Got basil? Fresh basil leaves are pure gold: an abundance can make everything from fresh basil pesto to caprese salad and everything in between. Here’s a fun way to use this fresh herb: basil lemonade! It has a sweet tart, refreshing flavor with a pungent finish of basil to each sip. It’s simple to whip up at home with a quick infused basil syrup that brings that signature herbaceous pop. Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients for basil lemonade

Basil lemonade is fun to whip up at home and the perfect drink for impressing everyone (our son is one huge fan of homemade lemonade!). You’ll make a basil syrup that takes only a few minutes of hands on time, though you’ll need 30 minutes to the flavor to steep into the syrup. Keep in mind, this recipe is best in summer you’ve got fresh basil to spare. It calls for 1 cup mint leaves, which can get expensive if you’re buying store-bought herbs. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

• Fresh basil
• Lemons
• Suga

How to make basil lemonade (basic steps)

Homemade lemonade is simple: it just requires lots of lemons! You’ll need 7 to 8 large lemons to make a big pitcher. You can also consider making a half pitcher for a smaller quantity! Here are the basic steps for how to make basil lemonade (or jump to the recipe below for quantities):

• Make the basil syrup. Dissolve equal parts water and sugar, then add basil and allow the leaves to steep at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Juice the lemons. Using a press juicer is the quickest way to juice lemons: it gets out the most juice without tiring out your fingers from squeezing. The next best choice? A handheld citrus juicer.
• Mix the pitcher. Mix the basil syrup in a pitcher with the lemon juice and more cold water. Add ice and serve!

Spiked variation: add vodka or gin!

For another variation on basil lemonade, try turning this recipe into a summer cocktail! It’s the perfect basis for a sweet tart summer drink. Simply combine 1 cup of this lemonade with 2 ounces (¼ cup) vodka. Or, try it with gin: add 1.5 ounces (3 Tbsp) per glass. Or, add limoncello to amp the lemony flavor: add 1 ounce (2 Tbsp) per glass.

Basil lemonade by the glass

Don’t want to make an entire pitcher of basil lemonade? This recipe makes 8 to 9 cups of lemonade, so it’s intended for parties or entertaining. You can make a big pitcher, but if you’re really just craving a glass, you can do that too! Here’s what to do:

• Squeeze 3 tablespoons lemon juice into a glass. That’s 1 large lemon or 2 small.
• Add 3 tablespoons of basil syrup and stir until it dissolves.
• Add 1 cup cold water and a handful of ice. Water it down more if necessary. Enjoy!

More homemade lemonade recipes

This basil lemonade recipe is one in a lineup of fruity and herby lemonade flavors! Here are a few of our favorite ways to make lemonade:

• Try fruity Blueberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade or Raspberry Lemonade
• Opt for herby Lavender Lemonade or Mint Lemonade
• Try Ginger Lemonade or Cucumber Lemonade
• Go for classic Best Homemade Lemonade

01

Best Homemade Lemonade

02

Mint Lemonade

03

Blueberry Lemonade

04

Strawberry Lemonade

This basil lemonade recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Basil Lemonade

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Rest Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 8

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Description

Basil lemonade is a sweet tart, herbaceous, and refreshing summer drink! It’s easy to make with a quick infused syrup.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup basil leaves, tightly packed
• 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (7 to 8 large lemons)*
• 7 cups water, divided
• Ice

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Instructions

1. Add the sugar and 1 cup water to a small saucepan and heat until a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil leaves. Allow to steep until syrup is room temperature, about 30 minutes.*
2. Strain out the basil leaves, then add the basil syrup to a large pitcher with 6 cups cold water and the lemon juice.  Add ice and serve.

Notes

*Or, make a variation by the glass. Make the basil syrup and refrigerate leftovers. To make the lemonade by the glass, use 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons basil syrup, and 1 cup cold water. Add ice and serve!

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Lemonade
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Basil lemonade

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

What’s more refreshing than a glass of sweet tart homemade lemonade? Here’s a fun variation on the theme: Blueberry Lemonade! Adding the popular berry to this sweet tart drink balances it with a berry nuance and gives it a brilliant purple color. It’s such a fun way to use this seasonal fruit! You can also add vodka for an instant summer cocktail. Every year we try a few more lemonade flavors, and this one is a favorite!

Ingredients for blueberry lemonade

Blueberry lemonade is simple and requires just 3 main ingredients, plus water! It’s so much tastier to make homemade lemonade than store-bought: the flavor is intensely sweet tart and fresh! Once you’ve whipped up a batch, you can see how easy it is to riff on fruity variations. Here are the three ingredients you’ll need:

• Blueberries
• Lemons
• Sugar

How to make blueberry lemonade (basic steps)

Got your ingredients? The method for this blueberry lemonade is very simple: it just includes juicing, blending and mixing. There’s no need to cook a simple syrup on the stove, which is often the case in fruity lemonade variations. The basic steps are (or jump to the recipe):

• Juice the lemons. We recommend using a press juicer, which is the quickest, gets out the most juice, and saves your hands from cramping up after juicing all those lemons. The next best choice? A handheld citrus juicer.
• Blend the blueberries, sugar and water, then strain. Give it a whiz in the blender, then strain it through a fine mesh strainer to make it perfectly smooth.
• Mix the pitcher. Mix the lemon juice and blueberries in a pitcher with more cold water.

