Even if a tropical vacation isn’t in your near future, there’s nothing stopping you from sipping on a flashy, fruity beverage at home, staycation style.
This playful passion fruit libation makes it clear that it’s always five o’clock somewhere, sans the booze. With its refreshing splashes of citrus juice, bouquet of fresh mint, and bubbly topper, it’s time to relax and unwind with this non-alcoholic sipper.
This is a truly magical mocktail.
With a year and a half of sobriety behind me, I’ve been educating myself in the zero-proof spirit scene. If you feel the urge to add a tasty splash of something that mimics the real deal, feel free to peruse this roundup of non-alcoholic options. I like to splash a few ounces of my favorite booze-free botanical libation in this drink, but it’s purely optional.
Before you jet off to the market to grab the must-haves for this mocktail, if you’re unacquainted with the sweet, tangy fruit available fresh from the grocery store, now is the time to give passion fruit a try!
Though humble in size, passion fruit makes up for that with big flavor, and a mighty vitamin content. This antioxidant-rich, immune-boosting fruit is a fantastic source of fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Health facts aside, it’s impossible to crack into one of these colorful orbs and not be impressed by its golden glowing pulp and pitch-black seeds. Before breaking the fruit open though, you’ve got to know what to look for at the grocery store.
Ripe passion fruit feels heavier than it looks, which means it’s loaded with that luscious flesh inside. The softer and wrinklier the skin, the riper the fruit.
Go on, give them a little squeeze. You know you want to.
In this recipe, the tart, jelly-like passion fruit pulp is shaken and then strained to remove the seeds. I like to reserve some of the flesh to stir into the finished drink, but feel free to skip that step for a totally smooth refreshment.
In addition to today’s featured fruity star, there are a few more ingredients to complete the base of this mocktail: freshly squeezed lime, orange, and grapefruit juices keep everything fresh and bright, and a dash of agave syrup lends a touch of sweetness.
I also believe in adding a fresh garnish to mocktails to provide a sneak peek of the flavors to come, so don’t worry – I didn’t just stick a green sprig of herbs on top for fun, though it adds a nice pop of color as well.
Fresh mint leaves are also added to the shaker. The agitation from shaking it up with the liquid ingredients and ice releases the flavor right into the refreshing beverage.
A finale of bubbles gives much-needed carbonation. Plain seltzer or club soda work like a charm, but with the variety of flavored sparkling water varieties out there like coconut and pineapple, you can feel free to have some fun with this ingredient.
Get ready to relax and unwind with this tasty treat.
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Passion Fruit Mocktail
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 drinks 1x
Description
Tropical passion fruit adds a sweet-tart zing to this colorful mocktail loaded with fresh citrus and mint, and topped with carbonated water.
Ingredients
- 5 ripe passion fruit, divided
- 2 fluid ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 fluid ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (or pineapple juice)
- 1 fluid ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons agave syrup (or simple syrup)
- 2 fluid ounces non-alcoholic libation of choice (optional)
- 4 sprigs fresh mint, divided
- 2 fluid ounces plain seltzer or club soda (or flavored)
- Lime sliced into rounds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large cocktail shaker with ice.
- Cut the passion fruit in half and set aside 2 halves for garnish. Scoop out the seeds and pulp from the rest and add it to the cocktail shaker, setting aside 2 tablespoons of pulp in a separate small bowl.
- Add the orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave syrup, NA liquor if using, and 2 sprigs of mint to the cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until the outside is frosty, about 10 to 15 seconds.
- Press the lime rounds against the inside of two highball glasses if using, flat up against the sides so they are visible. Carefully fill with ice.
- Strain the drink into the glasses. Add the reserved passion fruit seeds and pulp to each, and stir gently with a cocktail stirrer or long-handled spoon. Top with seltzer. Garnish each glass with half of a passionfruit with the cut side facing up, and a sprig of mint.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Mocktails
- Method: Cocktail Shaker
- Cuisine: Beverages
Keywords: mocktail, passion fruit, non-alcoholic
Cooking By the Numbers…
Step 1 – Gather, Prep, and Measure Ingredients
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can use a large mason jar with a lid or a protein shaker with a mixing ball to make this drink. Just be sure to have a small, fine mesh strainer on hand to strain out the seeds and ice.
Fill your shaking vessel with ice.
Slice all of the passion fruit in half, and set aside 2 of the smaller halves to garnish the cocktails.
Using a spoon, gently scoop out the seeds and pulp from the rest. Measure out 2 tablespoons of pulp and set it aside in a small bowl. Add the rest to the cocktail shaker.
Juice 1 medium navel orange, a lime, and half of a large grapefruit. If you like, you can use pineapple juice in place of the grapefruit for a slightly sweeter and more tropical drink.
