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Home » Recipes » Cocktails

Easy Tequila Sunrise Mocktail

Published: May 12, 2022 · Modified: May 12, 2022 by Lexi

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This easy tequila sunrise mocktail only has 4 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make! Thanks to orange juice and grenadine, it has a refreshing sweet and tart flavor that makes it the perfect summer nonalcoholic drink.

Front view of three tequila sunrise mocktails garnished with orange and cherry.
Orange juice and grendine syrup combine to create a "sunrise" effect.
Jump to:
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step-by-step Instructions
  • Variations
  • Expert Tips and FAQ
  • More Mocktail and Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Crazy easy: Whether you call it a virgin sunrise, a sweet sunrise, or an orange juice and grenadine mocktail, this recipe is super easy to make! All you need to do is shake together the OJ, lime juice, and nonalcoholic tequila (if using), then just pour some grenadine over the mixture. You can also skip the shaker entirely and just make it in one glass.
  • Stunning look: Since the sugar in the grenadine syrup is denser than water, it sinks to the bottom of the glass, creating a colorful red-to-orange "sunrise" that will impress your friends and family.
  • Non-alcoholic spin on a classic: A classic tequila sunrise has tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup. All we did was add in a dash of lime juice (this helps to replicate the "sting" of alcohol), and sub out the tequila for a virgin substitute.
  • Perfect for summer sipping, preferably poolside!

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this easy tequila sunrise mocktail:

We used Ritual's Tequila Alternative.

Ingredient Notes

  • Orange juice: Be sure to use pulp-free orange juice so your sunrise mocktail has the best possible texture. We used a store-bought orange juice for convenience, but freshly squeezed would take this cocktail up a notch.
  • Grenadine syrup: Grenadine is a dark red nonalcoholic syrup that's traditionally made from pomegranate. You can find it in the liquor section of most supermarkets. Since it has a sweet and tart flavor, the best possible substitute is tart cherry concentrate, which will also help replicate the ombré sunrise effect.
  • Lime juice: Since store bought orange juice can be a bit lacking in fresh citrus flavor, we opted to add a bit of lime juice to our mocktail. It also helps to add a bit of the "sting" you'd experience with a typical alcoholic cocktail.
  • Tequila alternative: This is optional, but recommended. It may be tricky to find in your local store, but we used this nonalcoholic tequila alternative from Ritual. If you're not using this, add one more fluid oz of orange juice, a touch more grenadine, and a little more lime if needed.

Step-by-step Instructions

(1) Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add orange juice, tequila alternative (if using), and lime juice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.

Strain into a tall cocktail glass filled ¾ of the way with ice.

If you don't have a cocktail shaker, add orange juice, tequila alternative, and lime juice to the cocktail glass and stir well, and then add in ice.

On the left: adding juice to cocktail shaker. On the right: pouring it out.
You can simply stir everything together if you don't have a cocktail shaker.

(2) Pour the grenadine syrup over the back of a spoon. This allows the syrup to "float". The final effect will be a beautiful red to orange ombré drink!

Optional: garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Adding grenadine syrup to cocktail by pouring over a the back of a spoon.
Using the back of the spoon technique helps to create a more gradual orange to red transition.

Variations

  • Different juices: Mix in your favorite juices! Replace the orange juice with pineapple juice, peach juice, mango juice, or whatever juice you prefer to customize this cocktail to your liking.
  • Make it for a crowd: This recipe can be made in a typical 32 fl oz (~950 mL) pitcher by multiplying the quantities by four, adding everything aside the grenadine to the pitcher, stirring, and then slowly pouring in the grenadine over the top. Just note, you'll lose some of the effect as you pour.
  • Tart cherry instead of grenadine: You can use the same quantity of tart cherry concentrate instead of grenadine to create a more intensely tart version of this drink. Be sure to use concentrate and not just juice, since the juice won't produce the same ombré sunrise effect.

Expert Tips and FAQ

  • Serve in a highball glass for the best sunrise effect. A shorter glass won't work quite as well as there won't be as much separation of color.
  • No cocktail shaker? Just add all the liquids except the grenadine to a glass, stir, add ice, and then pour in the grenadine.
  • If you elect not to use the nonalcoholic tequila or can't find it, add an additional fl oz of orange juice, ¼ additional fl oz of grenadine, and add more lime to your liking.
  • Pouring the grenadine over the back of a spoon helps to spread it over a larger area, ensuring that the grenadine syrup will create a layered look rather than just sinking to the bottom in single glob.
  • Try using tart cherry concentrate if you can't find grenadine.
  • Freshly-squeezed orange juice would take this mocktail to the next level!
  • Make ahead: Just combine the orange juice, lime juice, and tequila alternative. When you're ready to serve, pour this combination over ice and then drizzle in the grenadine.
  • Garnishes: Totally optional, but feel free to garnish with an orange or lime slice and a maraschino cherry.
Why don't you stir a tequila sunrise?

Stirring gets rid of the layered sunrise coloration, so don't stir it up after pouring in the grenadine. Feel free to stir before drinking for a more even-tasting cocktail.

What's in a tequila sunrise?

A typical tequila sunrise contains tequila, grenadine, and orange juice.

Close up view of tequila sunrise mocktail.
Garnish with orange slices and maraschino cherries!

More Mocktail and Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy

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    Piña Colada Mocktail
  • Overhead view of blue lagoon mocktail
    Blue Lagoon Mocktail
  • Side view of 2 pineapple mojito cocktails in highball glasses with mint garnish.
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Front view of three tequila sunrise mocktails with cherry garnish.

Easy Tequila Sunrise Mocktail


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  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 7 minutes
  • Yield: 1 mocktail 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This easy tequila sunrise mocktail only has 4 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to make! Thanks to orange juice and grenadine, it has a refreshing sweet and tart flavor that makes it the perfect summer nonalcoholic drink. 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 ounces orange juice
  • 2 ounces non-alcoholic tequila* (we used this)
  • ½ ounce grenadine or tart cherry concentrate
  • ½ ounce lime juice

Instructions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add orange juice, tequila alternative (if using), and lime juice to the shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. Strain into a tall cocktail glass filled ¾ of the way with ice.
  2. Pour the grenadine syrup over the back of a spoon into the glass. This allows the syrup to "float", creating the sunrise effect. Enjoy!

Notes

*If you elect not to use the nonalcoholic tequila or can't find it, add an additional fluid oz of orange juice, ¼ additional fluid oz of grenadine, and add more lime to your liking.

Make ahead: Just combine the orange juice, lime juice, and tequila alternative. When you're ready to serve, pour this combination over ice and then drizzle in the grenadine.

Garnishes: Totally optional, but feel free to garnish with an orange or lime slice and a maraschino cherry. 

Serve in a highball glass for the best sunrise effect. A shorter glass won't work quite as well as there won't be as much separation of color. 

No cocktail shaker? Just add all the liquids except the grenadine to a glass, stir, add ice, and then pour in the grenadine.

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Mocktail
  • Calories: 93
  • Sugar: 16.4 g
  • Sodium: 5.2 mg
  • Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22.5 g
  • Fiber: 0.3 g
  • Protein: 0.9 g

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Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

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