I want to share with you an easy peasy mocktail recipe of a non alcoholic version of the famous Italian Aperol Spritz. It is fresh, light, sightly bitter and citrusy just like the original Aperol Spritz but virgin!!! It is ready in a blink of an eye and believe me no one will miss the real thing.
We love aperitivo at our home, especially during the weekend when everyone can finally seat back and relax. It’s our little ritual, where we chat, listen to jazz and enjoy delicious bites before dinner. Since the main meal after the aperitivo often comes with a nice bottle of vino, we started looking for a refreshing spritz mocktail that wouldn’t leave us worrying about hangover the next day. This is when this non alcoholic virgin aperol spritz recipe comes handy.
We only need three simple ingredients to make the aperol spritz mocktail : Lyre’s Italian Spritz, sparkling water, and freshly squeezed orange juice. That final touch of orange juice is the game-changer, bringing this virgin drink closer to the authentic flavour of a classic Aperol Spritz.
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Don’t wait for the summer to enjoy this Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz! It’s the perfect Italian mocktail for any occasion, from holiday gatherings like Christmas and Thanksgiving to special celebrations like Birthdays, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
Reason to make non alcoholic aperol spritz
- Family-Friendly- This non alcoholic aperol spritz is inclusive - perfect for kids, vegans or anyone who prefers to skip alcohol. Everyone can enjoy the aperitivo without worries!
- Guilt-Free Happy Hour- Enjoy a refreshing, citrusy drink every day or whenever you are in the mood. No alcohol means stay healthy and no worries about a hangover.
- Authentic Taste- Zesty, slightly bitter, and refreshing. This mocktail is just like the classic Italian Aperol Spritz!
- Versatile for any occasion- From picnics and family gatherings to holiday celebrations and romantic dates, this mocktail is the perfect addition. Serve it in a large jar with orange slices and ice for a beautiful, crowd-pleasing presentation.
What to pair with this spritz mocktail?
This virgin Aperol Spritz is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a variety of dishes. Traditionally, in Italy, the Aperol spritz or the non alcoholic version is served as part of the aperitivo a pre-dinner ritual with light bites. But honestly, I love serving it with the main course too!
Aperitivo paring:
- Mediterranean cheese and charcuterie board
- Bresaola Carpaccio
- Coccoli Italian fried bread balls served with cheese and cold cut
- Olives - choose pitted olives, Nocellara olives or Cerignola.
- Focaccia, either on its own or served as small panini
- Zucchini Bruschetta
- Italian breadstick wrapped in thin slices of Parma Ham
- Italian flatbread piadina served as panini
- Middle East maze as hummus, baba ganoush, olives and feta
Main course paring:
- Fresh salads as tomato caprese burrata, arugula burrata salad or herbs corn salad with mustard mayo
- Italian pasta as creamy smoked eggplant pasta, easy spicy tomato sauce, Italian south meat spicy ragù sauce or my pesto pasta with roasted tomatoes
- Vegetable dish as pan fry broccoletti or roasted carrots with asparagus
- Meat recipe as yogurt marinade chicken, Italian stuffed meatballs with cheese, chicken infused with lemon or my stew chicken in homemade tomatoes sauce and peppers.
Ingredients
- Spritz- To replace the classic Aperol I use the Lyre’s Italian Spritz, a non alcoholic version. It's a bouquet of rich and unique flavour from orange, rhubarb and herbs.
- Water- Use sparkling water as San Pellegrino brand. It's fine and persistent bubbles make it the perfect substitute for non alcoholic Prosecco, giving your spritz that signature effervescence. For the best results, chill the bottle in the fridge ahead of time to ensure your spitz mocktail is refreshingly cold.
- Juice- Orange juice is the key ingredient in here. It adds a vibrant, citrusy flavor that truly elevates the mocktail. Skip the store-bought versions and squeeze your own for the most authentic taste.
- Orange- Don’t forget to add a slice of orange! Not only does it give your virgin spritz the classic Aperol look, but as it infuses into the drink, it enhances the flavour with a zesty notes.
- Ice- Choose between standard ice cubes or crushed ice. Either way it will works perfectly with the virgin aperol spritz.
How to make non alcoholic aperol spritz
Craft your own non alcoholic spritz mocktail in just a few simple steps. Let’s get started!
- Step 1: Add the orange juice, the Lyre's sprits and the sparking water into a jar and mix.
- Step 2: Pour the non alcoholic Aperol Spritz into a glass. Serve immediately.
What is a non-alcoholic spritz substitute for aperol?
There are several brands on the market offering non-alcoholic aperol version. For this mocktail recipe I have used the Lyre’s Italian Spritz, a non-alcoholic option that closely mimics the Aperol in flavour. You can buy on amazon or on any online spirit store.
There are other brands that can be used to substitute the Lyre's Italian Spritz. Down below you can find the list of non alcoholic spritz with little adjustment that I have made to mimic the classic Aperol Spritz.
- Crodino Biondo- This was my favourite substitute. It is the classic non alcoholic Italian drink that you can order in any Italian bar. I often buy it in bulk on Amazon or at the store if I am lucky to find it. I just love it!!! It is made with a blend of different herbs and spices that gives a bitter and woody flavour to it. It is quite sparkling already so I will recommend to use less water. Use 50 ml of Crodino Biondo and 15 ml of sparkling water or alcoholic free Prosecco along with a slice of orange and ice. But skip the orange juice.
