How to Create an Incredible Mocktail on Independence Day

Independence Day is such a fun holiday. It’s sort of like Thanksgiving in the sense that friends and families get together . . . except the weather is warm and there’s a night sky full of fireworks in the sky after the sun goes down!

It’s also the time when alcohol and soft drinks are served. But what about people who can’t or choose not to have alcohol but want to have something that looks and tastes like an alcoholic drink? “Mocktails” are growing in popularity and it is hard to tell the difference in taste.

If you’ve ever been the only one holding a soft drink in a room full of drinkers you know how you sort of feel out of place? But having a Mocktail that is decorated and colorful not only tastes wonderful, it also helps people feel less self-conscious. Plus in the heat of the day, it helps keep you hydrated & won’t slow you down!

With that in mind, here is my all-time favorite Hurricane Mocktail recipe I found online last year and have loved it ever since.

For a Pitcher

3 cups Welch’s passionfruit juice
3 cups Simply Orange/Pineapple juice
4 Tblsp lime juice (or 8 fresh squeezed limes)
¾ cup simple syrup
¾ cup grenadine
1 teaspoon rum extract
Chilled lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite
Crushed ice, for each glass
Garnishes
8 maraschino cherries
8 orange slices, from 1 navel orange

Half Pitcher

1½ cups Welch’s passionfruit juice
1½ cup cups Simply Orange/Pineapple juice
2 TBLS lime juice (or 8 fresh squeezed limes)
⅜ cup simple syrup
⅜ grenadine
½ teaspoon rum extract
Chilled lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite
Crushed ice, for each glass
Garnishes
4 maraschino cherries
4 orange slices, from 2 navel oranges

How to Serve –

1. Fill a glass (or small festive plastic bucket for more fun) 3/4 with ice.
2. Pour the Hurricane mix into your glass until it’s 3/4 full.
3. Top off with Sprite and stir well.
4. Garnish with oranges and cherries and add a straw. I like to add an umbrella for a little extra show as well.

The nice thing about this recipe is that it stores well in the fridge for a few days because you don’t add the fizzy soft drink until you serve it, so it won’t go flat. I use a container from a margarita mix bucket we had that keeps an airtight seal on it, but you can use anything that seals well.

You can also freeze this for a few hours and then break it up and add your Sprite to it for a different type of presentation.

Variations

• Can’t find passion fruit juice?  Use passion fruit syrup, V8 tropical blend, or Hawaiian punch.
• Don’t want to use lime juice?  Try using freshly squeezed lemon juice instead.
• Can’t have red dye?  Make your own grenadine with 100% pomegranate juice, sugar, and rose water.
• Want to decorate the rim?  Dip the rim in water, then in white sugar.

Enjoy and have a wonderful 4th of July!