Apple Julep Mocktail Recipe

Apple picking season begins long before our craving for hot cider and warm apple pies truly kicks in. Okay, so I’ve never turned down a slice of pie that was placed in front of me, but few will contest that September’s apple recipes differ greatly from those found in the later days of fall.

Like many of us, this recipe for a non-alcoholic apple julep holds on desperately to summer with its strong citrus spark, but rings in the new season with juicy apples that are as welcome in late summer and early fall as a brand new pair of school shoes.

This fruit mocktail is a great way to get both kids and their parents excited for the back to school season even if does mean ditching the bush berries of summer and swapping them for the harder to reach fruit of autumn.

Ingredients:

1 quart apple juice

1 cup pineapple juice

1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

5-7 sprigs fresh mint

Apple slices

Lemon Slices

Directions:

In a large pitcher combine, apple, pineapple, orange, and lemon juice. Stir well with a long wooden spoon. Mix in fruit slices and serve mocktail over ice, garnished with mint sprigs.

Serves:

about 6