For the garnish

Drinks are all about the garnish, and that’s the case with this blueberry lemonade! It has a beautiful purple hue in the glass with ice, but even better? Add garnishes of lemon wedges or slices and a few blueberries. We eat (and drink) with our eyes, and this presentation takes it over the top!

Serving in a pitcher with ice

Are you planning to make this blueberry lemonade for a party, leaving it out in a big pitcher with ice? The ice melts over time, which can dilute the flavor drink. If you think it might let the pitcher sit out for quite a while, reduce the cold water you add at the end to account for dilution (for example, add 3 or 3.5 cups of cold water instead of 4 cups).

Spiked variation: add vodka!

Want to turn this blueberry lemonade into a simple summer cocktail? This lemonade is the perfect basis for a sweet tart summer drink. To make blueberry vodka lemonade, combine 1 cup of this lemonade with 2 ounces (¼ cup) vodka: you won’t be able to stop sipping! (Be careful, it goes down fast.)

You can also add other spirits! Spiked lemonade is great with gin: add 1.5 ounces (3 Tbsp) per glass. Or, add limoncello to up the lemony flavor: add 1 ounce (2 Tbsp) per glass.

More lemonade variations

This blueberry lemonade is one in a variety of fruity or herbal riffs on lemonade! Once you’ve tried this one, here are a few more to taste:

• Try Strawberry Lemonade
• Go for Fresh Pink Lemonade
• Make Watermelon Lemonade
• Opt for Easy Raspberry Lemonade
• Grab Lavender Lemonade or Mint Lemonade
• Mix up Cucumber Lemonade or Ginger Lemonade

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Strawberry Lemonade

02

Watermelon Lemonade

03

Mint Lemonade

04

Easy Raspberry Lemonade

This blueberry lemonade recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Blueberry Lemonade

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 drink

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Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (7 to 8 large lemons)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 6 cups water, divided
• To garnish: lemon wedges and fresh blueberries

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Instructions

1. Juice the lemons.
2. Add the blueberries, sugar, and 2 cups warm water to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain through fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher, using a spatula to push the liquid through.
3. Add 4 cups cold water and the fresh squeezed lemon juice to the pitcher. Garnish with lemon wedges and fresh blueberries.
4. Variation: For blueberry vodka lemonade, mix 1 cup blueberry lemonade and 2 ounces (¼ cup) vodka.

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Lemonade
• Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Blueberry lemonade

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

The best lemonade? Homemade with real lemons. Make it at home with fresh squeezed citrus, and you’ll find out why this beverage became so popular in the first place. Make a big pitcher for parties, or you can make it by the glass. Either way, you’ll be absolutely smitten! Here’s the best homemade lemonade recipe: and it’s quicker and easier than most methods, too.

Ingredients for this lemonade recipe

You only need two ingredients to make fresh lemonade (three if you count water!). Here’s what you need to make this homemade lemonade recipe:

• Lemons: You’ll need about 7 to 8 large lemons to make a full pitcher of 8 servings. This is a lot of squeezing, so if you prefer you can make a single glass using 1 lemon.
• Sugar: The best sugar to use for lemonade is plain old granulated sugar. This type of sugar makes for the best yellow lemonade color. You use other sugars like cane sugar or coconut sugar: the color will just be slightly darker. If you prefer natural sweeteners, it works with honey or maple syrup, too.

How to make lemonade

Many lemonade recipes call for boiling a simple syrup on the stove. This can be time consuming, so we decided to make our recipe even simpler. You can’t stir sugar right into cold water because it doesn’t dissolve, but we found a trick! Here’s all you have to do for this easy lemonade recipe:

• Juice the lemons. This is the most time consuming part…by far! See below for a few tips on juicing.
• Mix the sugar with 1 cup warm water. No simple syrup necessary! All you have to do is mix sugar into warm water and it dissolves.
• Add the cold water and lemon juice, and some ice. Cool it back down by adding cold water, lime juice and some ice. Voila: homemade lemonade!

The best way to juice lemons

Juicing lemons might not sound intimidating, until you have to juice 7 to 8 in a row! If you don’t have a great citrus juicer, this recipe will do a number on your finger strength. Here are the best juicers we recommend:

• Top choice: a press citrus juicer. This type of juicer is incredibly efficient and ends up getting out even more juice than other types. Here’s the press juicer we use. It’s held up the best of any method, after making 150+ cocktails.
• Next best choice: a handheld citrus juicer. The next best juicer is the type with a ridged top (similar to this).

Whatever the case: don’t try to juice them with your hands only! Not only will your hands hurt, you’ll get seeds into the lemonade. Of course, you can strain those out if you don’t have a juicer and are dying to make this recipe. (We won’t judge!)

