Passion Fruit Mojito Cocktails with Fresh Passion Fruit

Passion Fruit Mojito Cocktails are the best way to quench thirst during the warm Spring and Summer months. Made with triple the amount of passion fruit, they’ll become your new favorite cocktail. This post and recipe are intended for use by those who are of legal drinking age. If you’re not 21 and over (in the States) read the instructions for the Mocktail version below and don’t be a delinquent. 

What is Passion Fruit, and what does it taste like?

Passion fruits vary in size from larger than a chicken’s egg (in our city, they’re puny like that); to the size of an adult’s hands. Once again, this is why I miss Puerto Rico. I can go out to the backyard of any family member’s house and pluck one off of the vine with my own precious hands. Here, I pay $5 a pop for the egg-size ones. My anger at produce prices aside, the fruit has a slightly hard, green shell surrounding a tangerine-colored pulp containing black, edible seeds. I emphasize the word “edible” because I’ve seen many people freaking out about getting them out of the pulp. The seeds are perfectly safe to eat. 

Passion fruit- some countries call it parcha, maracujá, or granadillas (which means “little grenades”)- tastes like a naturally sweet-tart candy. They have a sweet, pronounced, almost citrusy flavor. Use the pulp in cocktails, custards, ice creams, and sauces. Though I use fresh passion fruit here, I also add a bottled juice cocktail. In many stores, the passion fruit pulp is available in frozen purées and pulps and as juice. These often have more flavor than fresh fruits, especially if you’re in a small market that doesn’t sell them often.

Where did the Mojito Cocktail originate?

The mojito cocktail is Cuban-born. 

The mojito has to have a few ingredients for it to be considered a proper one. Sugar and lime juice are muddled together with fresh mint leaves to quickly create a simple syrup. 

Then there’s the rum. Mojitos are made with white rum. You can swap the brand and type of white rum, but the drink should be made with a light one. Though lime juice is the only fruit juice in the original cocktail, this version also incorporates passion fruit in three different forms: ice cubes, juice, and pulp. The drink gets a soda or seltzer water float to complete it. 

This is a “MAN! It’s hot as hades out here!” cocktail. Its light, effervescent quality makes it a thirst quencher and heat-breaker-upper. This needs to be your signature cocktail this spring and summer.

What kind of sugar do I use in the cocktail?

While you can use white (granulated) sugar in this cocktail, I suggest turbinado sugar. Sugar in the raw is a popular brand that imparts a caramel tone to your cocktail. The mission of the sugar is to have something with texture to muddle the mint leaves with. The coarse granules of sugar, along with the muddler, coax tons of flavor from the mint.

Drop the mint leaves and sugar into a cocktail shaker.

Do I have to use mint leaves?

Remember that a “traditional” mojito has mint leaves in it. We’re skipping out on traditional by adding the passion fruit juice. You can continue the untraditional theme by swapping the mint leaves for a different but not too crazy herb. Basil- Genovese or Thai- are two that pop into my head; they’d be great in this drink. Even sage and cilantro, yes, cilantro, taste great paired with the rum and passion fruit. Instead of using the amount called for in the recipe, however, you need to reduce the sage or cilantro to 2 stems (cilantro) and 2 leaves (sage). The basil you can use in the same amount as the mint leaves.

Add the lime juice to the cocktail shaker and use a muddler to create a quick simple syrup. Usually, simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water brought to a boil and cooled. It’s what gives cocktails their sweetness. Here, we’re doing the same thing without the use of the stove. Muddling the mint and sugar together releases the fragrant oils of the mint leaves, which will later perfume our passion fruit mojito.

What type of Passion Fruit juice do I use?

It’s nearly impossible for me to find pure passion fruit juice here in Texas. I mean, I can find passion fruit juice cocktail (which is a blend of fruit juices), puree, and frozen pulp; but I can’t find pure juice. Yes, I can make my own by blending the fresh pulp, but that also means I have to sell my children and my kidney to afford enough fresh fruit. Ain’t gonna happen. Listen, this is a mixed drink. When it comes to mixed drinks, my philosophy is: if it’s not a straight shot, I can cheat. So, while I won’t buy something like fruit juice in a can that’s full of corn syrup, this Sunberry Farms Passion Fruit Juice works fine. 

