4 Autumn-Themed Mocktail Recipes for a Festive Fall Gathering
Across the globe, the vibrant autumnal colours inspire people to come together and celebrate the last few weeks of temperate weather before winters set in. Food and beverages take centrestage, as for any celebratory event. Fall mocktails, with their use of seasonal harvests, spices and herbs, offer an intriguing alternative to traditional drinks.
Below are some fall-inspired mocktail recipes that you can make for the next festive fall gathering.
Roasted Pumpkin and Sage Fizz
Inspired by the fall staple of pumpkin beverages, this earthy and savoury mocktail gives a spicy twist to familiar flavours.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp roasted pumpkin puree
1 tsp maple syrup
2 sage leaves (more for garnish)
1 tbsp lemon juice
180 ml sparkling water
Ice cubes
Method:
Muddle the sage leaves inside the serving glass to release its perfume.
Add the pumpkin puree, lemon juice and maple syrup to the glass, and stir till everything is combined properly.
Fill in the rest of the glass with ice cubes, and then pour in sparkling soda.
Before serving, top the glass with a sage leaf as garnish.
Spiced Plum Shrub
Shrubs are vinegar-based cocktails that have a significantly higher astringency than citrus-based cocktails. This non-alcoholic version of the drink marries the sweetness of the plums to the acidity of vinegar.
Ingredients:
3 plums (pitted and chopped)
120 ml apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp ground cinnamon
240 ml sparkling water
Ice cubes
Plum slices and cinnamon stick for garnish
Method:
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the chopped plums, apple cider vinegar, honey and cinnamon, and simmer this mixture on low heat for about 10 minutes.
Once the mix has cooled down, strain it.
Fill your glass with a generous quantity of ice cubes, 3 tablespoons of your plum and vinegar shrub, and top it with sparkling water.
Before you serve, decorate the drink with fresh slices of plum and a cinnamon stick.
Cinnamon Orange Sparkler
This version of the orange sparkler has a mild spice because of its addition of concentrated cinnamon syrup.
Ingredients:
120 ml fresh orange juice
5-6 Cinnamon sticks (for syrup and garnish)
180 g sugar
180 ml water
A few drops of vanilla extract
60 ml sparkling water
Ice cubes
Orange peel twist
Method:
To make the cinnamon syrup, bring water to a boil in a small saucepan, and then stir in 180 gm of sugar into it until it dissolves completely.
Lower the heat and add 4-5 cinnamon sticks. Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Take the liquid off the heat and transfer it to a bottle along with the cinnamon sticks. Let the liquid refrigerate overnight to get even more potent.
Now, strain the liquid and add a few drops of vanilla extract.
Pour a tablespoon of this syrup with fresh orange juice into a shaker with ice, and shake vigorously.
Strain it into a serving glass, and top it with sparkling water.
Garnish the drink with an orange twist and a cinnamon stick, and serve.
Hibiscus and Apple Cooler
Hibiscus imparts a tart, floral note to this mocktail made with the seasonal apple juice.
Ingredients:
240 ml apple juice
120 ml hibiscus tea (brewed and chilled)
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp ground cloves
Ice cubes
Dried hibiscus flowers and apple slices for garnish
Method:
In a shaker, add apple juice, hibiscus tea, cloves and honey, and shake it well.
Fill up a glass with ice cubes and pour the mixture over it.
Garnish the drink with fresh apple slices and dried hibiscus.