Make lemonade by the glass

Don’t want to make an entire pitcher of lemonade? We hear you. This recipe makes 8 to 9 cups of lemonade, so it’s intended for parties or entertaining. Of course, you can also make a big pitcher and refrigerate it. But want to make lemonade by the glass? Here’s what to do:

• Squeeze 3 tablespoons lemon juice into a glass. That’s 1 large lemon or 2 small.
• Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons warm water and stir until it dissolves.
• Add 1 cup cold water and a handful of ice. Water it down more if necessary. Enjoy!

10 types of lemonade recipes

There are so many tasty spins on homemade lemonade! You can easily jazz up this lemonade recipe by using different types of fruit, or making it boozy. Here are a few ideas:

Fresh Pink Lemonade

Add cranberry juice to make sweet tart pink lemonade.

Get Recipe

Sparkling Lemonade

Add soda water for a sparkle!

Get Recipe

Strawberry Lemonade

Adding strawberries makes a fruity flavor and brilliant color!

Get Recipe

Easy Raspberry Lemonade

Adding raspberries makes a bright pink color and sweet tart flavor!

Get Recipe

Blueberry Lemonade

Blueberries add sweetness and a purple hue to fresh lemonade.

Get Recipe

Mint Lemonade

Blend in fresh mint leaves for an herby spin on lemonade.

Get Recipe

Lavender Lemonade

Dried lavender buds bring floral notes to this lemonade recipe.

Get Recipe

Watermelon Lemonade

Blend watermelon and lemons for the best summer lemonade!

Get Recipe

Cucumber Lemonade

Blend in cucumber for a cooling spin on this drink.

Get Recipe

Vodka Lemonade

Mix 1 cup lemonade with ¼ cup vodka. Tangy and so easy to drink!

Get Recipe

This lemonade recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

Best Homemade Lemonade (& Variations!)

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 (8 to 9 cups)

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Description

Here’s how to make the best lemonade you’ll taste from freshly squeezed lemons! Using real citrus gives this recipe extraordinary sweet tart flavor.

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Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (7 to 8 large lemons)*
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 7 cups water, divided
• Ice
• Fresh mint, for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

1. Juice the lemons.
2. Add the sugar and 1 cup warm water to a large pitcher and stir until it is dissolved.
3. Add 6 cups cold water and lemon juice. Add ice and serve.

Notes

*To make it by the glass: Squeeze 3 tablespoons lemon juice into a glass (1 large lemon, or two small). Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons warm water and stir until it dissolves. Add 1 cup cold water and a handful of ice.

• Category: Drink
• Method: Squeezed
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Lemonade, Lemonade recipe, Homemade lemonade, homemade lemonade recipe, How to make lemonade

More recipes with lemon

The lemon is one of our most used ingredients in the kitchen! Here are a few more tasty lemon recipes:

• Lemon Blueberry Pancakes Light and fluffy, with just the right citrus zing and sweet bursts of berries!
• Lemon Aioli A tangy sauce great for dipping fries, vegetables or using as a sandwich spread!
• Peas with Lemon Cooking peas with garlic and lemon makes them taste incredible.
• Lemon Dill Salmon Takes just 10 minutes to bake! Mix up a zesty dill sauce while it cooks.
• Lemon Water Oh so refreshing, with 0 calories and no sugar.
• Lemon Vinaigrette Tastes like pure lemon, and uses only 4 ingredients.

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Here at A Couple Cooks we’re avid followers of drink trends, and this one recently caught our eye: the Espresso Tonic! This unlikely combination of tonic water and espresso comes from Scandinavia, and it’s the perfect summer drink for coffee lovers. The sweet and bitter notes of tonic water accentuate the rich, bitter coffee, and the effervescent bubbles and hint of citrus add bright, refreshing notes. This one is a big favorite around here and a must-try for any coffee lover!

What is an espresso tonic?

The Espresso Tonic is a drink that pairs tonic water and a double shot of espresso. It originated in 2007 in Oslo, then spread to Sweden and became popular in the mid-2010s in the US in barista competitions. The drink is simple and you’ll need only a few ingredients to whip it up at home. It tastes like a true marriage of the two liquids: rich, bitter coffee that’s diluted by the sweet and bubbly notes of tonic (versus the coffee soda, which tastes like bubbly coffee). Here’s what you’ll need:

• Espresso (doubleshot)
• Tonic water (½ cup or 4 ounces)
• Lemon or orange wedge

Ways to make espresso

The most important part of an espresso tonic? A great espresso! There are several methods for homemade espresso: our favorite is using a high quality espresso machine. But there are a few other ways to make a high quality espresso shot. Here are the top methods:

• Espresso machine: The best way to make espresso at home is with an espresso machine (here’s how).
• Portable espresso maker: A portable espresso maker is a cheaper way to make great espresso at home.
• Moka Pot (aka Bialetti): Moka Pot Coffee is very strong coffee, not technically espresso. But it works great for an espresso tonic if you have one!
• French press: This French Press espresso is very good, and a nice tool for espresso if you have one.

What is tonic water?

Tonic water is a carbonated water that contains quinine and is lightly sweetened. Its flavor is bubbly, bitter, sweet and sour, making it an excellent mixer for drinks. Quinine was historically prescribed as a medicine to fight malaria, and mixing it with carbonated water and sugar helped to mask its bitter flavor. It first sold commercially in 1858.

