Virgin Sangria Mocktail Recipe

This Virgin Sangria Mocktail recipe is perfect for entertaining, especially at pool parties on long, lazy summer afternoons. A sangria mocktail makes the perfect centerpiece and is a great non-alcoholic option. It looks so good, you’ll almost not want to drink it! 

If you’ve ever had classic sangria, you’ll know it’s delicious, but it can be deceptive. The tasty combination of fruit, juice, and alcohol makes it an easy-to-drink, lush, fruity beverage that goes down as a treat. 

But, a few glasses can will go down so quickly that before you know it, your head is buzzing and the world is spinning. That’s why I love making non-alcoholic drinks like this one.

Try this Virgin Sangria Mocktail recipe to avoid the buzz but still enjoy the taste. Once you take your first sip, you’ll be hooked on the delicate fruity flavor. It’s like every good feeling summer gives you, but in a glass. Make this delicious drink for your next gathering.

Why You Need This Recipe

• You can make this tasty Sangria Mocktail well in advance, so there’ll be less work for you when the guests arrive. 
• It’s easy to double, triple (or quadruple!) the recipe when you entertain a crowd. This Virgin Sangria recipe tastes like the real thing and is the perfect drink for hot summer days.
• It’s 100% versatile, so you can use it for cocktail parties, a baby shower, picnics, brunches, and even children’s parties. While many people enjoy an alcoholic beverage at a party, it’s nice have a great mocktail for those who don’t want to drink.

What You’ll Need to Make This Recipe

You don’t need much equipment or any exotic ingredients to make this recipe, and there’s a substitute for everything, just in case you don’t have one of the items.

1. Glasses

You can drink your sangria mocktail in any glass. You’ll probably want a few refills, so you may as well make it your favorite drinking glass.

Some people enjoy drinking sangria in wine glasses or, in short, flat tumblers, which is the traditional way to enjoy it. I like making my Virgin Sangria Mocktail recipe and serving it in a punchbowl in the center of the table.

2. A Long Spoon or Stirrer

You’ll need to stir the mix, so a long spoon, stirrer, or a skewer will do.

3. A Pitcher or Jug

Use a large pitcher or jug to prepare your virgin sangria mocktail and store it in the refrigerator. Simply pour it out into glasses or the punchbowl when you’re ready to serve. If you’re like me and make a lot of it at a time, you’ll need a few pitchers or jugs.

Ingredients and Substitutes

The most challenging part of making this delicious virgin sangria mocktail is planning ahead. It’s best to chill it for an hour, at the very least, so it’s not one of those mocktails you can whip up in a flash – the fruit has to chill with the juice to get the best flavor profile. 

Here are some notes on the ingredients in this recipe and a few possible substitutes you can try depending on your personal preferences. 

Grape Juice

I mainly use red grape juice in this mocktail to pay homage to the flavors of classic sangria, which uses red wine. Because red grape juice is naturally sweeter, I also added some white grape juice for its tartness and lemon and lime juice to balance the sweetness.

White grape juice also helps mimics the dryness and color of white wine that is used in the traditional Spanish drink.

If you think grape juice is too sweet, you can also use pomegranate juice with no added sugar.

Real sangria usually has sugar in it, but this is not necessary for this non-alcoholic sangria recipe because of the high sugar content in the juices. When you shop for juice, make sure you use only 100% juice with no added sweetener. The last thing you want is an overly sweet drink.

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

It makes a massive difference if you use freshly squeezed orange juice, so it’s really worth making the extra effort. If you only have enough oranges to slice up inside or in a pinch for time, buy the highest quality orange juice you can find. 

Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice and Lime Juice

The lemon and lime will cut right through the natural sweetness of the grape juice. But don’t worry, it won’t make it too tart or sour. As with the orange juice, the fresher, the better.

Fruit

Use the freshest oranges, limes, lemons, and apples possible. I like using citrus fruits, but you can also use apples!

