["trends"]

11 Refreshing Mocktails to Serve at Brunch

April 04, 2024 by

Jump to:

Discover a brand-new world of morning refreshment with our lineup of 11 delicious brunch mocktail recipes. Imagine a sunny patio, laughter filling the air, and a table set with all your breakfast favorites. Our brunch mocktails are here to add a burst of flavour to your laid-back gathering. From zesty citrus sippers to fragrant herbal infusions, each recipe will add a little something fabulous to your brunch spread. 

1. Virgin Mimosa

Three mimosa brunch mocktails served with cheese and pastries

Brunch mocktails do not come any simpler than the Virgin Mimosa. It’s the ideal mocktail to serve if you feel a little bit intimidated by drinks with lots of ingredients and fancy shaker work. To make a batch, simply combine 3 cups of chilled ginger ale with 1 cup of chilled orange juice in a pitcher over ice. Stir it, and you’re good to go!  

Learn more: How to Host a Brunch Party at Home

2. Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini

A woman holding a tray of non-alcoholic espresso martini brunch mocktails and shortbread biscuits

The retro-amazing Non-Alcoholic Espresso Martini makes for a super classy breakfast mocktail. To make enough for two people, combine a cup of freshly brewed coffee (chilled), 2 tablespoons of aquafaba, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and half a teaspoon of cacao powder in a cocktail shaker without ice. Dry shake, then add ice and shake again until frosty. Strain into two pre-chilled Martini glasses and spoon the foam on top.  

3. Southern Sweet Tea

A tray of Sweet Tea on a silver tray in a pretty daytime outdoor setting

Southern Sweet Tea is a classic non-alcoholic iced tea that is deeply rooted in the US South. While it’s a summer classic, you can easily whip up a nice big jug to serve as a breakfast mocktail at brunch and all throughout the year. The best part? All your guests can just help themselves.  

What is a Mocktail? The Beginner’s Guide

4. Virgin Bloody Mary

Two Virgin Bloody Mary brunch mocktails with crispy bacon and celery garnish served with a plate of croissants in a picnic setting

This savoury brunch mocktail is low in sugar and packed with flavour. To make one umami-packed Virgin Bloody Mary, combine 180ml tomato juice, 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice, a few dashes of hot sauce, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, a tablespoon of fresh lime juice, and a pinch of celery salt in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until frosty. Decant it into serving glass over fresh ice and dress it up with your savoury favorites. We suggest celery, pickles, or green olives.  

You might also like: What is an Aperitif and When is it Served?

5. Virgin Cranberry Mojito

Two Virgin Cranberry Mojitos served with a stack of pancakes with crispy bacon on a table next to a swimming pool

In the mood for something tall, cool, and refreshing? Try our Virgin Cranberry Mojito brunch mocktail recipe. Muddle 4-5 mint leaves and 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice in the bottom of a tall glass. Add 3 tablespoons of cranberry simple syrup and ice. Fill the remainder of the glass with club soda and stir. Garnish with mint leaves and cranberries. For a sweeter drink, use half soda water and half lemon-lime soda.  

Read next: The 12 Best Brunch Cocktails for Easy Entertaining 

6. Rosemary Lemonade Batch Mocktail

A jug of rosemary lemonade with two empty glasses next to it on a table in a garden

We love mocktails for brunch that come to the party all dressed in florals. To make a batch of Rosemary Lemonade, start by making a rosemary sugar syrup—you will need two cups. Once the syrup is cooled, add it to a pitcher with 1.5 cups of fresh lemon juice, 6 cups of cold water, and a few scoops of ice. Add some fresh lemon slices and let guests serve themselves.   