Today the level of quinine is much lower than historical tonic water, and is safe to consume. It’s used in many classic cocktails like the Gin and Tonic and Vodka Tonic.

How to make an espresso tonic

An espresso tonic is as simple as pouring together two ingredients, but there a few things to note:

• Add the tonic water first, then pour the espresso on top. This avoids the foam that occurs if they’re added the other way around.
• Run a lemon or orange slice around the rim of the glass. The citrus adds another dimension to the rich, bitter coffee.

And that’s it! The espresso tonic is primed to be the perfect drink for summer. It’s the ideal afternoon pick me up or non-alcoholic cocktail. Let us know what you think in the comments below!

More coffee drinks

Are you a coffee lover like we are? Our Barista Series shows you how to make every type of coffee drink. Here are a few favorites to try:

• Go for a bubbly Coffee Soda
• Try the perfect Pour Over or French Press
• Opt for frozen with Frozen Coffee or Mocha Frappe
• Try Spanish Cafe con leche or French Cafe au lait
• Grab an espresso drink like an Americano, Macchiato, Cappuccino, Flat White, Mocha Cappuccino, Iced Latte, Iced Espresso, or Iced Vanilla Latte

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How to Make Espresso

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Coffee Soda

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Iced Espresso

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Iced Cappuccino

This espresso tonic recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Espresso Tonic

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink

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Description

The espresso tonic is a refreshing bubbly drink starring the unlikely combination of tonic water and coffee!

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Ingredients

• 2 ounces expresso (double shot), cooled slightly
• 4 ounces (½ cup) tonic water
• Lemon or orange wedge, for serving

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Instructions

1. Make the espresso, using your favorite method.
2. Add ice to an 8-ounce glass. Add the tonic water and gently pour the espresso on the top.
3. Run the lemon slice around the edge of the glass, then add it to the glass as a garnish.

Notes

We personally use this espresso machine.

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Coffee Drink
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Espresso tonic

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Sure, you can buy the premade packets with pictures of snow covered ski chalets. But did you know the absolute best hot chocolate is homemade in just 5 minutes? After years of tinkering, we’ve got a master recipe for you. Here’s our very best homemade hot chocolate recipe: it’s creamy, rich, chocolaty, and tastes like a dream. All you need are a few ingredients, and you might already have them on hand. And if you’ve got chocolate chips…well, they make all the difference.

Hot cocoa vs hot chocolate

First though: what’s the difference between these two similar terms? Is there even a difference?

• Hot cocoa and hot chocolate are commonly used as synonyms, especially in the US. So you’ll find people using them interchangeably.
• The technical definitions are hot cocoa is made with cocoa powder, milk and sugar: it has a thinner consistency and is very sweet. Hot chocolate is made with real chocolate, and may be thicker and less sweet.

Either way, you can generally use these two as synonyms. So this recipe is both a homemade hot chocolate recipe and a hot cocoa recipe! Score.

Ingredients for the best hot chocolate recipe

There’s a bit of a debate in the culinary community about what makes the best homemade hot chocolate recipe. Some claim it’s chopped melted chocolate. Others claim cocoa powder is the way to go. After numerous tests, we found cocoa powder plus real chocolate is the real winner. But you can omit the chocolate if you don’t have it on hand! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cocoa powder
• 2% milk (or oat milk)
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon
• Semi sweet or dark chocolate chips (optional but recommended)

How to make homemade hot chocolate: a few tips

There’s not much to a homemade recipe: it’s pretty much dump and whisk! But we’ve got a couple tips before you scroll down to the recipe:

• First, whisk a little milk with the cocoa powder. This helps to make a paste and dissolve most of the powder, which can get lumpy.
• A pinch of cinnamon adds complexity. You can add even more if you’d like a stronger flavor.
• Real chocolate adds richness, body, and depth in flavor. You can make it with just cocoa powder, but the real chocolate takes it to a whole new level.

Add toppings to serve

This homemade hot chocolate recipe tastes absolutely amazing as is. Honestly, we rarely add anything else. But if you’d like, add toppings to make it next level cozy! You can use it as part of a hot chocolate bar and let guests top their drinks as desired. Try these toppings:

• Homemade whipped cream
• Shaved chocolate
• Cocoa powder
• Marshmallows (homemade or purchased)
• Peppermint candies, crushed
• Chocolate sauce

Variations on hot chocolate

There are so many ways to vary this hot chocolate recipe! Add flavors or mix it up by spiking it with booze. Or, go for a healthier spin with less sugar and richness. Here are the best variations on this cozy drink (add the quantities to the 2 serving recipe below):

• Peppermint: Add ⅛ teaspoon peppermint extract to the 2 serving recipe below. Or go to Peppermint Hot Chocolate or Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate.
• Vegan: Use oat milk and dairy-free chocolate chips. Go to Vegan Hot Chocolate.
• Healthy: Skip the chocolate and reduce the sugar slightly. Go to Healthy Hot Chocolate.
• Spiked: Add 2 ounces aged or dark rum or bourbon to the 2 serving recipe below. Go to Spiked Hot Chocolate.
• Kahlua or Baileys: Go to Kahlua Hot Chocolate or Baileys Hot Chocolate.