Remove any seeds from the juice. Measure 2 ounces of orange juice, 2 ounces of grapefruit juice, and 1 ounce of lime juice.
Slice another lime into thin rounds for garnish.
Measure the agave or simple syrup and your choice of non-alcoholic spirit, if using. You might also want to try a homemade berry syrup, for another layer of bold, fruity flavor!
Coconut water also adds a nice flavor to sub for the NA spirit, or you can top off with an additional ounce or two of sparkling water to finish the drink if you like.
Pluck 4 sprigs of mint from a small bunch. Make sure they’re clean, and fresh-looking!
Set out the seltzer or club soda, and two highball glasses.
Step 2 – Combine the Liquids and Shake
To the cocktail shaker with the passion fruit pulp and seeds, add the orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave syrup, NA liquor of choice, and 2 of the mint sprigs.
Muddling the mint in the shaker will bruise the leaves and release its flavor.
Place the cap on your cocktail shaker and, using two hands, vigorously shake until the outside is very cold to the touch and forms an icy layer, for about 10 to 15 seconds.
Step 3 – Strain, Garnish, and Sip
Press the lime rounds against the inside of the glasses so they’ll be visible after the drink is poured in. Fill gently with ice.
Strain the liquid into the glasses – or pour it through your sieve – and then gently stir a tablespoon of the reserved passionfruit pulp into each drink with a long cocktail stirrer.
An iced tea spoon with a long handle also works for this, or a chopstick will do nicely.
Fill each glass nearly to the top with seltzer or club soda. Float half of a passion fruit cut side up on the surface of each. Garnish with the reserved mint sprigs, and sip immediately!
Hello, Happy Hour
You might not think the glassware you choose matters that much when you’re slinging mocktails, but I believe it can make or break a drink.
A beverage with carbonation like this one does best in a tall, slender glass, where the bubbles will pop more slowly, since there’s less surface area.
If you’d prefer to enjoy yours sans rocks and bubbles, selecting a lowball glass is the way to go.
If you’re serving a thirsty crowd, keep in mind that this recipe can be multiplied easily – though you might have to work in batches if your cocktail shaker can’t accommodate the larger volume of liquid.
How did you enjoy this NA beverage? Any ingredient swaps or add-ins to share? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to give this recipe a five-star rating if you loved it.
Mint adds a refreshing mentholated zip to recipes of all kinds, especially those that are sipped through a straw. If you’re still thirsty, try these drinks next:
Photos by Fanny Slater, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published by Lori Jo Hendrix on October 19, 2015. Last updated on October 4, 2022.
Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.
About Fanny Slater
Fanny Slater is a home-taught food enthusiast based in Wilmington, North Carolina who won the “Rachael Ray Show” Great American Cookbook Competition in 2014, and published her cookbook “Orange, Lavender & Figs” in 2016. Fanny is a food and beverage writer, recipe developer, and social media influencer. She was a co-host on the Food Network series “Kitchen Sink,” was featured on Cooking Channel’s longtime popular series “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” and continues to appear regularly on the “Rachael Ray Show.”
I’m always pleased to see a new mocktail recipe, it’s nice to have something to offer to non-drinkers other than mineral water and soda. The upcoming holiuday season means parties and this is where recipes like this really come into their own.
Hi missbishi,
Nothing says celebration like passion fruit! Happy holidays!
I’m a little concerned that these are going to end up as smoothies, rather than mock-tails. The steps that talk about grinding up the fruit makes me believe that one who consumes this beverage will end up chewing it instead of drinking it. How would it taste to add some water, or even another juice, like grape or apple? Would that take away from the taste? I’m going to give it a shot.
Hi Brody Walker,
I prefer classic non frozen cocktails, for me that is a cocktail, but there are those, especially women who seem to prefer frozen drinks and yes, you are correct they are somewhat like a smoothy but fancier. For example, a frozen strawberry margarita.
Smoothies generally have some ice added and this recipe has no ice but you can make it less thick by straining the passionfruit juice and thus removing the thicker pulp and also, as you suggested, by adding more lime or grapefruit juice and serving it in a martini cocktail glass instead. I would not add a different kind of juice, just more of the grapefruit or lime.
As far as the seeds go, those are crunchy and you have to chew then but they are delicious. You can always leave them out if you do not like them. You may need to add more sugar if you decide to increase the other juices because passionfruit is rather sweet.
Salud!
My teen daughter and her friends think they are so grown. I could see them drinking these at her pool parties and just having a good time. That’s another great reason for these mocktail recipes. I can’t wait to see how they go over.
