Cocktails, Drinks and Smoothies (Non-Alcoholic): 5 Cold, Delicious Recipe Ideas
Many people opt for an alcohol-free lifestyle all year, while others engage in the ever-popular Dry January. Whatever your reason — saving money, weight loss, preventing nasty hangovers or addiction recovery — the choice for sober fun is entirely up to you.
Of course, some people find swapping alcoholic beverages for non-alcoholic drinks challenging. However, there are plenty of non-alcoholic cocktails, drinks and smoothies you can try to quench your thirst.
5 Delicious Non-Alcoholic Drinks for Sober Fun
If alcohol isn't your thing, don't fret. These five delicious non-alcoholic drink recipes are just as good, if not better.
1. Paloma Fizz Mocktail
The Paloma Fizz Mocktail is a virgin version of the original Paloma Fizz — a savory fruit cocktail that typically includes a shot of tequila.
A rosemary simple syrup and two beverages create this delicious drink in a few easy steps.
Water, sugar and rosemary sprigs are all you need to make the syrup, which you should bring to a boil for three minutes, allowing the sugar to dissolve. Strain the syrup into a mason jar or another container and allow it to cool.
In a tall glass with ice, pour grapefruit juice, the rosemary simple syrup and seltzer, then stir. Add a rosemary sprig and grapefruit wedge for garnish.
2. Bahama Mama Smoothie
Whether you hope to backpack throughout Europe or sail away to the Caribbean islands, traveling is a great way to experience everything life has to offer — good food, cultures, music and language immersion. However, not everyone can cross scuba diving in the West Indies off their bucket list.
Thankfully, Bahama Mama smoothie recipes deliver all the best flavors of the tropics without the hangover.
Start by pulsing white chocolate, coconut milk and agave syrup in a high-powered blender. Then, add frozen strawberries and pineapple and blend for approximately 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If you don't own a high-powered blender, allowing the frozen fruit to defrost for about 10 minutes before chopping them is helpful.
Feel free to garnish your smoothie with additional chopped strawberries and white chocolate.
Other Bahama Mama smoothie recipes may include passion fruit, banana, protein powder, flax or chia seeds, peanut butter or almond milk.
3. Virgin Mary's
Hosting monthly dinner parties with your best girlfriends is a great way to spend quality time catching up and sharing a few laughs. During the summer, you can invite everyone over for a garden party on the patio instead.
Of course, if a luncheon is in the cards, then a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary should also be.
To make a Virgin Mary, you'll want to puree celery and the leaves in a food processor. Then, process horseradish, shallot, celery salt, kosher salt, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and lime juice until the consistency is smooth.
Finally, pour the mixture with tomato juice into a large pitcher and garnish each serving with a celery stalk.
4. Sparkling Cherry Spritzer Mocktail
Your reasons for choosing non-alcoholic drinks are nobody's business but yours — this is particularly true if you're dating again after recovering from alcohol addiction.
Navigating relationships after addiction might seem complicated, particularly since many dates meet at bars or restaurants. Yet, with so many non-alcoholic beverages available, you shouldn't feel any unnecessary pressure.
Many wine companies sell alcohol-free products using modern processes, such as reverse osmosis to remove the alcohol content. You can also impress your date with a romantic spritzer — sans white wine — right in your kitchen.
Begin by juicing cherries with a juicer or blender into a tall glass. Strain the liquid to remove the cherry solids and pour the juice into a pitcher.
Stir in honey, lime juice and zest, mint leaves, pitted cherries, chia seeds and seltzer and chill in the refrigerator. When serving, you can garnish the drink with extra lime zest and a peel for color.
1. Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Smoothie
Dessert liqueurs may taste delicious, but the calories can add up quickly with a single shot. Ending your day with a cold treat using clean ingredients is much better.
Strawberries contain antioxidants and anthocyanins with anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and cancer-fighting properties — making a chocolate-dipped strawberry smoothie a healthier, non-alcoholic dessert drink.
Simply blend frozen strawberries, your choice of dairy or non-dairy milk, strawberry or vanilla yogurt, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and chia seeds in a blender. You may also sweeten it with a bit of maple syrup or honey.
Although you could replace the yogurt with a banana or use fresh strawberries, frozen strawberries create a thicker consistency and keep your drink cold for longer. Remember to add a bit of whipped cream and chocolate nibs for garnish.
Never Feel Like You're Missing Out Again
If passing on alcohol makes you feel like you're missing out sometimes, these non-alcoholic drinks will show you who really has the most fun. You don't need booze to spend time with friends and family or start new relationships after addiction. What matters most is showing up — and if you happen to with a non-alcoholic beverage in hand, good for you.
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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.