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Peppermint Hot Chocolate

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Vegan Hot Chocolate

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Spiked Hot Chocolate

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Baileys Hot Chocolate

More hot drinks

Once the weather gets a chill, it’s time to cup your hands around a cozy mug. Outside of this homemade hot cocoa, here are some other hot beverages to take off the chill:

• Try deliciously fragrant Mulled Cider
• Mix up a brilliant batch of Mulled Wine
• Opt for cozy Hot Buttered Rum
• Go for a Classic Irish Coffee, or this tasty Christmas Coffee with gingerbread syrup
• Make a seriously cozy London Fog tea latte
• Whip up a spiced Chai Tea Latte

This hot cocoa recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten free. For dairy free and vegan, use oat milk and dairy-free chocolate (or omit).

Homemade Hot Chocolate

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 3 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 2 drinks

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Description

Here’s the very best homemade hot chocolate recipe: full of rich chocolaty flavor and easy to whip up in 5 minutes. Never buy the mix again!

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Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 cups 2% milk (or oat milk)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch cinnamon
• ¼ cup (1 ½ ounces) semisweet or dark chocolate chips*

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Instructions

1. Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and ¼ cup of the milk and whisk until the cocoa powder is mostly integrated. Whisk in the remaining milk until smooth.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and heat over medium heat until the chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes. Do not boil. Serve immediately, garnished with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Notes

*You can omit for a great cup of hot cocoa with a lighter flavor (and less calories). But the chocolate really adds richness in flavor. We highly recommend it!

• Category: Drink
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Hot chocolate, Hot chocolate recipe, Homemade hot chocolate, Hot cocoa

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s a fruity, refreshing drink everyone should try at least once: the Shrub! This sweet and sour drink works as a cocktail or a mocktail, pairing a fruity vinegar syrup with soda. This historical drink has become popular at bars, restaurants and with home cooks in the past years, because it’s so refreshing and ripe for unlimited variations. It’s very simple to make a shrub drink at home: all you need are 2 days and a bit of fruit, vinegar and sugar. It makes a killer cocktail and just as killer mocktail!

What is a shrub?

The shrub is a drink made with a fruit-infused vinegar syrup and sparkling water, either as a soft drink or with alcohol to make it a cocktail. The drink stems back to 17th century England, where vinegar was used to preserve berries and other fruits. Shrubs became popular in America in the 19th century. The typical method was to pour vinegar over berries and allow the mixture to ferment for a few days, then add sugar or honey and reduce the mixture into a syrup.

Shrubs went out of fashion after the invention of refrigeration, but they have surged in popularity today. They’re featured on American bar and restaurant menus, where bartenders often have their own signature flavors and blends.

Making the shrub syrup

After we enjoyed a basil shrub on a recent night out, we were inspired to try a hand at shrub making ourselves. Turns out, it’s incredibly simple and easily customizable to the ingredients you have on hand. Here’s the basic process:

• Combine equal parts sugar and vinegar. We like the flavor of red wine vinegar here, but you can also use apple cider vinegar, Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar. Stay away from white vinegar (it’s much too strong) or balsamic vinegar (also too strong). You can add a drizzle of balsamic to a wine or cider vinegar if you like the flavor.
• Chop and muddle fruit, then add to the vinegar. Use the same quantity of sugar and vinegar. This is where you can get creative! We used blueberries here and gently mashed them before adding to the vinegar mixture. Other ideas? Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, peaches, pears or plums would work well here.
• Add herbs or spices if desired. If you’d like, add any herbs you have on hand or whole spices. Some ideas include rosemary, thyme, mint, sage, cardamom pods, peppercorns, star anise, or cinnamon sticks.
• Refrigerate for 2 days, then strain. This allows the flavors to fully permeate into the syrup. After 2 days, strain through a fine mesh strainer.

How to make a shrub drink (mocktail)

Got your shrub syrup? Now you can make a shrub drink! One nice thing about a shrub is that it’s equally as good as a cocktail and a mocktail (we think). Mixing the syrup with bubbles makes a tangy, sweet tart drink that’s incredibly refreshing. Here’s what to do:

• Add 1 ounce shrub syrup and 3 ounces sparkling water to a glass. You can mix it right in the glass! 1 ounce equals 2 tablespoons, if you’re measuring with tablespoons.
• Stir well! If you don’t stir well and you drink with a straw, you can get a surprisingly vinegary first sip (it happened to us). Make sure it’s full integrated as a drink.
• Garnish. Add ice and garnish with fresh berries and herbs.

How to make a shrub cocktail

A shrub cocktail is a fun and refreshing way to make a summer drink. It’s great for parties or vacations because you can mix up a big jar of the syrup in advance. The recipe below makes 1 ½ cups shrub syrup, enough for 12 drinks. Here’s how to make a shrub cocktail:

• Add 1 ounce shrub syrup, 1 ½ ounces gin or aquavit, 1 teaspoon simple syrup and 2 ounces sparkling water to a glass. The flavors are great with gin, though you could use vodka as well. We also like it with aquavit, a Scandinavian distilled spirit. We also found the flavors could use a little extra sweetness for the cocktail version: you can use simple syrup or maple syrup.
• Stir well! Stir well to make sure the syrup becomes fully incorporated in the drink.
• Garnish. Add ice and garnish with fresh berries and herbs.