Chose a fruit juice that lists passion fruit as one of the top three ingredients. Ingredients are listed in the order of quantity; so, whatever comes first is what the carton contains most. Usually, in the case of beverages, that’s water. Sunberry Farms lists passion fruit juice (made from puree and water) as its first ingredient. I’m okay with that.

Add the juice to the cocktail shaker along with the white rum. 

How do I select the best Passion Fruit for this Mojito?

I add fresh passion fruit pulp to my passion fruit mojito. The black seeds add more visual appeal to the cocktail, and the flavor makes the cocktail taste even better than it already does. When shopping for your fresh fruit, buy one (or two) that are heavy for their size. A fruit with a shell (or peel) that is dark and shriveled and emits a strong aroma is perfectly ripened. As you can see, I had to settle for slightly purple, mostly green shells because, again, I live in a tropical fruit desert. Green fruits are sourer, but I’m a big fan of sour, so I use them as is. 

Leave the greens ones out on the counter and let them ripen at room temperature if you can’t find fully ripe ones. Use them once they’re ripe, or refrigerate them for a couple of days until you can get to them. 

Cut the ripe fruits in half and use a spoon to scrape their pulp into highball glasses. Usually, I scoop half of the fruit into each glass. This is the first of three forms of passion fruit in this cocktail.

What if I can’t find (or afford) fresh Passion Fruit?

That’s okay! You can use the packaged pulp instead. Or, if the thought of pulp in a bag skeeves you out, just omit the fresh pulp used in this recipe. 

With the juice and the passion fruit ice cubes, there’s still a considerable amount of passion fruit flavor in this cocktail, no worries.

How do I make Passion Fruit ice cubes?

The second and most unorthodox form of passion fruit in this drink is the ice cubes that chill it. Now, we aren’t going to shake the cocktail with these special ice cubes; we’re going to serve them in the cocktail itself. Passion fruit ice cubes don’t water down the flavor of the mojito in the slightest. 

Making them is easy, simply pour equal parts passion fruit juice and water into a pitcher. Stir the water and juice together to combine, then pour the mixture into ice cube trays. Freeze the liquid until solid, and you have passion fruit ice with which to chill your cocktails (or any of your drinks, for that matter). 

Pop them into the highball glasses on top of the pulp. 

Now that the stage is set go ahead and give the cocktail shaker a vigorous shake. After 30 seconds of intense shaking, the outside of the shaker will frost over, which is an indication that the liquid is properly chilled

Why is carbonated water used in this Passion Fruit Mojito?

Pour the contents of the shaker over the ice cubes in the glasses.

Next, float soda or seltzer water over the mojito base. If you want to get fancy, you can add flavored soda water to your glass instead of plain. Usually, I’m a fan of club soda or lemon-lime soda, but since I didn’t have any, seltzer is a good stand-in. “Technically,” because I’m using seltzer water in these particular shots, this would be considered a South Side Fizz, but again, I’m only using it because I ran out of soda water.

Soda water adds a light, refreshing quality to the cocktail. In Puerto Rico, the popular carbonation to add is lemon-lime soda, often Sprite, which has a sharp, crisp flavor.

How do I garnish my Passion Fruit Mojito?

Mojitos aren’t frou-frou, over-the-top drinks like tiki drinks are. They don’t need tons of garnish. Add a straw and give the cocktail a quick stir to combine the heavier juice and rum with the carbonated water. Then add a simple sprig of mint to complete the drink. 

In all honesty, you can totally forgo the mint sprig and be fine. Between the black passion fruit seeds peeking through on the bottom of the glass, the unexpected orange-yellow color of the ice cubes, and the color of the mojito itself, there’s already tons going on.

Can I make this for a party?

To make this Passion Fruit Mojito a pitcher drink that’s perfect for serving to a larger crowd:

1. Quadruple the ingredients.
2. Muddle the mint, sugar, and lime juice in a mortar and pestle or a large bowl. Dump this simple syrup into a large cocktail pitcher.
3. Add the passion fruit juice, pulp, and rum to the pitcher and stir with a cocktail stirrer. 
4. Store this base in the fridge until you’re ready to mix the final drink. 
5. Once you’re ready, add the ice cubes to your guests’ glasses, pour over the prepared base, then float the soda water over. 

