A typical Friday night might include a little laugher, some great conversation, and a big pitcher of margaritas. Sounds perfect. As we head into Dry January, you may feel like you have to give up your usual plans altogether while you navigate a booze-free lifestyle. But, ditching alcohol doesn’t mean skipping out on the rest of the fun. There are plenty of ways to have a celebratory drink without feeling like it *has* to include alcohol. Luckily for you, I’ve rounded up a bunch of mocktail recipes that will serve for almost any occasion.
Let me reiterate: Mocktails don’t have to be boring or short on flavor. They’re easy to make, can be customizable for guests, and most even offer some health benefits to boot. These are party-perfect recipes that you can keep in your back pocket—whether you’re serving a crowd or having a party for one.
1. Frozen Mint Lemonade
Okay, yes it’s *technically* winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a frozen drink. And remember, this list is for January and beyond, so you’ll be thanking me once it gets hot and you’re dying for something refreshing and extra chilled. In this recipe, fresh mint and lemon come together to bring cool and bright flavors to your drink lineup.
Get Cookie + Kate’s recipe here
2. Cucumber Melon Spritzer
No matter the time of year, a mix of cucumber, watermelon, and seltzer is always refreshing. Try batching this one for a crowd, and using a melon baller to garnish with rounds of bright watermelon and cucumber that will bring cheer to any party.
3. Sunrise Grapefruit Mocktail
Why should Shirley Temples get all the fun of using grenadine? Add in grapefruit, and you’ve got yourself a beautiful drink that mimics a morning sunrise—which makes it ideal for a brunch spread.
Get Like Mother Like Daughter’s recipe here
4. Frosted Lime Spritzer
This beverage requires nothing more than lime, soda, and a thyme sprig for garnish. Don’t skimp on the salted rim—the salt helps amplify the citrusy flavors, plus salt is great for aiding in hydration.
Get April Golightly’s recipe here
5. Spicy Jalapeño Margarita
Sunny and bright, this ice-cold drink lends a little heat thanks to fresh jalapeños. To play with the heat levels, try keeping some of the jalapeño seeds for a punchier kick, or remove them all for a gentler heat that will lend the perfect amount of warmth to this non-alcoholic margarita.
Get The Wooden Skillet’s recipe here
6. Watermelon Mojito
Ready for a drink that will meet all your hydration needs? Try the complexity of a fizzy watermelon mojito which will make you feel like you’re lounging on the beach with a warm breeze in your hair, no matter the *actual* weather outside.
Get The Merry Thought’s recipe here
7. Pomegranate Lime Basil Mocktail
Fresh herbs are always a great way to zhuzh up a mocktail—especially in the colder months when we’re reaching for canned, pickled, and other wintered foods. This drink has aromatic basil to brighten a mix of pomegranate and zesty lime.
8. Elderberry Pear Fizz
There’s something luxe about elderberry—a dark purple berry known for its immune support benefits—in a drink, especially when paired with blackberries, pear, and a fresh thyme garnish.
Get The Lively Table’s recipe here
9. Grilled Pineapple Lime Mocktail
With a little fire to enrich the sweetness of pineapple, this recipe imagines it on ice with lime juice, sparkling orange juice, and honey to both fuel and soothe the smokiness.
Get The Merry Thought’s recipe here
10. The Merry Mocktail
Sure, the holidays may be over, but winter is here to stay (for now). Why not keep the celebratory mood at your next dinner party with this recipe, aptly called The Merry Mocktail, which combines woodsy rosemary, soda water, and pomegranate juice for a spritzy delight.
Get Pinch of Yum’s recipe here
11. Ginger Grapefruit Spritzer
Get ready for everyone to ask you what you’re drinking—and if you’ll mix one up for them, too. Not all grapefruit mocktail recipes are created equal, and this one makes for a light drink that’s perfect to sip between appetizers with big, zesty flavors like grapefruit, ginger, and mint—a lovely palate cleanser.
Get Lauren Caris Cooks’ recipe here
12. Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail
The bold flavor of blood orange is the star here, but you’ll also get some anti-inflammatory benefits from turmeric, which adds both color and savory complexity to the drink.
Get Jessica Gavin’s recipe here
13. Peach Shrub Mocktail
Peaches make for the perfect afternoon snack and now, the perfect addition to your new mocktail arsenal. If it’s out of season for you, try using frozen peaches to make your shrub, which you can make using 1 part fruit, 1 part granulated sugar, and 1 part distilled vinegar. Let sit in the refrigerator for two days, strain, and you’ve got yourself a fizzy beverage ready for mixing.
Get Set the Table’s recipe here
14. Refreshing Hibiscus Mocktail
Bust through the January chill with this super easy drink: All you need is hibiscus tea, sparkling water of your choice, and lime. It all comes together with a honey simple syrup.
Get Cookie + Kate’s recipe here
15. A Really Good Non-Alcoholic Margarita
Just like the title says, this non-alcoholic margarita is filled with flavor thanks to a jalapeño-lime simple syrup. Coupled with tonic water (which adds just a touch of bitterness) and a delightfully spicy Tajin rim to finish, you won’t miss the tequila at all.
Getn Pinch of Yum’s recipe here
16. Cucumber Ginger Mocktail
Served in a gorgeous coupe glass and brimming with cucumber and fresh ginger, this super chic mocktail looks like something you’d find at an upscale spa, right in your own home.
17. Pink Drink
The title kind of says it all, right? Loosely based on that one drink made by that one coffee company, this mocktail has hibiscus tea (great for aiding digestion), strawberries, and orange juice. Add in some coconut milk, making this a dairy-free delight, and you have the perfect afternoon sipper. The recipe suggests a touch of sparkling water if you want this to feel a little more cocktail-adjacent.
Get Cookie + Kate’s recipe here
18. Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider Sangria
This refreshing take on sangria makes the most of almost-out-of-season apples and pears. All you need to do is pop it in the fridge for an hour or so to really let the flavors meld together.
Get Cook with Manali’s recipe here
19. Cranberry Mock-jito
Still craving some of the flavors of holidays past? This mocktail, made with antioxidant-filled cranberries, tastes great, is super easy to mix, and adds a lovely pop of color to any tablescape.
20. Creamy Avocado Faux-jito
This vegan mojito gets its creaminess from a dynamic combo of avocados and coconut milk. A splash of lime juice, pineapple juice, and maple syrup for sweetness ensures no one will be able to resist.
Get Cotter Crunch’s recipe here
21. Virgin Bloody Mary
Whether you sip on these bloody Marys the night of or the morning after, they’re sure to please with fresh, juicy tomatoes, vegan Worcestershire sauce, and fermented water kefir, which adds rich creaminess, and also bonus probiotics.
Get Beauty Food Blog’s Recipe Here
22. Blackberry Vanilla Mocktail
To balance the tart punch of blackberries, this recipe combines them with the sweetness of honey, a touch of vanilla to round out the sugar, and lemon juice as citrusy complement.
Get La Fuji Mama’s Recipe Here
23. White Hot Chocolate
So far I’ve only talked about cold beverages, but here’s a treat perfect for cold months when you want to tuck into something lovely and tasty. Swap in your favorite dairy-free milk and whipped topping to make this white hot chocolate vegan.
Get Ahead of Thyme’s recipe here
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