More fruity drinks

Love to mix up special drinks? Here are a few more fun cocktails and mocktails that are great for summer:

• Try a Blueberry Mojito or Blueberry Margarita
• Grab a Peach Daiquiri or Easy Peach Sangria
• Go for Strawberry Basil Cocktail or Strawberry Soda
• Try Raspberry Mojito or Raspberry Lime Rickey

01

Blueberry Mojito

02

Raspberry Lime Rickey

03

Strawberry Basil Cocktail

04

Strawberry Soda

This shrub drink recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

How to Make a Shrub (Cocktail or Non-Alcoholic)

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 2 days
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 48 hours
• Yield: 1 ½ cups syrup

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Description

The shrub drink is a simple, refreshing beverage made with vinegar and fruit! Drink it as a cocktail or mocktail.

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Ingredients

For the syrup (makes 1 ½ cups, enough for 12 drinks)

• 1 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 cup fruit, chopped or muddled* (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, plums, apples, pears, etc)
• 1 cup sugar
• Optional: add whole herbs or spices like rosemary, mint, thyme, cardamom pods, peppercorns, star anise, etc

For the cocktail

• 1 ounce** shrub syrup
• 1 ½ ounce gin or aquavit
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup or maple syrup
• 2 ounces sparkling water

For the mocktail

• 1 ounce shrub syrup
• 6 to 8 ounces sparkling water (to taste)

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Instructions

1. Make the syrup (2 days): In a covered container, stir together the vinegar and sugar. Chop and/or muddle (lightly mash) the fruit and add it to the mixture, along with any whole herbs. Refrigerate for 2 days.
2. Strain: Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a jar. Store the syrup refrigerated for up to 2 months. 
3. Make the drinks: When ready to drink, place the shrub syrup, optional gin or aquavit and simple syrup, and sparkling water in a glass and stir well. If desired, garnish with more fruit and herbs.

Notes

*Shown in the photograph is a blueberry mint shrub.

**1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Cocktail
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Shrub drink, shrub cocktail, what is a shrub

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s a beverage that’s ideal for summer sipping: Mint Lemonade! This recipe is ideal for when you have loads of this fresh herb on hand. The cooling, herbaceous notes of the mint are a perfect pair with the acidic pop of the lemon. What could be more refreshing? It’s simple to whip up and perfect for parties and entertaining. Or, make a big pitcher to drink off of all week! Here’s our master method.

Ingredients for mint lemonade

This mint lemonade recipe skips making a simple syrup on the stovetop, and goes right to the blender. In fact, all you need to do is blend mint and sugar, then mix it with lemon juice to form lemonade. As a note, this recipe is best in summer you’ve got fresh mint to spare. It calls for 1 cup mint leaves, which can get expensive if you’re buying store-bought out of season. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

• Fresh mint
• Lemons
• Sugar

How to make mint lemonade (basic steps)

It’s very easy to make your own homemade lemonade! The most time consuming part? Juicing the lemons! Here are the basic steps for how to make this mint lemonade (or jump to the recipe below for quantities):

• Juice the lemons. Using a press juicer is the quickest way to juice lemons: it gets out the most juice and saves your fingers from tiring out from squeezing. The next best choice? A handheld citrus juicer.
• Blend the mint, sugar and water. Give it a whiz in the blender.
• Double strain it with a fine mesh strainer! This is the important part. You’ll want to strain the liquid twice to avoid floating sediment that forms from the blended mint.
• Mix the pitcher. Then mix it in a pitcher with the lemon juice and more cold water.
• Garnish with fresh mint! This is also important. Garnishing with another sprig of mint is important for getting the right mint aroma to each sip.

Variations on this recipe

There are other fun ways to mix up this mint lemonade recipe: like making it sparkling or spiked! Here are a few fun variations:

• Sparkling lemonade: Replace 4 cups cold water with soda water for a sparkling variation.
• Spiked lemonade: Spike it by the glass! Add ¼ cup vodka or 3 tablespoons gin to 1 cup mint lemonade.
• Arnold Palmer: Make a Mint Arnold Palmer by mixing 6 tablespoons lemonade with 1 cup iced tea.

More lemonade recipes

Want more homemade lemonade flavors? Once you’ve whipped up mint lemonade, try these variations:

• Try bright pink Strawberry Lemonade or Easy Raspberry Lemonade
• Go for Cucumber Lemonade or Ginger Lemonade
• Opt for floral Lavender Lemonade
• Grab classic Fresh Lemonade

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Best Homemade Lemonade

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Strawberry Lemonade

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Easy Raspberry Lemonade

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Lavender Lemonade

This mint lemonade recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.