- Sanbittèr Rosso- Another well know non alcoholic Italian drink. It has a red colour with a bitter flavour along with an orange and grapefruit note. Use 50 ml of Sanbittèr Rosso, 25 ml of sparking water ( tonic water or alcoholic free Prosecco) and 15 ml of fresh orange juice. Give it a mix and serve with a slice of orange and plenty of ice.
Variations
Here are some ingredient variations and substitutes you can try next time you make the non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz mocktail.
- Alcohol-free wine- Instead of the sparkling water use the non alcoholic Prosecco. Any brand work fine.
- Soda or tonic water- If you can't find San Pellegrino sparkling water, you can use soda water or tonic water as alternatives. I've tested both options. The Fever-Tree tonic water adds a slightly bitter note finish to your virgin aperol spritz. While the Schweppes Soda Water gives a sharper, more pronounced bitterness. Depending on your taste, choose the one that suits you best. Personally, I think Fever-Tree tonic water is the best substitute. It tastes closer to the classic Italian spritz, with just the right amount of bitterness and a crisp finish. However make sure to use non flavoured soda or tonic water.
- Blood orange- Swap the traditional orange for a vibrant blood orange juice. It will transform your non-alcoholic Aperol Spritz mocktail into a stunning ruby-red colour. Perfect for the Christmas holiday.
- Fruit- In the summer add some chopped strawberry, halves cherries or peach in the non alcoholic booze.
Equipment
Use a digital scale to measure the ingredients, down below in the recipe card you can find either the weight in grams and oz (ounces). To squeeze the orange use squeezer or a fork if you don't own one. If you prefer a smoother drink without orange pulp, use a strainer when pouring the juice into the jar.
Use a jar to blend all the liquids and a mixing spoon to gently stir the non alcoholic aperol spritz mocktail. To slice the orange use a fruit knife and a small chopping board. Serve the Italian spritz mocktail in a champagne glass for an elegant touch, or simply use any glass you have on hand.
Top Tip
Fresh ingredients- Use sparkling water that hasn't been opened yet, as it will retain its bubbly effect. Once opened, the carbonation starts to fade, so for the best non alcoholic booze experience, always use fresh, unopened sparkling water.
Smooth drink- If you prefer a smoother drink without the orange pulp, use a fine-mesh strainer when pouring the juice into the jar. This simple step ensures a clean, pulp-free virgin aperol spritz mocktail.
Refrigerator- Make sure to chill the liquids the day before to ensure a colder, more refreshing virgin aperol spritz.
Cool the glass- This is a barman technique that I use every time I make drinks. Before pouring the liquids add the ice to the glass and gently swirl it. Remove the water that starts to develop at the bottom of the glass with a cocktail strainer. Then add more ice if need and to finish pour the spritz mocktail.
FAQ
If you make it in advance, the bubbles from the sparkling water will fade, and the ice will melt, diluting the drink. To maintain the fizz and freshness of the Italian mocktail, it's ideal to prepare it just before serving. However what you can do is to refrigerate all the ingredients the day before to ensure everything is nice and cold.
The classic glasses used to drink the spritz are wine glass. However you can definitely use tumbler glasses, champagne glasses or balloon-style glasses. What ever you own it will be great.
Yes, this non alcoholic spitz is vegan-friendly.
More pairing
These are my favourite dishes to serve with this non alcoholic aperol spritz:
📖 Recipe
Non alcoholic aperol spritz: italian mocktail
Equipment
- 1 Digital kitchen scale to mesure the ingredients
- 1 Knife and a chopping board to cut the orange and to slice it up
- 1 Squeezer to squeeze the orange
- 1 Jar to contain the liquids
- 1 Bar cocktail spoon or a classic spoon to mix the liquids
- 1 Drink glasses
- 1 Strainer to remove the pulp for the orange juice and the water from the glass. This is optional
Ingredients
- 50 ml Lyre's Italian Spritz 1,8 ounces
- 50 ml Sparking water (San Pellegrino) cold from the fridge 1,8 ounces
- 2 teaspoon Fresh orange juice
- Ice cube or crushed ice enough to fill the glass
- 1 slice Orange decoration optional
Instructions
- Add the ice into a glass and gently swirl the glass to cool it.
- Squeeze the orange with a squeezer and cut a slice of orange. Set them aside. If you want a pure orange juice without any bits of pulp make sure to strain the juice using a strainer.
- Into a jar add the fresh orange juice, the Lyre's Italian Spritz and the sparking water. Give a mix with a spoon or a cocktail spoon.
- This is optional but if like you can remove the water formed at the bottom of the glass using a cocktail strainer or any strainer really. Add more ice if need it.
- Pour the liquids into the glass, mix and add the orange slice. Serve it straight away.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see it! Tag @fedetheclumsychef on Instagram and leave a review below!
Laura says
The addition of the orange juice makes this Aperol Spritz just like the real thing. It is the perfect drink for those who want skip the alcohol.