Play with your food: Part 3, Mocktail experiment extravaganza

Plus a non-alcoholic Eggnog with Brown Sugar Meringue recipe.

Lately, I’ve been super into creating fun mocktails as a break between the work day and the evening.

I made a pickle spritz out of pickle juice and sparkling water this summer and it’s been my favorite refreshment ever since. Call it weird, but it’s so good! Half the fun with cocktails is mixing crazy combinations, and you can easily replicate that experience with non-alcoholic options. No alcohol doesn’t have to mean no fun.

All these mocktail recipes are on the blog, plus more. I tried to link to most of them in this post, but if you want one I missed ask and I’ll drop you a link :)

What You Need:

• Fresh fruits & herbs: Think of garnishes like citrus, berries, pineapple, mint, basil, and rosemary. Sometimes, the bigger the better.

• Syrups: Flavored simple syrups (like ginger, lavender, mint, borage, rosemary, rose), honey/agave. In the summer when I make the borage simple syrup, this borage fizz mocktail is a favorite.

• Sparkling water/club soda: These could be plain or flavored.

• Non-alcoholic spirits: Not necessary at all for a great mocktail, but there are some great choices out there. A lot of alcohol brands have non-alcoholic versions, and there are plenty of trendy zero-proof versions to enjoy too.

• Fresh juices: Cold-pressed or freshly squeezed. You know, a fancy lemonade is a wonderful mocktail.

• Garnishes: Edible flowers, dehydrated fruit (I love a dehydrated blood orange slice), flavored rims (anything can be ground into sugar or salt).

• Fun ice cubes: Ice with frozen fruit/herbs, large cubes. This Persian sharbat golab (rosewater mocktail) is one I love serving with tiny rose buds inside the ice cubes.

• Glassware/stirrers: Fancy glasses are a must, and fun stir sticks or a garnish-covered cocktail pick can set a great tone for mocktail hour.

How to Serve: Set the mood with music, lighting, and candles.

If doing this as a get-together or for a party, set up a station with your flavored syrups, juices, water, and non-alcoholic beverages in pitchers. You can give them cute labels if you like. Arrange any garnishes like herbs or dried flowers in little bowls and use shallow dishes or bowls so people can dip their glasses into salt or sugar rims. Provide glassware options, because choosing a fun glass is half the fun.

A Holiday Mocktail Recipe for All

A spin on my spiked eggnog with bourbon brown sugar meringue, this sweet treat really itches the same scratch.

Eggnog with Brown Sugar Meringue