Mint Lemonade

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 drinks

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Pin Recipe

Description

This mint lemonade recipe is easy and refreshing! The cooling, herbaceous notes of mint pair perfectly with the zing of lemon.

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Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (7 to 8 large lemons)*
• 7 cups water, divided
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup mint leaves, loosely packed
• Ice, for serving

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Instructions

1. Juice the lemons. Add the lemon juice to a pitcher with 6 cups cold water.
2. In a blender, combine the sugar, mint leaves and 1 cup warm water. Blend until fully combined.
3. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Then strain it back through the strainer into the pitcher with the lemon juice. (Double straining helps to remove sediment that would otherwise form at the top of the liquid.)
4. Add ice to the pitcher. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh mint, to get the most of the mint flavor.  Serve immediately or store refrigerated for up to 3 days.

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Lemonade
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Mint lemonade, mint lemonade recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s a bright beverage that’s perfect for warm weather: Raspberry Iced Tea! This recipe uses real berries to infuse a tangy pop into this summertime drink. It’s balanced with just the right sweetness to make the berries sing. What’s more fun than adding fresh fruit to tea? This one is great for outdoor entertaining and festive occasions, or for casual sipping on your patio (we like both). The flavor is beyond refreshing, and making it homemade is loads tastier than store-bought. Here’s how it’s done!

Ingredients for raspberry iced tea

Making raspberry iced tea is simple: no need to simmer a raspberry syrup on the stovetop! You’ll simply blend the berries with water and sugar, then add them to tea and chill. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Frozen raspberries: Frozen berries are much more economical than fresh, and the flavor is great. Feel free to use fresh if you have them!
• Lemon: fresh citrus accentuates the sweet tart berries
• Sugar: sugar is necessary to balance the flavor here, otherwise it’s overly tart
• Black tea bags: Black tea has the best flavor here. Keep in mind it has caffeine, but only about half the caffeine level that’s in a cup of coffee.

Tips for straining the raspberries

The main part of this raspberry iced tea that requires effort is straining the raspberries. Because raspberry seeds make unpleasant floaties in a drink, you’ll want to remove them as part of the process. Throw the berries in a blender with water, lemon juice and sugar, then blend until a puree forms. Here’s what to expect when you’re straining:

• Use a fine mesh strainer. You want to remove all the seeds here, so a fine mesh strainer is key for getting a smooth syrup-like texture.
• Use a spatula to gradually force the syrup through. It will take longer than you think! But keep forcing it through with a spatula until all the seeds are removed.

Garnishing the drink

If you’re using this raspberry iced tea for entertaining or parties, the garnish is where it’s at! Add some additional raspberries or lemon slices to the pitcher or each glass. Colorful straws also add a fun element: we like these striped paper straws.

Tip: If you don’t want to buy more raspberries, save out a handful for the garnish from the 2 cups you’re using for the pitcher. (Saving out a few doesn’t hurt!)

More types of iced tea

Iced tea is ideal for entertaining: we love it in the summer for cookouts and barbecues! Here are a few other iced tea ideas in addition to this raspberry iced tea:

• Try our classic Iced Tea Recipe
• Opt for Cold Brew Tea
• Grab a Lemon Iced Tea
• Try Iced Green Tea

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Iced Tea Recipe

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Cold Brew Tea

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Iced Green Tea

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Lemon Iced Tea

Raspberry Iced Tea

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 to 9 cups

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Description

This fresh raspberry iced tea is bursting with tangy flavor! It’s easy to make with real berries, ideal for casual sipping or entertaining.

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Ingredients

• 8 cups water, divided
• 6 black tea bags
• 2 cups frozen* or fresh raspberries (8 ounces), plus more for garnish
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• ¾ cup sugar

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Instructions

1. In a saucepan, heat 4 cups water to a simmer. Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Allow to steep for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the raspberries*, lemon juice, sugar and 4 cups water in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, using a spatula to push the liquid through (discard the seeds; this takes a few minutes to complete). 
3. When the tea is steeped, remove the bags and pour it into the bowl with the raspberry water. Allow to cool until room temperature, about 10 minutes.
4. Transfer the mixture to a pitcher and refrigerate at least 2 hours before drinking. Stores for up to 4 days.

Notes

*We prefer frozen berries because it’s much more economical and the flavor is great. Feel free to use fresh if you have them! If you’d like, save out a handful of the berries for garnishing the pitcher before blending.

• Category: Drink
• Method: Tea
• Cuisine: Tea
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Raspberry iced tea

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Cucumber is great in salads and sauces…but an even better use for this green veggie, in our opinion? In drinks! Here’s one that’s absolutely perfect for summer: Cucumber Lemonade! The vegetable adds a cooling, vegetal finish to any drink that’s reminiscent of spa water. Combine that with the zing of the lemon, and it’s the ideal drink for sipping on the patio for a summer barbecue. It’s easy to make: here’s how it’s done!

