Name: Dawn of the Dragon - Frozen Dragon Fruit Mocktail
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Tropical
Ingredients: 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice; 1/4 cup fresh lime juice; 2 cups cubed red dragon fruit, frozen; 1/2 cup pomegranate juice, chilled; 1/2 cup pineapple juice, chilled; 1/2 cup sour mix, chilled

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This tropical-inspired frozen mocktail uses red dragon fruit, homemade sour mix, pineapple juice and pomegranate juice. It’s a little sweet with hint of tartness and is completely refreshing. The red dragon fruit gives this non-alcoholic drink a vibrant pink color making it a fun party drink for all your summer get togethers.

Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
30 mins *

* Plus chilling and freezing time.

Glass of dragon fruit mocktail next to a cut piece of dragonfruit.

The joy of mocktails

I have a confession. I have given up drinking alcoholic cocktails.

What I haven’t given up is the joy of mixing drinks, choosing the perfect barware, making beautiful garnishes, and serving (and sipping) those drinks with friends. You may have noticed I’ve been leaning hard into easy recipes for mocktails lately like the ones for fresh watermelon mocktails and frozen mango mojito mocktails.

I am always on the look out for interesting mocktails that are more than just some mix of fruit juice and sparking water. Fortunately, more and more restaurants are offering creative non-alcoholic options on their drink menus these days. I ordered this dragon fruit mocktail at Manja KL in Kuala Lumpur because the color was too pretty and the name was too cool to pass up. After the first sip, I knew it was a drink I needed to recreate.

Cut pieces of dragon fruit on a cutting board. — *Ripe dragon fruit is very easy to prepare. Just cut it in quarters from top to bottom and then peel away the skin with your fingers. Then cut the quarters into 1/2-inch* cubes.

Frequently asked questions about dragon fruit

How do I pick out dragon fruit? To pick a ripe red dragon fruit, look for fruit that is soft but not squishy when you gently squeeze it.

How do I cut dragon fruit? First, trim the stem if it is particularly long then cut the dragon fruit in half from top to bottom. Cut each half again top to bottom. You can then peel away the skin with your fingers. Then cut the big pieces into 1/2-inch cubes.

Does red dragon fruit stain? I have found that cutting a red dragon fruit does make my fingers a little pink-purple stained. However, the color fades pretty quickly after 1-2 washings with soap and water. My white cutting boards also gets a little stained after cutting red dragon fruit. I scrub my boards with soap and water as soon as I can to minimize any staining.

Can I substitute in white dragon fruit if I can’t find red dragon fruit? I wouldn’t recommend it. White dragon fruit is less sweet than red dragon fruit and the final drink wouldn’t be nearly as pretty. Note that white and red dragon fruit look identical on the outside. Ask your grocer if the fruit isn’t clearly marked so there are no surprises after cutting it.

You can use prepared frozen red dragon fruit if you can’t find fresh. I have noticed you can buy frozen red dragon fruit at most major grocery stores, Target, and Amazon since it has become a popular ingredient for smoothies.