Blood Orange Mocktail Mule
This post is sponsored by Sprouts Farmers Market. As always, all opinions, thoughts and recipes are my own.
Light and bubbly, Blood Orange Mocktail Mules make a delightful sipper to serve during the winter months. Made with a few simple ingredients, this nonalcoholic drink is perfect for sharing. Makes 1 drink.
Love citrus recipes? This Orange Curd is perfect with any type of breakfast. Mix up a Sparkling Grapefruit Sangria to add sparkle and tartness to any gathering. Serve a Paloma Citrus Cake with Tequila-Lime Glaze for dessert year-round!
Did you know this time of year is CITRUS SEASON?
The wintertime is the best time for fresh citrus, and my friends at Sprouts Farmers Market have all kinds of amazing citrus out for us right now.
And today, I’m making a mocktail highlighting the sweetness of blood oranges as a bonus recipe in our Year of Moscow Mules!
This is a great recipe to have on hand for Dry January, but it’s excellent so long as you can find blood oranges.
Why I love this recipe:
Sometimes, you just want a fancy-looking and flavored drink that’s not full of booze.
Enter: mocktails and NA drinks.
This nonalcoholic Blood Orange Mule is absolutely perfect for citrus season because the flavor is spot on. It’s got the sweet, acidic notes of the blood orange juice paired with the zinginess of the ginger beer.
It’s refreshing and delicious, and I, for one, really enjoy this Blood Orange Moscow Mule mocktail. I hope you will, too!
More mocktail recipes to try: Pomegranate Ginger Orange Sparkling Mocktail / Sweet Sunrise Mocktail / Strawberry Mockarita (Strawberry Virgin Margarita) / Arnold Palmer Iced Tea Lemonade Mocktail / How to make a Grape Shrub Mocktail | Virgin Margarita (Margarita Mocktail)
What you’ll need to make a this recipe:
- Cocktail shaker
- A jigger or a measuring tool to measure out the ingredients
- Citrus juicer
- Copper mugs (or other glasses, should you want to show off the color)
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here is what you need to grab from the grocery store:
- Ginger beer — use whatever brand you prefer. I purchased the Sprouts brand ginger beer, but we also keep Fever Tree at our house.
- Blood orange juice — I always just purchase a few blood oranges and squeeze them myself with a citrus juicer, but if you can find freshly squeezed juice at your store, purchase it!
- Lime juice — freshly squeezed, please and thank you. You can juice your own or purchase the refrigerated fresh lime juice in the fruit section. The shelf-stable bottles do not do this drink justice.
- Garnishes — I used a combination of blood orange slices and fresh thyme sprigs to garnish this cocktail. Do whatever makes you happy! This would also be nice with some fresh mint leaves.
Variations on this drink:
Spike it. You could add a little orange vodka, whiskey, bourbon or even gin to this mocktail to turn it into a cocktail.
Use regular oranges. No blood oranges? No problem. Use the same amount of regular orange juice in the drink.
How to make a Citrus Mocktail Mule
Add ice to the cocktail shaker. While you could potentially mix this drink up in a cocktail glass or a copper mug, I like to shake it first because it gets the ingredients ice cold.
Squeeze the blood orange juice into the cocktail shaker.
Measure in the ginger beer and lime juice, too.
Shake the cocktail shaker vigorously to chill and mix the ingredients.
Strain and pour into your glass of choice.
Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and a wedge of blood orange.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Blood Orange Mocktail Mules are the perfect sipper to serve when friends come over, as well as for a happy hour when you want to feel fancy… but don’t want to actually imbibe alcohol.
Also, they’re great for pregnant ladies. As someone who actively sought out mocktails when she was pregnant, let me just say: this one is fantastic because it isn’t too sweet!
Here are some tips and tricks for entertaining with these mocktails:
- Purchase your ingredients in advance. Having ‘em on hand (and having more than what you need) will assist in serving guests.
- Make it in a batch if you’re hosting guests. (Simply take the recipe and multiply it by the number of guests you’re hosting.)
- Don’t make it too early, though. Juice the oranges and limes just before guests arrive. Pour in the ginger beer when guests are ready for their drinks so the mocktail will be fizzy and wonderful.
- Serve easy appetizers along with these mocktails, like Creamy Chicken Enchilada Bruschetta, Fried Ravioli and Caprese Skewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally speaking, the months of December through early May are blood orange season. It can vary, though, depending on the varietal.
You certainly can, but the acidity of the mocktail might change because of that. Blood oranges are very sweet and less acidic than other citruses, which is why they’re great for this easy, light mocktail.
For a group of 6, pour 24 oz. ginger beer, 12 oz. blood orange juice and 3 oz. lime juice into a pitcher. Stir until combined, and serve immediately over ice.
Yes, you can. Add 1 ½ oz. of your favorite vodka to the cocktail shaker before mixing it all together and pouring.
Quick tips for making a Blood Orange Mocktail Mule
- Make it for a crowd by quadrupling the recipe and mixing it in a pitcher.
- Use another type of seasonal citrus, like a cara cara orange or even a navel orange, if you can’t get your hands on blood oranges. Just be aware that a different type of orange might yield a more acidic drink.
- Spike it if you’re feeling fancy (and enjoy the occasional spirit.) Add 1 ½ oz. vodka to your cocktail shaker before mixing up the drink.
Love oranges in drinks? Check out this stunning Blood Orange Margarita and Winter White Sangria. And you can’t go wrong with a glass of summery Orange Crush.
Here’s how you can make it at your home…
Blood Orange Mocktail Mule
Ingredients
- 4 oz. ginger beer
- 2 oz. blood orange juice freshly squeezed
- ½ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice for serving
- Fresh thyme for garnish
- Blood orange rounds for garnish
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Instructions
- Place ice cubes in a cocktail shaker.
- Measure in the ginger beer, blood orange juice and lime juice.
- Shake vigorously until all ingredients are combined and chilled.
- Strain while pouring into a copper mug or a glass of your choice.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme and an orange wedge. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
How can I make this in a pitcher drink?
For a group of 6, pour 24 oz. ginger beer, 12 oz. blood orange juice and 3 oz. lime juice into a pitcher. Stir until combined, and serve over ice.Can I spike this mocktail?
Absolutely. Add 1 ½ oz. of vodka to the shaker before you mix it up.Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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