Virgin Mojito

This Virgin Mojito recipe is the most refreshing and easy non-alcoholic summer mocktail! These virgin mojitos are the perfect blend of citrusy lime, fresh mint, and just the right amount of sweetness. Healthy and naturally low-carb, gluten-free, and vegan, these tropical Cuban mojito mocktails are perfect for kids and adults, poolside, on the beach, or right at home!

Imagine a hot summer day, maybe you're at the beach, by the pool, or chilling in the backyard. You need something cool and refreshing that's not boring plain water and is also family-friendly. Here lies the magic of the Virgin Mojito! Fresh lime, mint, a pinch of sugar, sparkling water, and tons of ice. The classic Cuban cocktail is the definition of summer, but it's even better when you turn it into a healthy mocktail that everyone can enjoy!

What Is A Virgin Mojito?

A virgin mojito is the exact same thing as a regular alcoholic mojito, just without the rum! The non-alcoholic version is made with the same lime, mint, sugar, club soda, and ice. The only difference is that no white rum is added, making this mocktail perfect for kids, pregnancy, and those who are just way too cool.

Why This Mojito Mocktail Recipe Is the Best

Naturally low-calorie and low-carb, this healthy mocktail is like a healthy lime-flavored soda with the added refreshment of mint and a touch of sweetness, sugar-free or not! This homemade recipe is:

• Naturally Gluten-Free, Vegan, & Paleo
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Coconut-Free, Corn-Free)
• Sugar-Free, Low-Carb, & Keto
• Kid-Approved
• Only 4 Ingredients, Plus Ice
• Less Than 5 Minutes To Make
• Easily Scalable For A Crowd

Ingredients In A Virgin Mojito

• Limes + Lime Juice: Grab a bunch of fresh limes because you'll be using the freshly squeezed juice and some slices for these mojitos. I like to add the already squeezed juice to the drinks to prevent the bitterness from the lime peel oils overpowering the rest of the flavor which can happen when you muddle lime slices directly in the glass.
• Fresh Mint: Herbaceous, refreshing, cooling mint leaves! Mint is so fragrant and aromatic; it perfectly balances out the sweetness and zestiness of the drink!
• Sugar: You have many options here. Granulated cane sugar is the classic ingredient in a Cuban mojito. You can use sugar-free sweetener, normal sugar, or a liquid sweetener like stevia or simple syrup.
• Club Soda: You can use club soda, soda water, sparkling water, seltzer, or whatever you call it. It's also fun to use lime seltzer or lemon-lime seltzer for extra flavor!
• Ice: If you're blessed with a crushed ice machine, use crushed. Otherwise, just plain ole' ice cubes are perfectly fine for this hydrating, cool, mocktail.

Mojito Variations

• Sparkling Water: Instead of soda water or club soda, you can use lemon-lime or lime seltzer, Sprite, any citrusy kombucha, or healthy soda like Zevia, Poppi, Ollipop, or Culture Pop. If you use a liquid with sugar, like Sprite, do not add the extra sweetener to your drink as it will already be sweet.
• Add Spice: Add some fresh sliced jalapenos to the mojitos! Just gently muddle some slices along with the mint and lime juice.
• Rum Flavor: With any good mocktail, like these pina coladas, you can always get that classic rum flavor without the actual rum by adding a splash (about ¼ tsp per drink) of rum extract to the recipe!
• More Fruit: Add some slices of lemon, strawberry, peaches, cucumbers, or watermelon for even more summery refreshment!

Mojito Without Mint

If you don't have fresh mint or you just don't care for it, there are some options for still creating a delicious virgin mojito-inspired beverage!

• Swap In Other Fresh Herbs: The best option here would be fresh basil. Other herbs like thyme, rosemary, or tarragon work well with the citrusy lime.
• Use Pure Mint Extract or Bitters: Just like using rum extract, you can recreate the refreshing minty flavor by using pure mint extract (not peppermint) or mint bitters.
• Mint Simple Syrup: Two birds with one stone here, you can use mint syrup as your sweetener or choice and it does the job of both ingredients. Make your own by boiling a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water and adding a handful of mint leaves to the mixture as it simmers and thickens to infuse the flavor of mint into the syrup.

