5 Mocktails You Can Make Without a Recipe, According to TikTok

Whether you’re doing Dry January or not, having a few easy mocktails in your repertoire is always a good idea. If you like to host, it’s nice to be able to make custom beverages for anyone who doesn’t drink alcohol. Or maybe you like whipping up a special drink after work, but don’t always want booze on a weeknight. For both of these reasons, I have a few go-to nonalcoholic cocktail recipes I return to regularly, and I’m always on the lookout for more.

When it comes to mocktails, you want to make something that's not overly complicated or time-consuming. The key is to find simple formulas that you don’t need a recipe for while still yielding celebration-worthy results — and social media has become one of my go-to sources for easy, accessible mocktails, now that more people are sharing their methods for making zero-proof beverages.

You’ll notice a few common ingredients among these ideas, and as long as you keep at least one bubbly beverage (like seltzer or Sprite) and some good quality juice or citrus on hand, you can come up with a mocktail in seconds. Bonus points if you garnish with fresh fruit or herbs. But to get you started, and until you’re comfortable riffing nonalcoholic drinks off the top of your head, here are some of our favorite easy mocktails from TikTok and Instagram.

Blood orange spritz

We’re in the middle of blood orange season, and an easy way to take advantage of this stunningly hued citrus is by incorporating it into a two-ingredient drink. For this, you’ll only need one blood orange and a citrusy soda or sparkling water of your choice. Cater the liquid you choose to your taste. Opt for Fresca if you want something on the sweeter side, flavored sparkling water if you prefer no sweetness at all, or an orange Poppi for an option in the middle. Combine ice, soda, and the juice of half a blood orange in a glass, and garnish with a thin, round slice of the fruit. If you think you need more blood orange juice, feel free to use the whole citrus. I also recommend serving this drink in a large stemmed glass, like a red wine glass, so it really feels like you’re enjoying a spritz.

Sleepy girl mocktail

I’d be remiss not to mention the “sleepy girl mocktail” that went viral last winter because it’s such a simple drink that still holds up — especially if you’re trying to regulate your sleep schedule. The original sleepy girl mocktail calls for tart cherry juice, magnesium powder, and sparkling water. If you don’t want to include magnesium — which some evidence suggests might help improve sleep quality — that’s completely fine. Tart cherry juice has been shown to increase melatonin levels and sleep quality, so it will likely give you the sleep benefits you're looking for. If you do use magnesium, make sure you consult your doctor first to ensure it's right for you and follow the instructions for dosage on the packaging.

Roy rogers

The Roy Rogers existed long before social media — it dates back to the 1940s — but the internet's love of Diet Coke means content creators are showing even more people how to make this iconic and ridiculously easy drink. Similar to a Shirley Temple, a Roy Rogers calls for grenadine, a vivid red syrup that’s traditionally made with pomegranate juice. Add a touch of grenadine (roughly a half ounce, using more or less depending on how sweet you want the final mocktail) and a cola like Pepsi or Coke to a tall glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, and your Roy Rogers is served.

Cranberry sunrise

This nonalcoholic riff on a Tequila Sunrise is ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth. (It’s also extremely popular on TikTok, with a video of it racking up more than 11 million views over the past year.) Adding your ingredients to the glass in a particular order is important for this mocktail, because it will ensure you achieve the signature gradient finish. Start with ice in a tall glass, fill it with one third cranberry juice, one third Sprite, and then one third orange juice. If you’re feeling a little extra fancy, garnish with a sliced orange on the rim of the glass.

Sparkling punch

Is this a true punch? Probably not, but I’m all in favor of giving something a name that makes it feel elevated. You will need to snag a can of strawberry-orange Sunkist for this nonalcoholic beverage, which will give you the flavor of several different fruits in one drink. Grab a tumbler, add ice, fill it about one-third of the way up with pineapple juice, then finish with the Sunkist. The finished drink will be bubbly, with a beautiful orange-red color and a mixture of tart and sweet flavors. TikTok doesn’t suggest this, but I think finishing it with a squeeze of lime would be an excellent addition for a little more acidity. And if you really want to take it over the top, you can rim the glasses with sugar.

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