Softer, ripe apples will give you the best results. Don’t peel them, but be sure to core the apples! If the citrus season is over, but you’re still craving a pitcher of virgin sangria, you could try other fruit combinations. Watermelon makes an excellent cooling sangria mocktail. 

For an upscale ladies’ brunch or a kitchen tea, try combining peaches and cantaloupe, and use white grape juice instead. It’s a delectable mix.

Cinnamon Sticks

The longer you leave the cinnamon stick in the mixture, the more the flavor will infuse with the rest of the ingredients. It is the number one ingredient that will give your sangria a more authentic spiciness. 

Ice

You should only add the ice cubes to your Virgin Sangria Mocktail as you serve it. If you add it before you chill the initial mix, it will affect the flavor profile and may even dilute it.

If you plan to make this recipe for an outdoor event and expect hot weather, freeze some of the citrus fruit before you start preparing it. It will keep the sangria mocktail mix cold without interfering with the flavor or watering it down. 

Avoid using crushed ice with this drink, especially on a hot day. It melts too quickly and will dilute the juice in your virgin sangria. 

Soda Water 

You can use any carbonated water with your virgin sangria mocktail as long as you only stir it in as you’re about to serve the mocktail. Don’t use a sweetened carbonated drink like ginger ale or your mock sangria will be too sweet.

Here are a few tips to change it up:

• Use frozen slices of citrus fruit like orange slices instead of ice cubes to keep your virgin sangria mocktail chilled on a hot summer’s day.
• Try using sparkling apple cider instead of soda water for an extra-sweet, fruity, fizzy twist to your mocktail. 
• Instead of red grape juice, use white grape juice for a less traditional, lighter, and slightly more tart version.
• Use cranberry juice instead of grape juice, and add berries to your fruit mix.

Recipe FAQs

More Summery Non-Alcoholic Drinks You Might Like

• Cucumber Ginger Lemon Water
• Hibiscus Tea Recipe
• Iced Americano
• Iced Coffee Recipe
• Sparkling Kombucha Lemonade
• Strawberry Mocktail
• Mojito Mocktail Recipe
• Pomegranate Mocktail

Virgin Sangria Mocktail Recipe

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This Virgin Sangria Mocktail recipe is perfect for entertaining, especially at pool parties on long, lazy summer afternoons. A sangria mocktail makes the perfect centerpiece and is a great non-alcoholic option. It looks so good, you’ll almost not want to drink it! 

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lime, thinly sliced
• 2 unpeeled apples, cored and chopped
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cups of unsweetened red grape juice
• 1 cup of unsweetened white grape juice
• 1 1/2 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice
• 16 ounces of soda water
• Ice cubes for serving
• Citrus slices for garnishing

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Instructions

1. Layer the orange and lemon slices and apple pieces on the bottom of a glass pitcher or jug.
2. Add the cinnamon stick.
3. Pour in the grape, orange, lemon, and lime juices.
4. Gently stir until everything is well-mixed.
5. Cover the pitcher or jug and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, preferably for four hours or overnight.
6. When you’re ready to “wow” your guests and serve, add the soda water to the pitcher and stir it gently. 
7. Add a few ice cubes or frozen citrus slices to each glass, and pour the sangria mocktail over.
8. Garnish with some citrus slices, and serve!

Notes

1. Use frozen slices of citrus fruit instead of ice cubes to keep your virgin sangria mocktail chilled on a hot summer’s day.
2. Try using sparkling apple cider instead of soda water for an extra-sweet, fruity, fizzy twist to your mocktail. 
3. Instead of red grape juice, use white grape juice for a less traditional, lighter, and slightly more tart version.
4. Use cranberry juice instead of grape juice, and add berries to your fruit mix.

• Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Beverages
• Method: Easy
• Cuisine: Spanish
• Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 134
• Sugar: 29.5 g
• Sodium: 25.2 mg
• Fat: 0.4 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 32.8 g
• Fiber: 0.7 g
• Protein: 1.1 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg

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