Ingredients
- 2 cups orange juice, chilled
- 1 cup pineapple juice, chilled
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 4 tbsp grenadine
- 2 cups lemon-lime soda, chilled
- Coarse sugar, for rimming (optional)
- Ice
- Orange slices and maraschino cherries, for garnish
Instructions
- Rim and ice. If you like, rim the glasses with coarse sugar. Fill 4 tall glasses with ice.
- Juice over ice. Pour 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup pineapple juice, and a teaspoon of lime juice into each glass.
- Create the sunset. Tilt the glass slightly and pour 1 tablespoon of grenadine very slowly down the inside — it will sink and bloom into layers.
- Add the sparkle. Top each glass gently with lemon-lime soda.
- Garnish — don’t stir. Add an orange slice and a cherry. Serve immediately with a straw; stirring blends the sunset away.
💡 Sunset smarts
Pour the grenadine slowly down the inside of the glass — speed ruins the layers. Chill every single ingredient so the ice doesn't melt and blur your sunset. Serve the moment it's built; the layers are beautiful but temporary.
Common questions
How do I get clean layers?
Pour the grenadine very slowly down the inside of the glass over the back of a spoon. Speed is the enemy of layers.
Can I use other juices?
Yes — mango, peach, or pineapple juice all make gorgeous sunsets. Keep one juice light and the grenadine dark for contrast.
Can I batch it for a party?
Build each glass individually — the layers need individual pours. But you can pre-mix the juice base in a pitcher.
Is it kid-friendly?
Completely — that's the beauty of a mocktail. Kids love watching the sunset form.
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