Hi nailah783,
Oh yes, your daughter and her friends will feel very elegant and spoiled sipping these by the pool. The same way we do when we get a nice cocktail. I remember how cool I felt getting a Shirley Temple in restaurants when I went out to dinner with my parents, hehehe. This recipe is perfect poolside because of the refreshing ingredients and don’t forget it is important to stay hydrated in the sun.
Cheers!
This recipe looks great, and so very easy! I like to drink occasionally, you know socially, and there are some drinks that I prefer to be virgin. Like the piña coladas. Some of my friends are religious, so they don’t drink, and are sometimes stuck drinking something boring. I’m sure that if I try making this passion fruit cocktail drink, they’ll love me for it. Wish me luck!
Hi MichelleVL,
They will love you for it and no luck needed! They will turn out great!
Cheers!
Hi everyone! I gave the recipe my first try yesterday, and it was simply AMAZING! My husband and kids loved it, and let me tell you, my kids hate anything that tastes natural. I’m definitely trying it out with my friends too.
Hi MichelleVL,
Yay! You tried it, and on the whole family! I am so happy they enjoyed it and as far as the kids go this is a healthy way to get them to have fruit. Let us know what your friends think.
🙂
This recipe looks delicious. I love absolutely everything in it. I have never drank much myself. Not out of opposition to drinking or anything like that. I am just always the designated driver, which I’m fine with since my husband likes to drink more than I do. I haven’t gotten much of a taste for strong drinks and don’t know what I like that people have ingredients readily available for, anyhow. I tend to like the drinks with exotic fruits, herbs, flowers, or other specialty ingredients and prep that nobody has. I just stick to water and juice, since I don’t drink soda. I will definitely have to make this as it sounds perfect. One can always add some vodka or other liquor to kick it up too. Speaking of kicking it up a notch, a citrus sugar rim with chili powder or pico de gallo would add a nice heat to this. Similar to a chamoynada or mangonada perhaps…
Hi lebrennan,
This sounds like the drink for you and yes a little dash of vodka, rum or Cachaça would be great in this. Even if you are driving but just one.
I am in love with your idea of the citrus sugar rim with chili powder or pico de gallo! I must try this and soon as I love sweet and spicy and the color would be beautiful. Let me know if you try it before I do. Hmmm, Sunday is the fresh fruit market here in Mexico, I think I am going to have to do this and with a little bit of vodka.
Cheers!
These are so pretty to look at. You could serve them at any function, in any season. I like the fact that they’re non-alcoholic. However, I think I’d want to add just a wee dash of rum to mine.
Hi icecat,
Heheheheh, thank you and me too! Don’t forget you can add rum or cachaça as well 😉
Cheers!
A Taste of Sweet Passion… It looks great! I want to prepare it! 🙂
Hi Andystrong,
Please let us know when you do and thank you for joining us!
Salud! 😉
I don’t alcoholic drinks. So at parties, it’s usually just soda for me. So this drink recipe is a truly good alternative to serve (for myself), haha! But really, I think this is a good inclusion should I decide to host a party of my own. Most of my friends don’t do alcohol as well. So, I think they too will appreciate this.
Hi saravet ,
Yes, soda can get quite boring at parties of that is all you have while watching everybody else drinking lovely exotic cocktails. I am sure your friends will be very appreciative!
Cheers!
Doesn’t that cocktail look wonderful with those mint leaves? I really enjoy drinks like this if I’m the designated driver (when I don’t drink any alcohol) or when I’ve had my two units of whatever booze is on offer (more than 2 units and I fall asleep).
If I’m staying ‘dry’ i might make this a longer drink with fizzy mineral water and if I’m not ‘dry’ I might add some champagne or sparking wine or a tot of white rum!
Hi Julie,
Both sound like great ideas and thank you for liking the recipe! I love your suggestions for adding alcohol or sparkling water (or soda water), sounds delicious!
Salud!
I am such a fan of non-alchoholic cocktails, especially the tropical kinds!
This is absolutely great for family gatherings and parties!
Hi sahara1981,
Thank you! I am so happy you like it. Be sure and let us know when you make it.
Salud!
I love the fact that non alcoholic drinks are taken or count on this blog, there’s a lot of people out there struggling with alcohol who deserves a delicious and refreshing cocktail too, and this seems to be the perfect recipe for it, personally, passion fruits is one of my favorite fruits ever and I really can’t imagine how good it will taste combined with the other fruits and the most refreshing touch ever: mint!
I really need to give this one a try :).
Hi anorexorcist,
True, there are so many that can’t drink alcohol or need to cut down it is so important that they be provided with delicious alternatives. I am very happy you like this recipe and let us know how you like it when you do. I love anything with passionfruit. Just the smell of it drives me crazy!