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Mad for mocktails
![Cocktail](/images/content-sub-image/content-sub-image-cocktail_main.jpg)
Whether you're going 'dry' for Macmillan's Sober for October campaign, or just having bit of a break from alcohol before all the lovely Christmas eggnogs and mulled wines start getting made, non-alcoholic drinks can be pretty boring.
There's only so much squash and tea a girl can drink!
And it can be particularly tough on a girls' night out when everyone else is drinking exotic cocktail creations and you're stood there nursing a diet Coke.
So hoorah for the 'mocktail' - they look good and taste a whole lot better than plain, old water.
Here are a few of our favourites you can try at home.
Chocolate Heaven
![Chocolate cocktail](/images/content-sub-image/content-sub-image-cocktail_choc.jpg)
Goodtoknow's chocolate mocktail is perfect for those with a sweet tooth who love creamy, rich drinks.
Ingredients (Serves 3)
- 150g milk chocolate bar
- 210ml milk
- 75ml vanilla syrup
- 3 squares of milk chocolate
- Ice
Method
- Place the milk in a non-stick saucepan and gently simmer
- Break half of the chocolate bar into squares and add to the milk. Stir gently until the chocolate has melted
- Allow to cool for one hour at room temperature and then store in fridge
- Pour the cool milk mixture into a cocktail shaker and add the vanilla syrup. Shake over ice for one minute and double-strain into martini glass
- For decoration, slice into a square of chocolate and place at an angle on the rim of each glass or grate some chocolate over the top of the drink
Autumn punch
![Autumn punch cocktail](/images/content-sub-image/content-sub-image-cocktail_mulled.jpg)
You don't have to forgo delicious mulled drinks if you're alcohol-free; try Tana Ramsey's mulled punch - perfect for a chilly autumn evening.
Ingredients (Serves 5)
- 1 glass of apple juice
- 1 glass of orange juice
- 1 glass of cranberry juice
- 2cm piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 2 whole cloves
Method
- Put all the ingredients into a pan and heat to just below boiling
- Simmer for at least 15 - 20 minutes to let the flavours infuse. You can add sugar to sweeten if you like
- Strain into mugs and serve
Tropical Fizz
![Tropical fizz cocktail](/images/content-sub-image/content-sub-image-cocktail_tropical.jpg)
If you want to add a touch of the Caribbean to your glass, try BBC GoodFood's fruity mocktail.
Ingredients (Serves 8)
- Handful of strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped
- 2 pineapple rings, chopped
- Sparkling apple juice (chilled)
- Tropical fruit juice (chilled)
- Soda water (chilled)
Method
- Fill 8 glasses with a mixture of the fruits
- Then add equal amounts of the sparkling apple juice, tropical fruit juice and soda water
- Serve immediately
Blackberry, elderflower & mint spritzer
![Blackberry, elderflower & mint spritzer](/images/content-sub-image/content-sub-image-cocktail_mojito.jpg)
If a hedgerow mojito is your idea of the perfect cocktail then you'll love this alcohol-free version from thekitchn.com almost as much. If you fancy a change, replace the lime juice and blackberries for lemon juice and strawberries.
Ingredients (makes a pitcher)
- 1 litre of soda water, chilled
- 8 tbsps of elderflower syrup, chilled
- 1 lime, juiced
- Large handful of blackberries, washed
- Handful of mint leaves
Method
- Whisk the soda water and elderflower syrup with the lime juice
- Stir in the blackberries and mint leaves
- Serve immediately