Sunrise Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic Tequila Sunrise)

If you’re looking for a fun and fruity non-alcoholic beverage, then you’ll love this easy Sunrise Mocktail recipe. Using orange juice, lemonade and grenadine syrup, you can make a color effect that looks like the sunrise and tastes wonderfully delicious! Such a fun drink for any time of the year.

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Sunrise Mocktail recipe

Have you ever had a tequila sunrise cocktail? The tangy flavors of orange juice and grenadine syrup are just the perfect pairing with the bold flavor of tequila. But did you know you can make a sunrise cocktail that is just as good, without the alcohol?

This sunrise mocktail is tangy, sweet, and really just SO pretty to look at! It’s one of those beverages that is almost too pretty to drink, but then the draw of fresh orange juice takes over and I drink every last drop. It’s too tasty to resist!

I love to make colorful and fun drinks during the summer time, and this one is just perfect for fun in the sun. My secret ingredient to making this mocktail one step above the others is a little splash of lemonade.

Not only does it make the color effects better, but it adds to the flavor of the drink too! You’re going to love the layered fun of flavors and colors in this fun sunrise mocktail. It’s a fabulous party drink and takes just minutes to make.

More fruity mocktails: Strawberry Agua Fresca • Virgin Frozen Strawberry Margarita • Virgin Mimosas • Frozen Virgin Daiquiri

Why you’ll love this recipe

I could list so many reasons why I love this recipe, but here’s just a few of my favorites:

• You can serve this non-alcoholic beverage for any occasion that needs some alcohol free drink options. Long gone are the days where the designated driver has to just drink soda. They can still have fun drinks too!
• Not only does this taste yummy, but it looks beautiful. It has wonderful visual appeal that is fabulous for parties.
• There’s no fancy equipment needed for this simple recipe — not even a cocktail shaker. You can use simple kitchen tools that you likely already have!

Tools & glassware 

To make this non-alcoholic cocktail, you will need a few basic materials. Grab some highball glasses to serve the drinks in. Then you’ll also want a spoon and a jigger.

If you’re making your own grenadine syrup, then make sure you’ve got a saucepan and other materials that the recipe calls for.

Ingredients

You only need five simple ingredients to make a sunrise mocktail. Here’s what to have on hand:

non-alcoholic tequila: I like to use Ritual non-alcoholic tequila, but there are tons of different non-alcoholic spirits you can use! I really like Seedlip Grove 42. If you don’t want to use any, then just add some extra orange juice into the cocktail.

orange juice: For the best flavor, I recommend making your own fresh squeezed orange juice. However, bottled orange juice will work too. A good substitute for may be pineapple juice!

grenadine: The red layer at the bottom of the glass is made with a pomegranate syrup called grenadine. You can buy it at most grocery stores or make your own homemade grenadine instead. This pomegranate syrup keeps in the fridge for about 2-3 months, so you can make all the Shirley Temples and Dirty Shirleys you want with it.

lemonade: Most sunrise cocktail recipes do not include lemonade, but I love adding it to this yummy mocktail! It helps give it more of a sunrise-like look and the flavor pairs so well with smooth orange juice and grenadine syrup.

maraschino cherry, for garnish: If you don’t have maraschino cherries on hand, then you can make some homemade cocktail cherries to use instead.

Substitutions & variations

Mix things up with one of these variations:

Sparkling sunrise mocktail: Make it like the Corona Sunrise with a non-alcoholic beer or ginger ale.

Sunset mocktail: Reverse the order of the ingredients, carefully layering them so they don’t mix. It will resemble a sunset instead.

Tequila sunrise: If you’d prefer the cocktail version, use tequila instead of the zero-proof spirit.

Instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions to make this sweet sunrise mocktail in just a few minutes time:

Add the non-alcoholic tequila and orange juice to a highball glass that is filled with ice. Stir gently.

Slowly pour lemonade on top of the drink and then pour grenadine syrup in. Don’t stir the syrup, it will sink to the bottom of the cup on its own.

Garnish the sunrise mocktail with an orange slice, maraschino cherry and a cocktail umbrella, then serve!

Tips & tricks

Read these few tips and tricks for the most success when making a virgin sunrise mocktail:

• While you don’t have to use the back of a spoon when pouring your syrup into this mocktail, it often proves to be successful in keeping the red syrup from mixing into the other layers of liquid. So if you’re having trouble getting the red layer to the bottom, then give this trick a try.
• Give this mocktail a fizzy twist by leaving a little room at the top of the glass and adding seltzer or club soda. A lemon lime soda like Sprite would be tasty too!
• Before making this drink, make sure all of the ingredients are cold. This will help ensure that your mocktail is super enjoyable and stays cold.

Food pairings

This would be a lovely alternative to a margarita to serve on taco night — oh, and add a side dish of Mexican fruit salad with it too! It’s a great drink to sip on when eating chips and queso or chips and salsa too.

Serve this fruity beverage alongside tasty cheese appetizers like marinated cheese or a cheese board.

I have also been known to drink this poolside with a big bowl of guacamole and some chips. Who needs a vacation on the beach when you can have guac and a fruity mocktail?

FAQ

More Mocktail Recipes

• Virgin Margarita
• Virgin Mimosas
• Virgin Frozen Strawberry Margarita
• Virgin Moscow Mule