A perfectly refreshing Mango Mule Mocktail with Ginger Ale that will leave you wanting more. And you CAN, without getting cut off *wink
Beautiful flavors in this mocktail will have your guests guessing what the combination of ingredients is. The sweetness of mango is strong and sweet. The lime is tart and cuts the sweetness. The cucumber gives a burst of freshness and makes this mocktail light and refreshing. Top it off with a kick of ginger from the Vernors. A seriously delicious drink. For a bit of heat, add another ounce of Zero Proof Vodka for a true non-alcoholic beverage.
One of my favorite non alcoholic drinks for sure! I could sip on one of these all day long. Serve this at a St. Pattys Day party!
Ingredients For A Mango Mule Mocktail
- Sliced cucumbers - My favorite is the English Cucumber. You will tell these cucumbers apart by their plastic wrapping and long thin shape.
- Simple syrup - You can absolutely make your own simple syrup using a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water. For this recipe, I have opted for premade simple syrup for cocktails.
- Mango syrup - This Mango Syrup is so delicious and punches with that mango flavor. A thinned mango puree would also work for this.
- Fresh lime juice - Depending on the sizes of your limes, for 1 mocktail I would use 3 limes. 2 for juicing, and 1 for lime wedges or slices for garnish.
- Ginger ale - I'm sure we all have our favorite ginger ale. As a Michigander? Michiganian? I grew up with Vernors. You have a cold, Vernors. A cough, Vernors. Runny nose, Vernors. Flu? Have a Vernors. So yes, use your favorite Ginger Ale! If Ginger beer is your thing, instead of the ale, use that!
- Ice - Crushed ice or whole ice cubes
- Mint - Use 2 mint leaves per drink. They work perfectly as a garnish, but if you'd like to bring out more of that Mint flavor give the fresh mint leaves a slap on your palm before putting them in your drink.
- Lime slices or lime wheel - 1-2 slices per mocktail
Other sugars used in making homemade simple syrups
- Cane Sugar - Cane sugar syrup is earthier, bolder, and gives a toasted sugar flavor than white sugar. Not as strong as turbinado or molasses.
- Brown Sugar - This syrup is called Demerara Syrup. Great for coffee cocktails and darker beverages.
- Palm Sugar - Golden in color with a cotton candy sweetness.
- Honey - 3:2 honey to water ratio.
- Agave Nectar- 2:1 agave to water. Here's more info about Agave vs. Simple Syrup!
How To Make A Mango Mule Mocktail
- Using a fruit juicer, juice 2 limes. 2 small limes should give you the 1.5 ounces you're looking for.
- Carefully, thinly slice cucumbers. 5-6 cucumber slices per mocktail, and a couple more for a garnish if you'd like.
- Add 4-5 slices of cucumber to the bottom of a cocktail shaker.
- Using a cocktail muddler, or even a wooden spoon start to muddle cucumber into the lime juice. Don't worry about breaking down the cucumbers too much, they'll be strained out and won't end up in your mug.
- If you do not have a cocktail muddler, try these other options to help achieve the same result. Tip of a wooden spoon, dowel, french rolling pin, providing it fits into the shaker.
- To the muddled cucumbers, add in the Simple Syrup and add the Mango Syrup.
- Add in any amount of ice. The ice in the shaker is only meant to cool the ingredients.
- Make sure to cover the shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds, or until it becomes very cold.
- Prepare your mule mug or copper mug halfway with ice. Add ice that's either crushed or cubed.
- Using the strainer part of the shaker, or if your set came with a designated strainer. Hold firmly and strain into your prepared mug.
- Top the rest of your refreshing drink with your chosen Ginger Ale. It's Vernors for me!
- For garnishes, add sliced cucumbers and limes. Slap some mint leaves in your palm to release their oils, and place them in your drink.
- The slapping of mint leaves will be sure to impress your friends. Adding mint to a cocktail or mocktail is delicious, sure. But now you know the trick to bring out more of that mint flavor and aroma.
- Stir, serve immediately, and enjoy!
Recipe Swaps & Additions
- Ginger Ale - Using your favorite Ginger Beer is also a great way to get that bubbly effervescence and ginger flavor. I personally have a love for Vernors, so that's what I will use most of the time when ginger beer or ale is required.
- Mango Syrup - Mango syrup or mango puree, whether homemade or store bought will impart the flavor we're looking for, so either one will work. If acquiring mango syrup is difficult for you, mango juice or even a thinned mango puree would be just as great. Be mindful that the syrup is very sweet, so using mango juice or puree may not provide the sweetness you'd expect.
- Frozen Mango Mule - If you have frozen mango chunks, blend all but the cucumbers and ginger ale, pour over ice, and serve topped with ginger ale and the cucumbers as a garnish.
- Simple Syrup - Honey is a great alternative to simple syrup. It's natural and provides a lovely, rich sweetness that would go great in this mocktail.
Non Alcoholic Alternatives To Level Up Your Mocktail
To add a little spice and zing that you might miss from a Moscow mule, try using any of these vodka alternatives.
