5 Healthy Mocktail Recipes

Being British, I’m quite partial to a gin and tonic, but G&Ts aren’t really all that good for you. Healthy mocktails do exist though, meaning that anyone who is avoiding booze can rest assured that there are plenty of great options for them to enjoy and cheers with.

In fact, many bars and restaurants have become quite creative with their alcohol-free offerings in recent years, but a lot of these mocktails contain refined sugar, artificial flavourings and preservatives and a range of other fairly undesirable ingredients. Skip these nasties by making these alcohol-free healthy mocktails at home!

1. Sangria!

Ideal for a patio party, this alcohol-free sangria is packed with antioxidants, including resveratrol, vitamin C, quercetin and other bioflavonoids (which also help keep histamine levels low!).

• 3 cups red grape juice
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 apple, cubed
• 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
• 1 orange, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 bottle sparkling apple cider
• Ice

Combine the juice and fruit in a large pitcher or bowl, cover and let chill in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Add the sparkling cider and serve in chilled glasses with ice and extra fruit for garnish if desired.

2. Ginger-pin!

Quick and easy to make, this healthy mocktail is a refreshing aperitif as it contains ginger and pineapple to support digestion!

• 1 bottle unsweetened pineapple juice
• 1 bottle ginger beer
• 75 mL lime cordial
• 2 cups soda water
• Ice

Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, along with plenty of ice, and give it a good shake. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with a wedge of pineapple.

3. Welcome Home Lassis!

Wouldn’t you just love to be greeted with one of these refreshing lassis upon coming home from work? Featuring cumin, coriander and probiotics this refreshing non-alcoholic drink is traditionally served with Indian food and can support healthy digestion.

• 2 cups probiotic almond or coconut yogurt
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon of toasted cumin seeds
• 1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro

Whisk together the yogurt and water to create a frothy foam. Slowly pour the mixture into chilled glasses and sprinkle with some toasted cumin seeds and fresh cilantro.

4. Pomegranate-apple Rossini

Pomegranates are packed full of antioxidants, especially polyphenols, and has been seen in a small number of studies to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels already in the normal range. Pomegranate juice can interact with some medications, including the blood thinner warfarin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, so be sure to check with your physician before making this mocktail!

• 1 ounce chilled pomegranate juice (make sure it’s pure and unsweetened)
• 5 ounces chilled sparkling apple cider
• A twist of lemon to garnish

Almost fill a champagne flute with the sparkling cider, then slowly pour the pomegranate juice over the back of a spoon onto the surface of the cider. The juice will gradually make its way to the bottom of the glass, changing the colour as it goes. Add a twist of lemon for extra pizzazz!

5. Cranberry Smartini

Cranberries are bursting with vitamin C and other antioxidants and have a well-deserved reputation for maintaining healthy urinary function. Be smartini-pants and mix up this mocktail now!

• 100 g cranberries
• 100 mL cranberry juice
• 500 mL blood orange juice
• Juice of 1 lime
• Lime wedges
• Blood orange wedges
• 600 mL sparkling apple juice

Rinse the cranberries and place in a freezer-safe container, covering the berries with about an inch of water and freezing until solid. Meanwhile, mix the cranberry juice, orange and lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate until the cranberries are frozen. Smash the frozen sheet of cranberries into shards and put these in the bottom of eight highball glasses with a wedge of lime and orange. Pour the juice mixture into each glass and top with the sparkling apple juice.

Some other great options for making healthy mocktails include blueberries, coconut water, aloe vera juice, muddled raspberries and other fresh seasonal fruits. Better yet, freeze a tray of grapes or berries and use these as ice cubes!