Y’all know I’ve been taking summer requests straight from my newsletter, and this one’s for Dana, who asked for more mocktails to enjoy with her non-alcoholic household.
Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Tropical Sunrise Mocktail
Dana, I had so much fun putting this one together for you. It’s got all the fruity island vibes of a Mai Tai or Bahama Mama, just without the rum. We’re blending pineapple, citrus, and passion fruit juices with fizzy ginger beer and a pour of grenadine that settles into the most gorgeous ombré sunrise.
The ginger beer gives it just enough spice and fizz to keep it from tasting like plain juice, and starting with chilled ingredients helps the mocktail stay cool and bold without getting watered down.
It’s a great option for summer BBQs, baby showers, or poolside sipping when you want something bright and beautiful that everyone can enjoy.
Hope your family loves it, Dana!
Jump to:
Ingredients Needed
Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Orange Juice
- Pineapple Juice
- Passionfruit Cocktail - you'll find this in the latino aisle at the grocery store, it really amps up those tropical flavors with the pineapple.
- Grenadine - this gives us that magic effect, the gorgeous ombre in the drink.
- Ginger Beer - I know ginger beer can be strong for some people, so swap it for lemon-lime soda or sparkling water.
- Ice
- Garnish - you can use a simple sprig of fresh mint, grab some pineapple leaves, or fun edible flowers. You can also do it up sangria-style with orange slices and other fresh fruit.
How to Make this Tropical Mocktail
Step 1 | Simply pour all the juices over ice in a pitcher, then pour the ginger beer over top. Give it a stir, a taste, and add anything you'd like to finish it up before pouring in a little grenadine to give the sunrise effect.
Step 2 | Pour into glasses with ice cubes and garnish with fresh fruit and herbs.
Variations
- Sparkling Citrus Swap - Swap the ginger beer for lemon-lime soda or sparkling water with lime for a lighter, less spicy fizz. Great if you're serving kids or want to tone down the ginger kick.
- Make it Frozen - Use frozen fruits and juice (frozen orange juice concentrate and frozen pineapple work great) and put it into a blender until it's a slushy consistency.
- Try with flavored simple syrup - make easy simple syrups to sweeten and flavor the mocktail with lemon, strawberry, peach, or any other flavor you love!
- Try it with other tropical fruits like starfruit, guava, mango, papaya, etc.
- Make it Alcoholic - Rum, vodka, even tequila taste great in this drink if you want to add alcohol to it.
- Spicy Sunrise - Muddle in a slice of jalapeño or add a tiny pinch of cayenne to the juice mixture for a little heat that balances all that fruit. It's subtle but makes the drink more grown-up.
- Turn into popsicles - freeze the drink in ice pop freezer molds with wooden sticks overnight. By morning, you'll have amazing and refreshing popsicles to beat the heat with.
Pro Tips for the Best Mocktails
- Use chilled ingredients - It makes your non-alcoholic summer drinks taste infinitely better. Store your juices, soda, or ginger beer mocktail mixers in the fridge, and chill your glasses for the best mocktails.
- Layer like a pro - For that Instagram-worthy ombre mocktail or sunset drink, pour the grenadine last over the back of a spoon. It’ll sink slowly and create those beautiful layers.
- Add acidity for balance - Tropical fruit juices like pineapple, mango, and guava can be super sweet. A squeeze of lime juice or splash of lemon cuts through and adds brightness, keeping your fruit-forward mocktails tasting bright and refreshing.
Storage Instructions
Keep your tropical mocktail in a pitcher with a lid in the fridge for up to 5 days.
More Summer Mocktails
Craving more cozy recipes? Sign up for the Sweet Tea & Thyme newsletter, save this recipe with the Pin button. If you whip it up, tag me (@sweet_tea_thyme on IG/@sweetteaandthyme on TikTok) and don’t forget to leave a star rating and note below, it helps more than you know, friend.
Summer Tropical Mocktail
Ingredients
- Ice
- 18 ounces orange juice, pulp free
- 18 ounces pineapple juice
- 12 ounces passionfruit cocktail, or another tropical juice
- 12 ounces ginger beer
- 2 ounces grenadine
- pineapple leaves, fresh fruit, cocktail umbrellas, for garnish
Instructions
- Over ice in the pitcher, pour in all of the juices. Give a stir.18 ounces orange juice, 18 ounces pineapple juice, 12 ounces passionfruit cocktail, Ice
- Add the ginger beer. Stir gently to incorporate, you don't want to lose the fizz12 ounces ginger beer
- Carefully add in the grenadine, it'll sink to the bottom so there's no need to stir.2 ounces grenadine
- Serve in tall glasses over ice with fun garnishes.pineapple leaves, fresh fruit, cocktail umbrellas
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips for the Best Mocktails
-
- Use chilled ingredients - It makes the drinks taste infinitely better. Store everything in the fridge and chill your glasses ahead of time if you can.
-
- Layer like a pro - Pour the grenadine last over the back of a spoon to get that layered sunrise look. It sinks naturally, but pouring too fast will muddy the colors.
-
- Add acidity - if the drink is too sweet, a squeeze of lime juice or a splash of lemon juice for a better balance.
Leave a Reply