✔ Updated · soda added after blending, sugar per glass, make-ahead tips
This virgin strawberry daiquiri is the frozen classic with zero alcohol: frosty strawberries, fresh lime and a little syrup blended thick, then topped with a fizzy splash.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Blend the strawberries, lime, syrup and ice first, then top each glass with soda. I learned the hard way: fizzy soda in a sealed blender foams right over the lid.
It's the drink I make when everyone, kids included, wants something pink and slushy in 10 minutes.
Why You'll Love This Mocktail
- Alcohol-free, so everyone at the table gets the same frosty, pink drink.
- Five main ingredients and a blender, ready in about 10 minutes.
- Easy to tweak: sweeter with lemon-lime soda, lighter with sparkling water, thicker with extra frozen fruit.
Virgin Daiquiri vs Classic Daiquiri
A classic strawberry daiquiri is a rum cocktail: white rum, lime juice and sugar blended with strawberries and ice, for adults of legal drinking age only. The virgin version keeps the fruit, lime and sweetness and leaves the rum out entirely, so it contains no alcohol.
Without rum to add body and bite, I lean on frozen strawberries for thickness and a splash of lemon-lime soda or sparkling water for sparkle. Everything else is the same.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Use frozen strawberries. They make it thick and frosty with less ice, so it tastes like fruit, not watered-down slush. I keep a bag in the freezer all summer just for this.
- Add soda after blending. Fizzy drinks build pressure in a sealed blender and foam over. Top each glass instead and give it a gentle stir.
- Go easy on the water. Start with 1/2 cup and add more a tablespoon at a time only if the blades stall. Watery is the one way to ruin this drink.
- Sweeten to taste. Lemon-lime soda adds sweetness; sparkling water keeps it lighter and tangier, which is how I like mine.
- Make simple syrup in 3 minutes: warm equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves, then cool. It keeps in the fridge for up to 1 month.
- Serve straight away. The slush melts and separates in 10 to 15 minutes. If it does, a quick stir or a 5-second re-blend brings it right back.
Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri (Alcohol-Free)
4
drinks (about 1 cup each)10
minutes0
minutes95
kcal10
minutesAn alcohol-free strawberry daiquiri mocktail: frozen strawberries, fresh lime juice, simple syrup and ice blended until thick and slushy, then topped with lemon-lime soda or sparkling water. Makes 4 drinks in about 10 minutes.
Ingredients
- For the Daiquiri
12 oz (340 g) frozen strawberries (about 2 1/2 cups)
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
1/4 cup simple syrup, plus more to taste
1/2 cup cold water
1 cup ice cubes
- To Finish
1 cup chilled lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7Up) or sparkling water
fresh strawberries and lime wheels, for garnish
2 tablespoons granulated sugar, for the rim (optional)
Directions
- Prepare
- If you want a sugared rim, run a lime wedge around the rims of 4 glasses and dip them in sugar. Chill the glasses while you blend.
- Add the frozen strawberries, lime juice, simple syrup, cold water and ice to a blender.
- Blend and Serve
- Start blending on low, then increase to high and blend for 30 to 60 seconds until thick and smooth. If the blades stall, stop, stir and add another 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.
- Taste and blend in more simple syrup, 1 tablespoon at a time, if your strawberries are tart. I always taste before pouring; strawberries vary a lot.
- Pour into the glasses, leaving a little room at the top. Top each drink with about 1/4 cup of chilled lemon-lime soda or sparkling water and stir gently.
- Garnish with a fresh strawberry and a lime wheel and serve right away with a straw, while it’s thick and frosty.
Notes
- Each blender is a little different and it depends on where the blades are (high or low) and the inner dimensions of the blender.
- As we mentioned above, you can always double up the recipe if you’re serving even more but you don’t want to make more than anyone can drink because storing the extra in the freezer will turn it into a solid chunk of ice. On the other hand, storing it in the refrigerator will melt it down enough so that it loses its texture.Â
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Variations
- Strawberry banana: blend in half a ripe banana for a creamier, smoothie-like drink.
- Strawberry mango or pineapple: swap a third of the strawberries for frozen mango or pineapple chunks.
- Lighter version: use sparkling water instead of soda and sweeten with 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey or agave syrup.
- Without a blender: mash thawed strawberries with the lime juice and syrup, strain, then shake with ice and pour over crushed ice. It is less slushy but just as fruity.
- Pitcher for a crowd: double or triple the recipe, blending in batches, and top each glass with soda as you serve.
- Grown-up version: for adults of legal drinking age, the classic adds about 1 1/2 ounces of white rum per drink, blended in with the fruit. Keep a jug of the alcohol-free version for kids and non-drinkers.
More Mocktails to Try
Looking for more alcohol-free drinks? Try a virgin margarita, a virgin mai tai, a virgin mimosa, a virgin sangria, a blue lagoon mocktail or an old fashioned mocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a virgin strawberry daiquiri alcohol-free?
Yes. A virgin daiquiri leaves out the rum completely, so this recipe contains no alcohol. It's just strawberries, lime juice, simple syrup, ice and soda or sparkling water, which is why I make it for kids, baby showers and anyone skipping alcohol.
What is in a classic strawberry daiquiri?
A classic strawberry daiquiri contains rum, usually white rum, blended with strawberries, lime juice and sugar or simple syrup. This mocktail version keeps the strawberries, lime and syrup and replaces the rum with a splash of lemon-lime soda or sparkling water.
Can I make a daiquiri mocktail with Sprite?
Yes. Top each glass with about 1/4 cup of chilled Sprite, 7Up or another lemon-lime soda after blending. It adds sweetness and a little fizz. When I want it less sweet, I use plain sparkling water or club soda instead.
How much sugar is in a virgin strawberry daiquiri?
Made as written with lemon-lime soda, each of the 4 drinks has roughly 20 grams of sugar from the strawberries, syrup and soda. Using sparkling water instead of soda and less syrup brings it down to about 12 to 14 grams per glass.
Can I make it ahead for a party?
Blend the strawberry base up to 1 hour ahead and keep it in the freezer, stirring every 20 minutes, or freeze it in a covered container for up to 1 month and let it soften for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the soda only when serving.
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