4 Refreshing Summer Drinks
If you’re looking for colorful, fresh, fruity drinks that are refreshing and perfect for summer, here are four homemade drink ideas.
There is an abundance of recipes for alcoholic drinks of all kinds, but I wanted to create a series of non-alcoholic drinks that were impressively beautiful, fresh, and delicious.
Drinks that could be enjoyed by kids and adults alike, whether it’s at a special family gathering or a larger party with friends and neighbors.
Each drink here is simple to make, and the components can be made in advance and stored in the fridge.
Each one has its own character to it, and highlights different types of gorgeous summer fruit.
The triple melon sorbet float is fruity and fizzy, the strawberry limeade is perfectly sweet and tart, the homemade raspberry vanilla soda is aromatic and bubbly, and the cantaloupe agua fresca tastes like the most wonderful fresh melon water.
Here are the recipes and videos for each. Hope you enjoy them, and stay cool!
Strawberry Limeade:
Lemonade is one of the most popular summer drinks (and I do have a mint lemonade I love), but I like limeade even more!
I find the flavor of lime to be a bit brighter, and to pair with the strawberries beautifully. It’s a classic enjoyed by pretty much everyone.
Strawberry Limeade
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/2 lb sliced strawberries
- 20-30 mint leaves
- 2 cups cold water
Instructions
- To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan, and cook over medium high heat for 5-10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear.
- In a large mason jar or a pitcher, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, strawberries, mint, and water. Let sit in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Summer Melon Sorbet Floats:
Root beer floats are the most popular float drink, but you can go lighter with fresh melon balls, fruit sorbet, and seltzer.
Melon Sorbet Float
Ingredients
- assorted melon balls (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc)
- 2 scoops lemon, raspberry, or other fruity sorbet
- fresh mint leaves
- seltzer water
Instructions
- Freeze the melon balls for at least three hours until frozen.
- To make the drink, put the sorbet into the bottom of a glass, then top with the frozen melon balls. Drop in as much fresh mint as you'd like (anywhere from a couple leaves to a handful), then top with seltzer water.
- Let the sorbet melt to sweeten and flavor the drink. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Homemade Raspberry Vanilla Soda Recipe:
No storebought soda can compare to a fresh soda made at home, using real fruit syrup cooked from scratch.
Here I make a raspberry vanilla simple syrup, but you could also do other flavors using Strawberry Simple Syrup or the Peach Simple Syrup from this Sparkling Peach Iced Tea.
Raspberry Vanilla Soda
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- seltzer water
- ice
Instructions
- In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, and raspberries. Cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture is bubbling away and the sugar is dissolved. Stir and cook this mixture for another 5 minutes, until the raspberries have cooked down.
- Set a fine mesh strainer over a measuring cup or bowl and strain the saucepan mixture, pressing down on the raspberry pulp to squeeze out all the juice. Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract, and let this chill in the refrigerator.
- To serve, fill a glass with ice and add 2-3 tbsp of the raspberry syrup. Add about a cup of seltzer on top, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Cantaloupe Mint Agua Fresca Recipe:
Agua frescas are great for truly appreciating the flavor of the fruit, and while this recipe uses cantaloupe, honeydew melon is another great option.
Cantaloupe Mint Agua Fresca
Ingredients
- 1 cantaloupe (3.5 pounds, or 4 cups chopped fruit)
- 1.5 cups cold water
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (or lime juice)
- a few sprigs fresh mint (or basil)
- ice
Instructions
- Cut the cantaloupe up by first cutting in half, then into quarters, and cut the flesh away from the rind. Cut into chunks and place into a blender. Blend until fully pureed, then strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer in order to collect the juice.
- Pour the juice into a pitcher and add the water, fresh lemon juice, and mint. Refrigerate for at least one hour so it’s thoroughly chilled and the flavors are melded.
- Pour over ice and enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
More Drink Recipes:
Post updated in May 2019. Originally published July 2015.
These all look so colorful and refreshing!! The cantaloupe mint agua fresca looks incredible!
Colorful is just the right word! Maybe when I and doing my wifes (honeydew….honeydo list) get it? Sorry for the bad pun….and it’s a cantaloupe anyhow, maybe I’d be more motivated if she brought one of these drinks outside and on the rocks to quench my thirst. Like that raspberry vanilla soda. Keep the man working right!
Some great ideas on cooling off on a hot summer day!
These flavor combinations look amazing, Joanne!
OMG made the agua fresca and it was so refreshing. Thanks!