Easy Virgin Margarita Mocktail

Just 5 minutes and a quick shake is all you need to create a virgin margarita mocktail that is the ideal balance of tart, salty and sweet. I've spent years refining and tweaking this recipe, so you can be sure it works out perfectly every single time. I just know you'll love it as much as I do!

this recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

This easy mocktail ticks all the boxes:

• Minimal refined sugar: with juices that are naturally low in sugar and a no/low sugar mixer, the sugar content of drink is minimal.
• Easy to make: 5 minutes of ingredient prep and a quick shake is all you need to make virgin margarita magic at home!
• It’s Oh So Pretty: with a beautiful salt rim and gorgeous colour, it not only tastes great, but looks insta-worthy too.
• A perfect flavor balance: the secret to the best margarita mocktail is getting the balance of tart, sweet and salty balance just right. It took me awhile, but I have officially nailed it with this recipe.

ingredients

• Fresh lime juice: if there is one thing that is a negotiable when it comes to making perfect virgin margaritas, it is fresh lime juice. So please, please, PLEASE...use it if you can. If you absolutely HAVE to use bottled lime juice, be sure to choose one that is 100% lime juice (or as close to as possible) and without added sugar - lime juice is not supposed to be sweet!

• Orange juice: Again, freshly squeezed juice works wonders, but there are plenty of bottled options too. Tip: whether you use fresh of bottled, I recommend straining the pulp - I am not a fan of little pulp pieces in this recipe!

• Grapefruit juice (optional): I used a bottled grapefruit juice and it worked perfectly. The grapefruit gives this drink a real kick and adds some complexity, which I think is needed given the absence of alcohol. Having said that, you can replace this with orange juice if you wish.

• Lime sparkling water: You can use any brand of lime sparkling water, or Limeaid. Just watch the sugar content.

• Agave or your sweetener of choice: I love using agave to sweeten my margarita mocktails because this keeps them as close to the classic as possible. You're welcome to use your own choice of sweetener if you prefer to keep the sugar content down.

• Salt (for rim): It wouldn't be a margarita without that gorgeous salty rim! Coarse salts like kosher or sea salt work best because they don't dissolve as quickly and honestly....they just taste better. Please do not use regular table salt if you can avoid it. If you do need to use it, use sparingly.
  
• Non-alcoholic tequila (optional): see my thoughts below in Experts Tips and Tricks.

How to make a virgin margarita mocktail

It honestly could not be easier to get your mocktails on the table in record time!

If you're making the salty rim (HIGHLY recommended), do this first. Place the salt in a shallow dish, then run a lime wedge around the outside of your glass. Dip the rim into the salt and then tap the glass gently to remove the excess.

To make the mocktail, simply place your lime juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice (if using), non-alcoholic tequila (if using) and agave or sweetener in a shaker. Add 3-4 cubes of ice, replace the lid and shaker for around 15-20 seconds.

Strain over fresh ice and garnish with lime.

Expert tips and tricks

The salty vs sweet rim debate: When I was testing the recipe I had rather large debates with my audience on Instagram about the rim. Personally, I love a classic salt rim, but a handful of my sweet tooth testers disagreed and opted for a sugar rim. Another option is half salt, half sugar – then you get the best of both worlds! I’ll leave it up to you to choose the one you prefer.

A word on non-alcoholic tequila: If you want your virgin margarita drink as close to the original as possible, consider using a non-alcoholic tequila like the one from Lyre's or Ritual. They can be costly, but also work for other recipes like my paloma mocktails.

To make batch mocktail margaritas: Use the toggle in the recipe card below to choose the amount of servings you'd like to make. This will adjust the quantities so you know how much of each ingredient you need. Place all ingredients into a pitcher and stir to combine. Don't add ice to the pitcher - this will dilute your mocktail. Instead, serve over ice in glasses rimmed with salt, then garish with lime.

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I hope you love this virgin margarita mocktail as much as I do!