Escape the summer heat with these fun and refreshing summer drink recipes!

 
The summer months are winding down, but it can't happen too soon for most Texans! With the heat wave dubbed La Niña reaching record-high temperatures, refreshing summer drink recipes might be just the thing to cool your body and delight your taste buds!

So whether you're looking for new drink recipes to add to your fridge or a fun and tasty way to cool down with the kiddos, we've compiled some of the best summer drinks for you to try right here. Read on!

These refreshing summertime beverages will be a blast to make with the kids or to enjoy all by yourself!

Fun summer drinks

 

Are you planning for a day out on the beach? Camping out to watch the stunning Monarch Migration? No matter what, you'll need to have some fun summer drinks on hand to keep your family and friends' thirst quenched and taste buds entertained.

Here are some delicious drink recipes that satisfy both needs!

Watermelon lemonade

Recipe From: bbcgoodfood.com 

Drinking out of watermelons makes this summer drink a family favorite!

Ingredients:

• 1 large or 2 small watermelons
• 250ml lemon juice (from a bottle or squeeze your own)
• 100g golden caster sugar
• 1l bottle soda water
• 1 lime, cut into slices
• Small handful of mint
• Crushed ice

Directions:

1. Cut the top off the watermelon and hollow it out using a large spoon, fishing out any pips along the way.
2. Mash the flesh through a sieve into a bowl.
3. Put the flesh in a blender (or use a tall jug and hand blender) with the lemon juice and sugar, whizz to a purée, then stir in the soda.
4. Heap some ice into the hollowed-out watermelon and fill it with the lemonade mixture.
5. Serve the rest in a jug with the lime slices and mint.
6. Enjoy!

Blueberry Ginger Cooler

Recipe From: cookwithminali.com 

This eye-catching and refreshing beverage will surely be a hit at your next backyard party!

Ingredients:

• 1 liter water
• 1.25 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 heaping tablespoon grated ginger
• 4-5 tablespoons sugar or adjust to taste
• 2-3 cans of lemon-lime sparkling water unsweetened
• Ice cubes
• Mint leaves

Directions:

1. Set a pan on medium-high heat
2. Add water, blueberries, and grated ginger. Let it all come to a boil.
3. Once the mixture starts boiling, add sugar and mix till it dissolves.
4. Lower the heat and use the back of your spatula to mash the blueberries.
5. Mash all of it and let the mixture simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
6. Remove from heat, and once the syrup has cooled down, cover it with a cling sheet and let it sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
7. After 2-3 hours, strain the syrup into a clear bowl.
8. Cover and keep it refrigerated until ready to use.
9. To serve, fill 2/3 of the glass with the syrup and add ice cubes.
10. Add lemon-lime sparkling water on top and stir so that the soda and syrup combine well.
11. Garnish with some fresh blueberries and mint leaves, and enjoy!

Strawberry Orange Ginger Fizz

Recipe From: acalculatedwhisk.com 

As a paleo-friendly drink full of citrusy flavors, you'll want to keep this one among your favorite drink recipes!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 3 inches of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
• Three 3-inch strips of orange peel, removed with a vegetable peeler
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup water
• Pinch of sea salt
• 2-3 tablespoons strawberry orange ginger syrup
• 6 ounces sparkling water and/or champagne
• 2 ice cubes
• Half an orange slice, half a hulled strawberry, and a sprig of mint for serving

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat to make the syrup.
2. Bring to a boil and then simmer for about five minutes until the liquid surrounding the fruit is a bright pinkish-red and the strawberries themselves are much less vibrant.
3. Let the syrup cool for five minutes.
4. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl or jar, using a spoon to push on the solids in the strainer to extract as much liquid as possible.
5. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature before making drinks with it, or store it covered in the refrigerator for up to a week.
6. To make each drink, put 2-3 tablespoons of syrup in the bottom of an 8- to 10-ounce glass. You can always start with two tablespoons and add more later if you'd like.
7. Pour in sparkling water and/or champagne until the glass is almost full.
8. Add two ice cubes.
9. Garnish with a halved orange slice, half a strawberry, and a mint sprig, and serve immediately.
10. Enjoy!

Melon Sorbet Float

Recipe From: fifteenspatulas.com 

Mimicking a root beer float, this fun drink with fresh fruits and ice cream is sure to be a hit with the kids!

Ingredients:

• Assorted melon balls (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc.)
• 2 scoops of lemon, raspberry, or other fruity sorbet
• Fresh mint leaves
• Seltzer water

Directions:

1. Freeze the chosen melon balls for at least three hours until frozen.
2. To make the drink, put the sorbet into the bottom of a glass, then top with the frozen melon balls.
3. Drop in as much fresh mint as you'd like (anywhere from a couple of leaves to a handful), then top with seltzer water.
4. Let the sorbet melt to sweeten and flavor the drink.
5. Enjoy!

Nescafé iced coffee mocha

Recipe From: taste.com 

If the hot summer days have you feeling drained, this tasty beverage will surely do the trick to fill back up your energy tank!