How To Make Virgin Mojito At Home

1. Add the mint leaves, sugar, and lime juice to the bottom of a cocktail shaker or large glass (if using a cocktail shaker, you'll need separate serving glasses).
2. Use a muddler or spoon to gently muddle the mixture together to release the natural oils in the mint leaves.

3. Pour the muddled mixture into a serving glass, if you used a separate glass, and add ice, fresh mint leave, and lime slices.
4. Fill the glass with your choice of sparkling water and taste to adjust any flavors as needed. Garnish with more lime slices and mint, if desired.

What Sugar To Use In Mojito

There's debate around which sweetener is better, granulated sugar vs. simple syrup. If you go with granulated cane sugar which is the classic sweetener in a Cuban mojito, use a sugar that is ultra fine and make sure it is dissolved well in the acidic lime juice when muddling so the sweetness gets dispersed throughout the entire drink.

How To Make Simple Syrup

If you want to use simple syrup, add a 2:1 ratio of sugar and water to a pot or microwave-safe bowl. Use about ½ cup sugar and ¼ cup water. You can boil the mixture until thick on the stove, constantly stirring, or boil it in the microwave until dissolved.

Sugar-Free Mojio

Keep things simple and sweeten each glass individually with a few drops of plain stevia, monk fruit, or a teaspoon of erythritol or other sugar-free sweetener. Keto Mojito, anyone? You can also leave out the sweetener if that's your vibe too, but a little sweetness really enhances the citrusy, minty flavors.

How To Make A Large Batch

If you're throwing a party and want a large pitcher of virgin mojito for your guests, you can make a batch the day of your gathering! Muddle 30-40 mint leaves (depending on the size) with ½ cup of sugar or equivalent in liquid sweetener, and the juice of 4-5 limes at the bottom on a pitcher. Add 1 liter of soda water and ice to the pitcher. Add extra lime slices and mint leaves, taste, and adjust ingredients as needed.

Can You Make Mojito Ahead Of Time

If you want to make the mojito(s) ahead of time, you can muddle the mint, sugar, and lime juice together. Store the muddled mixture in the fridge until you're ready to serve. You can store the mixture for up to 2 days. When you're ready to serve, pour in the soda water and ice (this prevents the bubbles from going flat). Garnish with fresh mint and lime slices.

How To Store Leftovers

If you have a leftover mojito in a pitcher or glasses, you can store it in the fridge, covered, for up to 2 days. Note that the bubbles will go flat if the container the mocktail is stored in is not airtight.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Don't pulverize the mint! This is a gentle muddle. You want to lightly roll the muddler over the leaves or gently poke the leaves with a spoon to release the oils and work the sugar and lime into the creases. The mint leaves should still hold their shape and vibrant color.
• The amount of mint leaves you'll need depends on the size of the leaves. Again, this is something easy to adjust as you taste the mocktail.
• Store-Bought Lime Juice: I don't suggest using store-bought juice. These juices tend to give off a metallic taste. Fresh squeezed is best and you can always get a nifty citrus juicer for ease and no mess!
• Rim the glass. You can moisten the rim of the glass with a wedge of lime and then dip the rim in sugar (salt, or spice like Tajin!) for classy sipping.

More Mocktail Recipes:

• Virgin Piña Coladas
• Virgin Strawberry Piña Coladas
• Virgin Mimosas
• Virgin Banana Daiquiris
• Coconut Mint Green Tea Mocktail

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So, who's ready for a pool party? Break out the key lime pie, chili lime chicken, tostones, gluten-free pasta salad, coconut cupcakes, and these perfect virgin mojitos!

So tell me:

+ What is your go-to summer mocktail?

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