Pregnancy cocktails - aka mocktails - have gotten me through the last 9 months. I’ve played around with recipes, got some inspiration on ones to add to this list from our trip to Miami, and even ordered and tested some non-alcoholic spirits that have turned me into a fan.
Here, I’ve listed 9 of my favorite mocktails to make at home - with the option to add booze. Duh, I wouldn’t force booze-less drinks on you unless you want or need them! And I’ve added a few non-alcoholic spirits I’ve tried and liked. You can find more on my instagram’s “Mocktails” highlights - @andreas_cooktales. Happy sipping!
Limoncello Mint Creamsicle
Syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 handful mint
Drink (1 serving):
Ice
2 tablespoons mint syrup
Limoncello La Croix or similar sparkling water
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Fruit and mint - for garnish
Make the syrup by bringing sugar and water to a boil. Take off the heat and add mint. Let steep and cool for several minutes.
Fill a pretty stemmed glass with ice. Add the mint syrup and fill with flavored sparkling water. Stir in the heavy cream and garnish with fruit and mint.
*May be made into a cocktail. I recommend 1 to 2 ounces of Limoncello or your favorite spirit.
Watermelon Lemonade
1 serving
1 1/2 cups cubed watermelon
1/2 cup ice
1-2 tablespoons honey or agave (depending on the sweetness level of the watermelon)
1 lemon juiced
1 lemon slice (for garnish)
In a high-speed blender, add the watermelon, ice, honey or agave, and lemon juice. Blend together until an icy liquid is formed. Pour into a glass and garnish with the lemon slice.
*May be made as a cocktail. Add 1 ounce of your favorite spirit. I recommend Limoncello or lemon vodka.
Coconut Lime Colada
1 serving
1 cup coconut soda water, plus more for finishing (such as La Croix)
2 ounces CoCo Real cream
1 lime
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the coconut soda water, Coco Real cream, and a squeeze of lime juice. Shake together until cold and combined. Strain into a short glass filled with ice. Add more sparkling water if needed. Garnish with a lime slice and top with lime zest.
*May be made as a cocktail. Add 1 ounce of gin, vodka, or rum.
Rose Water Spritzer
1 serving
Ice
5 strawberry slices
1 teaspoon rose water extract
1 cup plain sparkling water
Mint leaves
Add ice, 2 strawberry slices, and rose water to a stemmed glass. Lightly muddle the berries and the rose water together. Top with sparkling water and add the extra berries and mint leaves.
*Turn into a cocktail by replacing the sparkling water with cava, prosecco, or champagne.
Virgin Pina Colada
1 serving
1 cup ice
2 ounces CoCo Real cream
2 ounces pineapple juice
1.5 ounces milk of your choice
Pineapple and cherry for garnish (optional)
Combine the ice, cream, pineapple juice and milk together in a blender until blended. Garnish with pineapple and cherry.
*Turn into a cocktail with 1.5 ounces of rum.
Spicy Key Lime Frozen Margarita
4 to 6 servings
3 cups Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Limeade
1 cup Key Lime La Croix
4 to 5 cups of ice
Limes
Salt
Blend together the limeade, La Croix, and ice until smooth. Using a lime, rub the rim of 4 glasses. Pour salt onto a plate, then dip each glass in the salt. Pour the margaritas into glasses and garnish with a lime round. These can also be made on the rocks as seen in the picture above - just don’t blend and add ice at the end!
*Turn into a cocktail by replacing 1 cup of the limeade with 1 cup tequila.
Sunset on South Beach
1 serving
1/2 cup coconut water
Mint sprigs
1/2 cup mango juice
Squeeze of lime
Ice
Ginger beer - for topping
Pour coconut water into a tall glass and add a few mint sprigs. Muddle together the coconut water and mint. Add mango juice, lime, and ice. Top with ginger beer, stir together, and serve with a sprig of mint.
*Turn into a cocktail by adding 1 ounce of your favorite spirit.
Lavender Sage Delight
1 serving
Lavender simple syrup:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lavender leaves
Drink:
2 ounces Monday non-alcoholic gin
1 ounce lavender simple syrup
1 egg white
Sage leaves
Lavender leaves
Bring the sugar, water, and lavender to a boil. Let cool and strain into a container. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add the gin, lavender syrup, egg white, and a few sage leaves. Shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe and serve with sage and lavender leaves.
Rosemary Non-Gin and Tonic
1 serving
2 ounces Monday non-alcoholic gin
Rosemary sprig
Juniper Berries (optional)
Soda water
Tonic water
Lime round (optional)
Fill a short glass with ice. Add the gin, rosemary sprig, and juniper berries if using. Top with equal parts soda and tonic. Garnish with rosemary and lime if you wish.
Some of my favorite non-alcoholic spirits:
Monday Gin (for year-round)
Seedlip Garden (for spring and summer)
Seedlip Spice (for fall and winter)
*See more and full explanations @andreas_cooktales on Instagram