Blood Orange Sunrise Mocktail Recipe

I love making bright, tasty drinks that everyone can enjoy. This Blood Orange Sunrise Mocktail is a simple non-alcoholic drink that looks pretty and tastes refreshing.

If you want a fun sunrise mocktail without alcohol, this recipe is the answer.

With just a few steps and some easy-to-find ingredients, I can throw together a colorful mocktail that’s perfect for any time of day.

The sweet taste of blood orange mixed with fresh citrus always lifts my mood. If you’re hunting for something new to sip at home, this is a solid pick.

Blood Orange Sunrise Mocktail Recipe

I love making this Blood Orange Sunrise Mocktail because it’s bright, tasty, and honestly, just easy to whip up. The ingredients give it such a pretty color.

You don’t need much—just a few tools and steps. The mix of citrus, pomegranate, and a bit of sparkle makes every sip super refreshing.

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker or large jar with lid
• Jigger (measuring tool) or small measuring cup
• Citrus juicer for squeezing fresh lime or blood oranges
• Mixing spoon or regular spoon
• Fine mesh strainer (optional, if you want a smoother drink)
• Highball or Collins glasses for serving
• Small plate for creating a sugared rim (optional)
• Knife and cutting board for prepping fruit and garnishes
• Ice cube tray to have fresh ice ready
• Spoon or pipette for slowly adding grenadine or pomegranate juice
• Paper towels or clean towel to wipe up spills

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup blood orange juice (freshly squeezed is best)
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1–2 teaspoons rosemary simple syrup (or regular simple syrup)
• 1/4 cup sparkling water
• 1 tablespoon grenadine or pomegranate juice (for sunrise effect)
• Ice cubes
• Optional garnishes:
  • Fresh blood orange slice
  • Edible flowers
  • Fresh rosemary sprig
  • Sugared rim (coat glass rim with lime and dip in sugar)
  • Fresh berries

Instructions

• Fill a highball or Collins glass with ice cubes.
• Add blood orange juice, orange juice, lime juice, and rosemary simple syrup to the cocktail shaker.
• Shake well for about 10 seconds to chill and mix.
• Strain the mixture into the prepared glass over the ice.
• Slowly pour in the sparkling water so it gently floats on top.
• Carefully drizzle grenadine or pomegranate juice down the inside edge of the glass to create a sunrise effect.
• Garnish the drink with a blood orange slice, sprig of rosemary, edible flowers, or fresh berries as you like.
• For a sugared rim, wet the rim of the glass with lime juice and dip into sugar before pouring the drinks.

Notes

I always taste the mixture before pouring it over the ice, just to see if it needs more sweetness or a bit more tartness. Fresh-squeezed blood orange juice really makes a difference in both taste and color, but if I’m out, bottled juice will do.

If I use rosemary simple syrup, it adds a light herbal note that plays well with all the citrus. Adding the sparkling water at the end keeps the bubbles lively and helps the sunrise effect happen as the grenadine or pomegranate juice sinks.

To get those nice, clear layers, I drizzle the grenadine slowly down the side of the glass. I’ll switch up garnishes depending on what’s in season—sometimes rosemary, sometimes mint, or even edible flowers if I’m feeling fancy.

For a party, I’ll make a pitcher without ice and then pour it over ice in each glass right before serving. That way, it doesn’t get watered down.

If I don’t have grenadine, pomegranate juice gives a deep red sunrise color, and the drink still feels special and fun with all the fresh, vibrant ingredients.

Tasting Notes

When I sip this Blood Orange Sunrise Mocktail, the first thing I notice is the color. It really does look like a sunrise, with red and orange swirling together in the glass.

The taste is bright and a little tart from the blood orange juice. I like that it’s sweet, but not too sugary.

The citrus flavors stand out in a good way.

Here are the flavors I notice:

• Blood orange brings a tangy and bold taste
• A touch of lime adds a sharp, fresh note
• Sweetness balances out the sourness

As I drink it, there’s a refreshing sparkle from the bubbly water. The mocktail smells fruity, almost like summer in a glass.

This drink is a nice mix of citrus and just enough sweetness. It goes down smoothly and feels light on my tongue.

If you like the flavors of orange and lime, you’ll probably enjoy this mocktail as much as I do. It’s a good pick for people who want something light and not too strong.

Substitute

Sometimes blood oranges just aren’t around at my local store. When that happens, I’ll grab regular oranges or tangerines instead.

Sure, the color and flavor shift a bit, but honestly, it’s still tasty. If I’m craving that deeper red, I’ll sneak in a splash of pomegranate or cranberry juice.

That trick creates this sunrise vibe, pretty much like the classic tequila sunrise. It’s surprisingly close.

Alternative Juices:

• Navel orange juice
• Mandarin or tangerine juice
• Cranberry juice
• Pomegranate juice

If I’ve run out of grenadine, I’ll use:

• Raspberry syrup
• Cherry juice (unsweetened)
• Pomegranate molasses (for a richer taste)

If I’m feeling like a real tequila sunrise, I’ll add tequila. For a non-alcoholic twist, sometimes I’ll pour in some sparkling water or lemon-lime soda.

Equipment

• Glass (tall or short)
• Spoon
• Measuring cup

Ingredients

• Substitute juice (orange, tangerine, cranberry, or pomegranate)
• Grenadine or syrup alternative
• Ice
• Soda or sparkling water (optional)

Instructions

• Fill your glass with ice.
• Pour in the juice.
• Slowly add grenadine or whatever syrup you’re using so it settles at the bottom.
• If you want bubbles, top it off with soda.
• Stir gently, or just leave it for that sunrise look.