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp Nescafé Gold Original Coffee
• 4 cups (1L) milk
• 1/3 cup (80g) drinking chocolate powder
• Chocolate flakes or chocolate curls, to serve

Directions:

1. Place coffee in a heatproof jug.
2. Add 2/3 cup (160ml) hot water.
3. Stir until coffee dissolves.
4. Stir in 1/2 cup (125ml) cold water.
5. Pour coffee mixture into a 12-hole ice cube tray. Place in the freezer for 6 hours or until frozen.
6. Place milk in a small saucepan over low heat.
7. Stir until just warm (no more than 40°C).
8. Add the chocolate powder. Remove from heat. Stir until powder dissolves.
9. Divide ice cubes among serving glasses. Pour over the milk mixture. Sprinkle with chocolate
10. Enjoy!

With the fall season quickly approaching, some of the ingredients for these summertime drinks may soon leave markets, so don't delay in giving them a try!

Non-alcoholic cocktails

 
Looking for some fun non-alcoholic cocktails (aka mocktails)? If so, here are some delicious non-alcoholic summertime drinks that may trick you into thinking you're tasting the real thing!

Virgin Pina Colada

Recipe From: houseofnasheats.com 

A classic drink without the effects - you'll be refilling this slushie summertime drink all day!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups pineapple juice
• ¾ cup cream of coconut
• 4 cups ice
• Pineapple wedges for garnish
• Maraschino cherries for garnish

Directions:

1. Pour the pineapple juice and cream of coconut into a high-powered blender. Add the ice.
2. Blend for 30-60 seconds until smooth.
3. Divide between 3-4 glasses.
4. Garnish with pineapple wedges, maraschino cherries, and cocktail umbrellas before serving!
5. Enjoy!

Frozen Peach Bellini Mocktail

Recipe From: spicysouthernkitchen.com 

A southern bubbly drink any Texan is sure to enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe peaches, peeled and sliced (or you can use frozen)
• 1 cup sparkling apple juice, plus more for serving
• 2 teaspoons SPLENDA® Sugar Blend
• 1 teaspoon lime juice

Directions:

1. Place sliced peaches in the freezer for 1 hour.
2. Combine peaches, 1 cup sparkling apple juice, SPLENDA® Sugar Blend, and lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour into 2 glasses and add about 1/2 inch of additional sparkling apple juice.
4. Enjoy!

Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade Virgin Mojito

Recipe From: westoftheloop.com 

Another classic cocktail but without the spirits! This refreshing beverage is one meant to be enjoyed by the poolside!

Ingredients:

• 15 mint leaves
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
• 8 oz Dasani Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade
• Garnish: Raspberries, mint, lime wedge

Directions:

1. Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a tall highball glass.
2. Gently muddle the mint with a muddler or other blunt object.
3. Add the simple syrup and lime juice to the mint.
4. Add a handful of ice cubes.
5. Top with Dasani Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade.
6. Garnish with fresh raspberries, a sprig of mint, and a lime wedge.
7. Enjoy!

As mocktails, these drinks can also be fun to make and enjoy with the kids! Just make sure to put them in fancy glasses for the full effect!

Best summer cocktails

 
Adults Only!

If you're looking to add spirits into the mix, take a look at some of these gratifying and flavorful cocktail recipes that pair well, whether at the dinner table or throwing a fun end-of-summer party!

Pink Grapefruit Party Punch

Recipe From: taste.com.au 

This punch can provide up to 6 refreshing summer cocktails for any summer party!

Ingredients:

• Pomegranate seeds, to serve
• 4 cups chilled lemonade
• 2 cups chilled ruby red grapefruit juice
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1/2 cup chilled tequila
• 1/4 cup Cointreau liqueur

Directions:

1. Place pomegranate seeds in an ice-cube tray. Cover with water.
2. Place in the freezer for 2 hours or until frozen.
3. Combine the lemonade, grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, and Cointreau in a serving jug. Top with pomegranate ice cubes.
4. Divide among serving glasses and serve immediately.
5. Enjoy!

Tipsy Texan

Recipe From: kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com 

An easy but delicious cocktail that all Texans are sure to love!

Ingredients:

• 1oz Gold Tequila
• 1.5oz Peach Liquor
• 1.5oz Ginger Ale
• 1.5oz Cranberry Juice

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker.
2. Shake to combine.
3. Garnish with a lime and mint sprig.
4. Enjoy!

Summer Breeze Cocktail

Recipe From: momfoodie.com 

With mouthwatering flavors and a dazzling look, this fun drink will make you feel like you're on an island vacation!

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Tequila
• 1 oz Absolut Citron Vodka
• ½ oz Triple Sec
• 1 cup orange juice
• Splash Grenadine
• Ice

Directions:

1. Fill a glass with ice
2. Pour your liquor into the glass
3. Add Orange Juice to the top
4. Lightly stir
5. Pour in grenadine
6. Enjoy!

No matter which refreshing cocktails you choose to spruce up your day, practice safe alcohol consumption by limiting your amounts and balancing your diet with lots of water!

Refresh and enjoy!

La Niña has undoubtedly made this Texas summer a one we won't soon forget. But these fun drinks are sure to quench your thirst, cool your body, and make for some great family conversation around the table.

We hope you enjoy it!

 
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