Real talk: It’s 5:30 PM, the kitchen is a disaster zone, and the kids are hovering. Whenever my husband and I fix ourselves a Traditional Spanish Sangría for a summer BBQ or a Friday night “we made it” moment, my kids are right there asking for a sip of the “fancy fruit juice.” I realized they didn’t actually want the grown-up drink—they just wanted to feel part of the celebration.

This kids sangria mocktail (or as we call it, the ‘Sunset’ Sangria Mocktail) is my secret weapon for turning a chaotic weeknight into a “parenting win.” It’s an easy mocktail for children that looks like something from a high-end resort, but it takes about ten minutes to throw together using stuff you probably already have in the pantry. I had my 5, 7, and 9-year-olds run a “blind taste test” on this one, and they gave it a unanimous thumbs up.

The Secret to the Non-Alcoholic Sunset Drink Look

You don’t need a degree in chemistry to get those gorgeous ombre layers. It’s all about density. To make this non-alcoholic sunset drink, the “heavier” juice (the one with the most sugar, like pomegranate or cranberry) stays at the bottom, while the lighter, bubbly juice floats on top.

The game-changer is the Slow Spoon Pour. Instead of dumping the juice straight in, you pour it over the back of a spoon held against the side of the glass. This breaks the fall of the liquid so it doesn’t go crashing into the layer below. It’s a simple trick that makes you look like a pro, and my kids think it’s absolute magic.

The Freezer is Your Friend: Sparkling Grape Juice Mocktail

Instead of using ice cubes that water down the drink (and let’s be honest, half the time I forget to refill the ice trays anyway), we use frozen fruit for this sparkling grape juice mocktail.

Frozen grapes and berries act as functional ice cubes that keep the mocktail ice-cold without diluting the flavor. Plus, my kids love the “treasure hunt” at the end of the glass—fishing out the cold, juice-soaked fruit snacks is their favorite part. It keeps them occupied for at least five minutes, which is a win in my book.

Customizing Your Kids Sangria Mocktail

In our house, perfect is the enemy of fed (or in this case, hydrated!). If your layers bleed together and you end up with a pinkish-orange drink instead of a perfect sunset, do not sweat it. It’s still cold, it’s still bubbly, and the kids will still feel like V.I.P.s. This is one of my go-to party drinks for kids because it is so forgiving.

If you’re feeling extra, you can rim the glasses with a bit of colored sugar for a birthday party, or add a sprig of mint for the adults who want a “virgin mojito” vibe. This recipe is totally flexible. On busy nights, survival is the win—and this drink makes survival look a whole lot fancier. For more inspiration, you can always check out our guide to the best sangria.