Because I make this for my friends when I have gatherings, I scale down the glasses I serve it in. Instead of highballs, I use old-fashioned or double old-fashioned glasses to serve in. I just think highballs are a bit excessive for large parties. Or maybe I’m just cheap. 

Swaps and Substitutions?

Swaps:

• replace the passion fruit with guava, mango, or pineapple
• swap the mint leaves and use Genovese basil, Thai basil, Opal basil, sage or cilantro instead
• use lemon-lime soda or flavored (lime, mango, or lemon) sparkling water instead of soda or seltzer water
• use aged white rum (like Bacardí’s Maestro) instead of regular white rum

Substitutions:

• replace the fresh fruit pulp with frozen fruit purèe or omit it altogether
• use granulated (white) sugar or light brown sugar instead of turbinado sugar
• use lemon juice if you don’t have fresh lime juice
• plain ice cubes can replace the passion fruit ice cubes

How do I make a Passion Fruit Mojito Mocktail?

Kiddos love to have what the adults are having; however, getting Junior sauced on my mojitos is a great way to catch a case. 

Instead, make the littles their own mocktail version of this drink:

1. Muddle the mint, sugar, and lime juice as instructed. 
2. Stir together the muddled mixture with the passion fruit pulp and juice. 
3. Plunk the passion fruit ice cubes into the glasses and pour the juice-mint mixture over.
4. Float lemon-lime soda over the juice and stir to mix. 

I know you probably already know this, but be sure to label the alcoholic version and the virgin one. Don’t want any cocktail/mocktail misunderstandings.

Can I make this ahead?

Since you might want to make this cocktail ahead for gatherings and the like, here’s how to do it:

1. Muddle the sugar, mint, and lime juice as instructed. 
2. Combine the muddled mixture with the passion fruit pulp and juice, but strain the mixture well after stirring. 
   Straining the mixture removes most of the mint leaves, which tend to darken and impart a muddy flavor to the drink if left to sit too long.
3. Store the passion fruit juice-mint mixture in a storage container in the fridge until your ready (or for 1 week).
4. When you’re ready to make your cocktails, complete the drink recipe as instructed above. 

Need more Rum Cocktails?

If you want to make it a whole rummy cocktail party, check out these headliners:

Classic Passion Fruit Daiquiri

Puerto Rican-Style Mojitos

Creamy Piña Coladas

One thing I’m passionate about is cocktail culture. Hopefully, with this Passion Fruit Mojito Cocktail, I’ve converted you. If not, that’s okay; I’m still a fan of yours. Be sure to save this recipe on your cocktail board and share it with your friends and family.

Passion Fruit Mojito Cocktails

Marta Rivera at Sense & Edibility

5 from 29 votes

Three forms of passion fruit make this cocktail the ultimate thirst quencher. This recipe is intended for consumption by those 21 and older (or of legal drinking age).

Prep time does not include the time to make the Passion Fruit Ice Cubes (add 1 day).

Mocktail, Pitcher, and Make-Ahead instructions can be found in the Notes section.

Servings: 2

Print Pin Recipe SaveSaved!

Prep Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 8 minutes mins

Equipment

• cocktail shaker
• highball glasses

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Passion Fruit Ice Cubes (begin 1 day ahead)

• 1/2 cup (125 milliliters) passion fruit juice
• 1/2 cup (125 milliliters) cold water

Passion Fruit Mojito

• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
• 6 mint leaves
• 1 1/2 ounces (44 milliliters) lime juice freshly squeezed from 1 large lime
• 3 1/2 ounces (102 milliliters) passion fruit juice
• 3 ounces (88 milliliters) white rum
• 1 medium passion fruit
• passion fruit ice cubes
• 2-3 ounces (59-88 milliliters) soda water (or seltzer or citrus soda) to float

Optional Garnish

• 2 stems of mint

Instructions 

Make the Passion Fruit Ice Cubes (1 week-1 day ahead)

• In a pitcher or bowl, stir together the passion fruit juice and water to combine.

  Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Use as desired.

Mix the Passion Fruit Mojito Cocktails

• Add the turbinado sugar, mint leaves, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler to mash the mint into the sugar and juice, creating a quick simple syrup.

