What is a non-alcoholic liqueur?

You've just searched for "alcohol-free liqueur" in Google. Sorry to disappoint you, but there's no such thing as an alcohol-free liqueur, or if there is, it's no longer a liqueur in the strict sense of the word :-).

A liqueur is an alcohol (neutral at first) sweetened and flavoured. 

There are even regulations in France specifying that to qualify as a liqueur, the mixture must contain at least 100 grams of sugar per litre and have between 15% and 55% alcohol. So we're a long way from the 0% alcohol you're looking for.

But don't panic, there are a few alternatives for making alcohol-free drinks that still have the great taste of a fruit liqueur. 

What can I use to replace an alcoholic liqueur? 

1)      Replace your liqueur with a cream 

If your aim is simply to reduce the alcohol content of your cocktail or cooking recipe, fruit creams are ideal. 

According to the regulations, a fruit cream is a liqueur that contains a minimum of 250 grams of sugar per litre, much more than a traditional liqueur.

Fruit creams are less alcoholic than liqueurs, with an alcohol content of around 15% but with the same fruity taste.

However, there is no legal obligation to specify the alcohol content of fruit creams. On principle, liqueur makers make them lighter, but it's up to you to check the alcohol content on the bottle.

Below is a table of the fruit cream equivalents of liqueurs. 

2)       Use a syrup 

If you want to make an alcohol-free cocktail, you can use a syrup to replace the liqueur. Although sweeter and denser than liqueur, syrup is an excellent alternative to fruit liqueur for making a non-alcoholic drink. Just remember to change the proportions and why not mix it with a little water to dilute it.

3)      Fruit juices 

Finally, why not use fruit juice with a little syrup added, to take on the sweet, fruity taste of a liqueur? There's nothing forbidden here. It's up to you to try and create your own recipes.