Easy, Yummy Mocktails

By: Shelby Williams and Cecily Hodgson

I LOVE a good mocktail. In my quest to drink less and be healthier mentally and physically, I discovered mocktails. Like a cocktail, they are still fun to prepare and make you feel like you are drinking something special. I get sooooo tired of just drinking water all day, and I love a little pick me up at the end of the day. Especially with this warm weather, we like to get outside at the end of the day, grill, relax, and sip something refreshing in the sunshine.

Mocktails are definitely a trend right now, but I see some recipes that have 18 steps and the most expensive, obscure ingredients. They are beautiful and look yummy but I know I will never make them. These are all SO easy, lower sugar, and yummy. They even have healthy, functional benefits.

All recipes are from the cocktail and mocktail master, Cecily Hodgson :)

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ACV spritz

Serving: 1

Ingredients 

1 TBL Apple cider vinegar (ACV)

1 TBL Lemon

1 TBL Honey 

Soda water to top

Instructions

1. In a shaker or glass, mix the ACV, honey, and lemon with spoon (no ice) until honey is dissolved. This will take a few minutes. 

2. Once the honey is dissolved, add ice and shake. 

3. Strain into a new glass with fresh ice. 

4. Top with soda water. 

Health benefits:

Vitamin C, aids in digestion, antioxidants, increase immune system

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Nighttime cherry mocktail

Serving: 1 

Ingredients 

1 - 2 oz Tart cherry juice 

½ Lime juiced

0.5 oz Maple syrup

Soda water to top

Sprig of thyme for garnish

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice

2. Shake and strain into a glass with new ice 

3. Top with soda water

4. Add a sprig of thyme for garnish

Health Benefits:

Tart cherry juice aids in muscle recover, inflammation, sleep, and boosts your immune system.

Pineapple coconut breeze

Serving: 1 

Ingredients

0.25 - 0.5 oz agave 

2 oz pineapple

1 oz lime

0.5 oz canned coconut milk

Top with lime soda water or flavor of choice  

Optional: tajin and coarse sea salt salt for rim.

Optional: Grated frozen ginger and jalapeno 

Instructions 

1. Add agave to a plate. Add tajin and salt to another plate. Dip your glass rim in the agave then tajin/salt mixture. 

2. Fill that glass with ice.

3. In a shaker, add the agave, pineapple, lime, coconut milk and optional ginger and jalapeno. 

4. Shake and strain in to your glass. Top with a dash of soda water. Give it a little stir and ENJOY :) 

Health benefits:

Pineapple juice contains vitamin C, coconut milk helps balance blood sugar, and ginger helps aid in digestion and lower inflammation.

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FauxLoma 

Like a fake paloma

Serving: 2

Ingredients 

1 cup water

2 white tea bags (use decaffeinated if needed)

2 tbsp Honey

1/2 cup lime juice

1 large organic grapefruit - juiced

Grapefruit seltzer 

Optional: vest from 1/2 grapefruit and coarse sea salt for rim. 

Instructions

1. Boil the water, remove from heat, add the honey and steep the tea bags.

2. Mix the salt and grapefruit zest on one plate. Add honey to another plate. Dip your glass rim in the honey then salt/grapefruit mixture. Fill your glass with ice. 

3. Add the tea, lime and grapefruit juice to a large container/jar (I use a quart sized mason jar).

4. Shake to mix. 

5. Pour the tea/juice mixture into your glass about halfway then top with grapefruit seltzer. 

6. Optional: garnish with dehydrated lime wheel and/or slice of grapefruit.

Health Benefits:

White tea contains antioxidants, grapefruit contains vitamin C, and honey helps with digestion and the immune system.