  Next, add the passion fruit juice to the cocktail shaker along with the white rum. 
• Cut the passion fruit in half and use a spoon to scrape their pulp into 2 highball glasses.

  Add 2 or 3 passion fruit ice cubes to the highball glasses on top of the pulp. Set the glasses aside while you complete the mojitos.
• Cap the cocktail shaker, then give it a vigorous shake. After 30 seconds of intense shaking, the outside of the shaker will frost over, which is an indication that the liquid is properly chilled.

  Pour the contents of the shaker over the ice cubes in the glasses.
• Next, float the soda water over the mojito base to suit your preference.

  Add a straw and give the cocktail a quick stir to combine the heavier juice and rum with the carbonated water. Then add a simple sprig of mint to complete the drink. 

  Enjoy responsibly.

Notes

How to choose the perfect Passion Fruit:

• Buy fruits that are heavy for their size.
• Choose fruit with a shell (or peel) that is dark and shriveled and which emit a strong aroma.
• Leave the green, unripe fruits on the counter to ripen at room temperature if you can't find fully ripe ones. Use them once they're ripe, or refrigerate them for a couple of days until you can get to them. 

Swaps:

• replace the passion fruit with guava, mango, or pineapple
• swap the mint leaves and use the same amount of Genovese basil, Thai basil, Opal basil, 2 large sage leaves or 2 stems of cilantro instead
• use lemon-lime soda or flavored (lime, mango, or lemon) sparkling water instead of soda or seltzer water
• use aged white rum (like Bacardí's Maestro) instead of regular white rum

Substitutions:

• replace the fresh fruit pulp with frozen fruit purèe (2 tablespoons) or omit it altogether
• use the same amount of granulated (white) sugar or light brown sugar instead of turbinado sugar
• use lemon juice if you don't have fresh lime juice
• plain ice cubes can replace the passion fruit ice cubes

Pitcher Passion Fruit Mojitos:

Passion Fruit Ice Cubes:

2 cups passion fruit juice
2 cups cold water

Pitcher Mojitos:

1/4 cup (52 grams) turbinado sugar
2 bunches (about 30) mint leaves
3/4 cups (177 milliliters) lime juice
1 3/4 cups (414 milliliters) passion fruit juice
1 1/2 cups (354 milliliters) white rum
2 medium passion fruits
1-1 1/2 cups (236-354 milliliters) soda water

1. Muddle the sugar, mint leaves, and lime juice in a mortar and pestle or a large bowl. Pour this simple syrup into a large cocktail pitcher.
2. Add the passion fruit juice, rum, and pulp (scraped from the cut fruits) to the pitcher and stir with a cocktail stirrer. 
3. Store this base in the refrigerator until you're ready to mix the final drink. 
4. Once you're ready, add the ice cubes to your guests' glasses, pour over the prepared base, then float the soda water over. 

I recommend scaling down the glasses to old-fashioned or double old-fashioned glasses instead of highballs.

Passion Fruit Mojito Mocktails (makes 2):

Prepare the passion fruit ice cubes as instructed in the original recipe. 

1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
6 mint leaves
1 1/2 ounces (44 milliliters) lime juice
4 ounces (118 milliliters) passion fruit juice
2 medium passion fruits
2-3 ounces (59-88 milliliters) lemon-lime soda (I like Sprite)

1. Muddle the mint, sugar, and lime juice as instructed. 
2. Stir together the muddled mixture with the passion fruit pulp and juice. 
3. Plunk the passion fruit ice cubes into the glasses and pour the juice-mint mixture over.
4. Float lemon-lime soda over the juice and stir to mix. 

Make-Ahead Instructions:

1. Muddle the sugar, mint, and lime juice as instructed. 
2. Combine the muddled mixture with the passion fruit pulp and juice, straining the mixture well after stirring. 
   Straining the mixture removes most of the mint leaves, which tend to darken and impart a muddy flavor to the drink if left to sit too long.
3. Store the passion fruit juice-mint mixture in a storage container in the fridge until your ready (or for 1 week), or freeze for 2 months. 
4. When you're ready to make your cocktails, complete the drink recipe as instructed above. 

Course Drinks

Cuisine Hispanic

Keyword cocktail, passion fruit, rum

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