Make the circle bigger: Pitcher-Perfect Batching Cocktails for a Crowd  

7. Green Goddess Smoothie

Close up top view of a Green Goddess Smoothie in a mason jar container, surrounded by spinach leaves, sliced lemon and fresh banana

If you want to go the health-boosting route with your brunch mocktails, we highly recommend a Green Goddess Smoothie. Blend 1 cup of baby spinach, 1 banana, half a cup of pineapple chunks, half a cup of mango chunks, and 1 cup of plant-based milk. Adjust sweetness to taste. You can also add some celery and a piece of ginger if you want to up the mood-boosting qualities of this green smoothie.    

You might also like: 8 Easy Mocktails for Simple and Clean Sipping 

8. Mock Champagne Punch

Top view of a sumptuous Mock Champagne Punch for the holidays

We love pretty-looking breakfast mocktail recipes, and this one delivers.  Our Mock Champagne Punch recipe is great for serving a brunchtime crowd, and the quantities can easily be adjusted to a single serving. And while this refreshing punch is completely alcohol-free, the combination of grape juice and ginger ale mimics the effervescence of Champagne to a T.   

9. Roy Rogers

Close up image of a Roy Rogers mocktail on a table in a light bright home kitchen

Looking for brunch mocktail ideas with a bit of old-school flair? Just like its soda shop counterpart, the Shirley Temple, the Roy Rogers is an inspiring blast from the past. Long before “mocktails” became a buzzword, you could order these delightful non–alcoholic mixed drinks at nearly any bar or restaurant. Cheers to a sip of nostalgia over brunch! 

More clean clinkers: 11 Best Blue Mocktails (Non-alcoholic) to Try in 2024 

10. Hot Spiced Tea

Two cosy cups of Hot Spiced Tea on a wooden table in a room decorated for the holidays

This Hot Spiced Tea is ideal for a wintertime brunch. Heat 8 cups of water in a saucepan until boiling. Turn down the heat to a simmer, add 5 black tea bags, and let it steep for 5 minutes. Remove the bags and add 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of pineapple juice, 1.5 cups of lemon juice, and 3 cups of orange juice.  

Next, pop 1 cinnamon stick and 1 teaspoon of whole cloves into a cheesecloth and tie it up to make a spice bundle. Add this to the juice mixture, then simmer for about 10 minutes (or more). Remove the spice bundle, ladle the hot tea into heat-proof mugs, and serve your super-easy brunch mocktails 

11. Paloma Mocktail

Two Virgin Palomas served in a garden setting

Indulge in the refreshing flavours of a Paloma Mocktail, a vibrant clinker that exudes the essence of summer in every sip. Perfect for brunch and bursting with citrusy goodness, this recipe combines tangy grapefruit juice with zesty lime, topped off with a fizzy twist of club soda. Whether you’re serving up a late breakfast by the poolside or hosting a lingering pre-lunch gathering with friends, this Paloma Mocktail is sure to be a hit. 

There you have it – 11 amazing brunch mocktails to dress up your breakfast table. Tag us in your tasty Instagram pics and remember to sign up for our newsletter to receive our next batch of gorgeous non-alcoholic recipes as soon as they drop!  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Brunch enthusiasts often opt for refreshing beverages like Virgin Mimosas, Alcohol-Free Espresso Martinis, Sweet Tea, and Rosemary Lemonade. These mocktails offer a delightful alternative to traditional brunch cocktails, perfectly complementing the leisurely atmosphere of mid-morning gatherings.

A good morning cocktail for brunch typically includes invigorating flavours such as citrus, herbs, or coffee-inspired elements. Mocktails like Virgin Mimosas, Alcohol-Free Espresso Martinis, Sweet Tea, and Rosemary Lemonade are popular choices, providing a satisfying burst of flavour without the alcohol content.

In mocktails, alcohol is often replaced with a variety of flavorful alternatives, such as fresh juices, syrups, herbs, infused simple syrups, and non-alcoholic spirits. These ingredients add depth and complexity to mocktails like a Paloma Mocktail, Virgin Cranberry Mojito, and Hot Spiced Tea ensuring that every sip is both satisfying and refreshing.

Stay in the mix

Sign up to our drinkspiration newsletter.