Ginger Beer Mocktail
This Ginger Beer Mocktail, made with muddled mint, crisp apple juice, fresh lemon, and fizzy ginger beer, is everything you love about a traditional apple mule without the alcohol. It’s the perfect booze-free bubbly beverage to sip on this summer and fall!
Before we begin, this post is sponsored by R.W. Knudsen Family®, but all opinions are my own. With that out of the way, let’s make ginger beer mocktails!
Suppose you’d rather not sip on high-calorie, sugary mixed drinks during social gatherings, but you’d also like to socialize with something more thrilling than water or club soda. Well then, this apple ginger beer mocktail is the perfect drink to fill the void.
The preparation of this ginger beer mocktail maintains the quality and satisfaction of a classic apple mule cocktail, but have no fear. This apple mule mocktail recipe is EASY, and there’s no mixologist certification needed!
You will need fresh mint, R.W. Knudsen Family® Organic Apple Juice, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, and ginger beer. No special tools or glassware are required, though using a cocktail shaker and enjoying your mocktail from a copper mule mug is never a bad idea.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Family-friendly version of a classic. Because this is a non-alcoholic spin on a classic apple mule cocktail, everyone can enjoy it!
- Quick and easy. It takes a minute or two to make with only four ingredients and no fancy bar equipment.
- Great for social settings. This mocktail is perfect for impressing guests at end-of-the-summer BBQs, at-home happy hours, and fall harvest and Halloween gatherings.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Mint leaves – As with any mule, the mocktail version starts with freshly muddled mint leaves and an extra garnish sprig, so don’t skip the mint!
- Apple juice – I highly recommend R.W. Knudsen Family® Organic Apple Juice. It contains 100% juice and is non-GMO verified. Use unfiltered, 100% apple juice for the purest flavor if you use a different brand.
- Lemon juice – The acidity from a splash of fresh lemon juice helps balance and brighten the drink. Fresh lime juice also works.
- Ginger beer – You can use regular or light ginger beer. I like Fever Tree’s “naturally light” ginger beer. It has a perfectly pungent ginger flavor without being overly sweet. Plus, it’s low-calorie!
How to make an apple mule mocktail
Step 1: Muddle. Place the fresh mint leaves in a mortar and pestle and muddle them. You can also do this in a cocktail shaker and muddle them with a wooden spoon.
Step 2: Shake. Add the mint to a cocktail shaker (if using a mortar and pestle) and pour in the apple juice and lemon juice. Add a scoop of ice, and give the shaker a good shake.
Step 3: Strain. Strain the mixture into a glass (or a copper mule mug!) filled with fresh ice.
Step 4: Serve. Top the rest of the glass with ginger beer and garnish with a sprig of mint. Finally, sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Recipe tips
- No cocktail shaker? If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, a travel mug, protein shaker, blender bottle, or mason jar will do the trick.
- To avoid a watered-down drink, freeze the ginger beer or the apple juice in an ice cube tray, then use the ice cubes to chill your future apple ginger mocktails and cocktails.
- Don’t skip the garnishes. At the very least, you should garnish the glass with a sprig of mint. Or, to up the wow factor, go with a fresh lemon slice, an apple slice, a cinnamon stick, and a pinch of fresh nutmeg.
Variations
Make an apple cider mule mocktail – Instead of regular apple juice, use Cider and Spice Apple Juice or any unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic apple cider with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Make it a classic apple mule – If you want to make the classic cocktail version, that’s easy! First, shake the muddled mint and fruit juices as instructed and strain them into a glass of ice. Next, add 1½ ounces of vodka (or your preferred spirit) and stir. Finally, top it with ginger beer, and enjoy!
Switch up the fruit flavor – This sweet-tart and zesty apple mule mocktail is perfect during late summer and fall. However, thanks to the vast selection of pure fruit juices R.W. Knudsen Family® has, you can swap the apple juice with a juice flavor for any season!
Storing & freezing
As with any ginger beer drink, this mocktail is best enjoyed immediately, or the ginger beer will gradually lose its fizz, and the drink will fall flat.
You can, however, freeze any extra in an ice cube tray and keep the frozen cubes stashed in a freezer-proof bag for up to a month. Then, the next you make an apple mule, you can serve it over the frozen cubes, and they won’t dilute down your drink as they melt. Brilliant!
FAQs
Nope! Despite the terminology, ginger beer doesn’t contain any alcohol.
If you’ve never had ginger beer, know that the ginger flavor is pretty intense and considered spicy to some. If you’re hoping for a mild ginger flavor, try ginger ale, ginger-flavored sparkling water, and ginger kombucha.
More mocktail and cocktail recipes
- Blue Lagoon Mocktail
- Cranberry Prosecco Mimosa
- Sparkling Tropical Sangria
- Strawberry Mojito
- Kiwi Skinny Mojito
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Ginger Beer Mocktail
Ingredients
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves plus one sprig
- 1/2 cup R.W. Knudsen Family Apple Juice
- 1-2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup ginger beer I used the Fever-Tree 35 calorie ginger beer
- ice
Instructions
- Muddle mint leaves in a mortar and pestle or in a cocktail shaker with a wooden spoon
- Pour apple juice into the cocktail shaker and add crushed mint and lemon juice, along with a few ice cubes.
- Shake to mix and strain into a glass (or copper mug) filled with a handful of ice cubes.
- Top with ginger beer and garnish with a lemon slice and sprig of mint, if desired.
Notes
- No cocktail shaker? If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, a travel mug, protein shaker, blender bottle, or mason jar will do the trick.
- To avoid a watered-down drink, freeze the ginger beer or the apple juice in an ice cube tray, then use the ice cubes to chill your future apple ginger mocktails and cocktails.
- Don’t skip the garnishes. At the very least, you should garnish the glass with a sprig of mint. Or, to up the wow factor, go with a fresh lemon slice, an apple slice, a cinnamon stick, and a pinch of fresh nutmeg.
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