eden Westbrook via Sweet Tea and Thyme12Watermelon Water Aqua Fresca from Sweet Tea and ThymeHydrating watermelon is that girl when summer hits. The tangy lime juice in this recipe adds a bit of a zing, so swap the watermelon margarita for this zero-proof concoction. If you’re feeling fancy, throw on some edible flowers to make the drink pop.Get the recipe here.

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Laura Wright via The First Mess13Pomegranate Pomander Spritz Mocktail from The First MessThe cult favorite non-alcoholic beverage Seedlip, tart pomegranate, and citrusy orange juice get shaken up with warm spices like clove and allspice in this booze-free delight. Bitters and club soda partner to cut the drink’s sweetness while adding fizz.Get the recipe here.
Shanika Graham-White via Orchids and Sweet Tea14Jamaican Rum Punch Mocktail from Orchids and Sweet TeaA homemade strawberry syrup elevates this take on a classic Jamaican cocktail. This thirst-quenching drink is infused with fresh orange, lemon, lime, and mango juices, which brings out the allspice in this recipe. (When the weather is warm, anything involving fresh mangos gets a green light from us.)Get the recipe here.