Jennifer Garner’s Frozen Paloma Is the Four-Ingredient Mocktail That Keeps Going Viral Every Summer
This recipe comes from one of Ina Garten's favorite cookbooks — and it works just as well without tequila as it does with it.
Not every drink worth making needs a liquor cabinet. Sometimes the best thing you can pour on a hot afternoon is frozen citrus with a little salt.
Jennifer Garner has been proving that point for years on her Pretend Cooking Show. Her latest pick is a frozen Paloma recipe from Ina Garten’s Modern Comfort Food. Before that it was a two-ingredient blueberry mocktail she shared during the pandemic.
Both are ridiculously simple. Both were designed with alcohol in mind but work just as well without it.
That kind of flexibility matters. Whether you’re fully sober, cutting back or just don’t feel like drinking on a Tuesday, these easy mocktail recipes meet you where you are. No explanation needed.
What is Jennifer Garner’s frozen Paloma recipe?
It’s a blended citrus mocktail from Ina Garten’s cookbook Modern Comfort Food. Garner featured the drink in a recent Instagram video and called it “a perfect little kiki” waiting in your freezer. Garten responded to the post with “Save one for me!”
The full recipe makes four drinks using grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup and ice. No alcohol required.
How do you make the frozen Paloma step by step?
Combine 1½ cups ruby-red grapefruit juice, ½ cup lime juice and ¼ cup simple syrup in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for at least six hours or overnight.
Break the mixture apart with a fork. Blend half at a time with 1 cup of ice and a pinch of kosher salt. Repeat with the remaining half and divide among glasses.
Can you make the frozen Paloma ahead of time?
Yes. That’s one of the best parts. The citrus base can sit in the freezer overnight or longer. When you’re ready to serve, just break it up and blend. It’s an ideal make-ahead drink for hosting.
Can you add tequila to make it a cocktail?
Yes. Add 1 cup of white tequila to the citrus base before freezing and you have a traditional Paloma. It’s one of those Ina Garten cocktails designed to work both ways.
If you’re serving a group with mixed preferences, keep the base alcohol-free and blend tequila into individual portions.
Can you adjust the sweetness of the frozen Paloma?
Absolutely. The amount of simple syrup can be increased or decreased depending on how sweet your grapefruit is and what you prefer. Taste the citrus base before freezing and adjust from there.
How do you garnish a frozen Paloma?
A grapefruit wedge is the simplest option. A lime wheel or grapefruit peel also works. For more color, add a sprig of mint or an edible flower.
A salt rim reinforces the sweet-tart flavor. Combine salt with grapefruit or lime zest for a more decorative finish. Serve in a chilled coupe or margarita glass to make the frozen Paloma recipe feel more polished.
What is Jennifer Garner’s blueberry mocktail?
In a 2020 Instagram post, Garner shared a two-ingredient drink made with sparkling water and blueberry juice. Fill a glass most of the way with sparkling water, add a splash of blueberry juice and serve over ice.
She used San Pellegrino and Lakewood Organic Pure Blueberry Juice but said other brands work fine. Pineapple or cranberry juice can be swapped in for a different flavor. Fresh herbs like mint, basil or thyme make it feel more intentional. Tequila, vodka or rum can be added for a cocktail version.
What is Jennifer Garner’s Pretend Cooking Show?
It’s an informal recipe series Garner launched on Instagram in 2017. The relaxed and relatable style resonated especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. By November 2020, the show had accumulated more than 2.2 million views according to ABC News.
Nearly six years later, her recipes are still making waves online.
Why are easy mocktail recipes so popular right now?
Fewer Americans are drinking than at any point in recent history. Only 54% of U.S. adults said they drank alcohol in 2025, the lowest rate in nearly 90 years of tracking according to Gallup.
The market reflects that shift. Nonalcoholic beverages now generate roughly $1 billion in annual U.S. sales according to NielsenIQ. Mocktail mentions on restaurant menus jumped 37.4% between 2019 and 2025 according to data reported by Nation’s Restaurant News.
Jennifer Garner’s recipes fit right into that moment. They taste good, look good and don’t treat skipping alcohol as a compromise. For a closer look at the mocktail movement, we put together a list of easy mocktail recipes worth trying at home.
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