Mocktail to Cocktail
If you happen to be making this super refreshing mango mule mocktail for yourself and someone else who wants the cocktail version, simply add 1.5 ounces of Vodka to the shaker before shaking.
Drink responsibly <3
Alternatively, if you're looking for that Vodka flavor still, without the alcohol, give this Vodka alternative a try.
Expert Tips For Making The Best Mango Mule
- Chilling your ingredients and even your mugs is essential in making sure your drink stays cool over time.
- You can make this mocktail in any cocktail glass of your choice. I understand that not everyone has a set of Moscow mule mugs.
- If you have fresh mango, cut the mango into spears or slices and garnish with a spear of fresh mango. Dried mango would make a really yummy snack to go along with this drink as well.
- Garnishing with fresh mint, not only is it nice as a garnish, but putting the mint leaves into your mocktail will brighten the flavors even more. Put the mint leaves in the palm of your hand and give them a little slap. This will soften the leaves and bring out the mint's oils.
- When finishing off with the Ginger Ale, pour slowly. The carbonation and bubbles like to sneak up on you and pour over if poured too fast.
What's the difference between Ginger Ale and Ginger Beer?
Ginger ale and ginger beer are both carbonated with a ginger flavor, but they differ in taste and ingredients. Ginger ale has a milder, sweeter taste and is often used as a soft drink or mixer in cocktails. On the other hand, ginger beer has a stronger, spicier ginger taste and may be less sweet or even dry. While historically some ginger beers were alcoholic due to fermentation, most modern versions are non-alcoholic. Both beverages have their unique characteristics, and the choice between them depends on individual preferences and their intended use, whether as a standalone drink or a mixer in cocktails.
How can I change the sweetness of this mocktail?
To alter the sweetness, you can use less simple syrup or swap it with honey. Honey is naturally sweet, so it will blend well with the sweetness of the mango without being overpowering.
Is this drink for kids?
As the recipe is written, all ingredients are safe for kids. However, because this is seen as an alcohol alternative cocktail, this recipe isn't necessarily directed towards kids. Especially when or if you add any non-alcoholic spirit alternatives to the drink.
Can all non alcoholic beverages using NA Spirits or NA Beer be considered 100% alcohol free?
Most non-alcoholic spirits are designed to be alcohol-free or contain extremely low levels of alcohol, often less than 0.5% ABV (Alcohol By Volume). However, it's important to note that "non-alcoholic" does not always equate to "100% alcohol-free." The exact content can vary between brands and products.
For individuals who are avoiding alcohol for health, religious, or personal reasons, it's crucial to check the labels and product information of non-alcoholic spirits to ensure they meet the desired standards. Some people may prefer to avoid these products entirely if they are seeking a 100% alcohol-free option, as even trace amounts might be significant for their needs.
When preparing non-alcoholic punches using NA spirits, consider your audience and their specific requirements or preferences regarding alcohol content. If absolute zero alcohol is required, it might be safer to use alternatives like fruit juices, herbal infusions, or syrups that are guaranteed alcohol-free
Try More Delicious Alcohol Free Drinks!
- Mocktail : Blue Hawaiian
- Mocktail : Frozen Mudslide
- Mocktail : Sparkling Blood Orange
- Blackberry Tea
- Mocktail : Bushwacker
If you made this recipe, I would be so grateful if you would give it a ⭐ rating and leave a review in the comments! I'd love to see your drink in action as well! Post it on Instagram with the ️#MocktailForest and tag me @MocktailForest!
Mango Mule Mocktail
Ingredients
- 5-6 slices of cucumbers
- 1.5 ounces of fresh-squeezed lime juice
- 1.5 ounces simple syrup
- 1.5 ounces mango syrup
- 1 ounce Vodka Alternatives Optional
- 2 ounces ginger ale
- Ice
- Mint 2-3 leaves
Instructions
- Add cucumber slices and lime juice to your cocktail shaker. Use a muddler to muddle the cucumbers into the juice.
- To your cocktail shaker add ice, simple syrup, and mango syrup. Cover with the lid and shake vigorously for a few seconds.
- Use the strainer to strain the juice into a copper Moscow mule mug filled with ice.
- Top your drink with Vernor's ginger ale. Or the Ginger ale of your choice.
- Garnish with mint, cucumber, and lime.
Expert Notes
- You can make this mocktail in any cocktail glass of your choice. I understand that not everyone has a set of Moscow mule mugs.
- If acquiring mango syrup is proving difficult for you, mango juice or even a thinned mango puree would be just as great. Be mindful that the syrup is very sweet, so using mango juice or puree may not provide the sweetness you'd expect.
- If you have fresh mango, cut the mango into spears and garnish with a spear of fresh mango.
- Garnishing with fresh mint makes sense, but not only is it nice as a garnish but putting the mint leaves into your mocktail will brighten the flavors even more. Put the mint leaves in the palm of your hand and give them a little slap. This will soften the leaves and bring out the mint's oils.
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