Ingredients for cucumber lemonade

Cucumber lemonade is simple to whip up using a blender for bringing out the flavor of this green vegetable. Blend the cucumber with sugar, then mix it with lemon juice to form lemonade. You can use any type of cucumber you have: a standard cucumber or English cucumber. English cucumber is typically our preference for salads because of its thin skin and lack of seeds. But you can use a standard cucumber here if you peel and remove the seeds: so either works! You’ll need:

• Cucumber
• Lemons
• Sugar

How to make cucumber lemonade (basic steps)

Making homemade lemonade is easier than you think! the only time consuming part is juicing the lemons. Here are a few notes on the process, or jump to the recipe below for quantities:

• Juice the lemons. Using a press juicer is the quickest way to juice lemons: it gets out the most juice and saves your fingers from tiring out from squeezing. The next best choice? A handheld citrus juicer.
• Blend the cucumber, sugar and water. Give it a whiz in the blender.
• Strain it with a fine mesh strainer! This removes any sediment that might float on the top of the surface of the lemonade.
• Mix the pitcher. Mix the cucumber syrup with lemon juice and water in a pitcher. That’s it!

For the garnish

Serving this cucumber lemonade for a party or entertaining guests? It’s nice to add a few garnishes to the glass to make it look festive. Here’s what we like to do:

• Cucumber slices: Add a few cucumber slices to the glass or pitcher; you’ll need to buy an extra cucumber for this.
• Lemon wedges: Lemon wedges or wheels also look lovely in a glass or pitcher!
• Colored straws: It’s all about the presentation! We like adding these striped paper straws to glasses.

Variations on cucumber lemonade

Want to add a spin on this cucumber lemonade? Here are a few ways to step it up:

• Sparkling lemonade: Replace 4 cups cold water with soda water for a sparkling variation.
• Spiked lemonade: Spike it by the glass! Add ¼ cup vodka or 3 tablespoons gin to 1 cup cucumber lemonade.
• Arnold Palmer: Make a Cucumber Arnold Palmer by mixing 6 tablespoons lemonade with 1 cup iced tea.

More lemonade flavors? Try Ginger Lemonade, Mint Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade or Watermelon Lemonade.

More cucumber drinks

There are many of ways to add this green vegetable to drinks, from cocktails to water! Here are a few ideas you’ll love:

• Try quick and easy Cucumber Water
• Opt for Cucumber Juice or a Easy Cucumber Smoothie
• Try a Cucumber Margarita, Cucumber Martini, Cucumber Gimlet or Sparkling Cucumber Cocktail

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Cucumber Water

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Cucumber Juice

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Cucumber Margarita

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Cucumber Gimlet

This cucumber lemonade recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Cucumber Lemonade

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings

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Description

This cucumber lemonade is zingy and refreshing: perfect for summer! This green veggie adds the cooling vibe of spa water.

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Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (7 to 8 large lemons, plus more for garnish)*
• 1 cup peeled and seeded cucumber (1 large cucumber, plus more for garnish)
• 1 cup granulated sugar (or coconut sugar)
• 6 cups water, divided
• Ice

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Instructions

1. Juice the lemons. Peel the cucumber and remove the seeds with a spoon (if using an English cucumber, you can skip this step).
2. Add the cucumber, sugar and 2 cups warm water to a blender and blend until smooth. Strain the liquid through fine mesh sieve into a pitcher, using a spatula to push the liquid through (discard the pulp; this takes a few minutes to complete).
3. To the pitcher with the cucumber mixture, add 4 cups cold water and the fresh squeezed lemon juice. Add a few handfuls ice and serve. If desired, garnish with extra cucumber slices and lemon wedges. 

• Category: Drink
• Method: No Cook
• Cuisine: Lemonade
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Cucumber lemonade

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

What’s more refreshing than the sweet, citrusy flavor of grapefruit? One of the best ways to enjoy this flavor is a Grapefruit Soda! It’s bubbly and refreshing, ideal for sipping on its own or adding to mixed drinks as a mixer. While you can find many brands at the store, stirring it up at home is even tastier! All you need are three ingredients to make a homemade soda with the best bubbly flavor. We couldn’t stop sipping it, and of course it’s fantastic in a Paloma.

Ingredients in grapefruit soda

Grapefruit soda is a carbonated drink flavored with grapefruit juice and sugar. There are many brands on the market, including Squirt, Ting, and Fresca. The sweet tart flavor makes it an ideal choice as a cocktail mixer, used in popular drinks like the Mexican Paloma and the Finnish Long Drink. You can also make it homemade using fresh squeezed grapefruit juice with three simple ingredients:

• Grapefruit juice (fresh squeezed)
• Simple syrup
• Soda water (aka club soda)

By the glass vs pitcher

You can make DIY grapefruit soda two ways: by the glass or in a large pitcher! The pitcher style is great for entertaining so that you can keep refilling glasses without measuring for every glass.

• By the glass: Add ¼ cup simple syrup and ¼ cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. Top it off with 1 cup soda water.
• Pitcher: Add 1 cup simple syrup, 2 cups grapefruit juice and 8 cups club soda to a pitcher. Make sure to only do this for a party though: leftovers don’t last because the sparkling water becomes flat over time.

Grapefruit soda brands

Want to buy this citrusy soda? There are several brands on the market that are great for keeping on hand to mix up cocktails. Taste test a few varieties to find your favorite. Here are a few grapefruit soda brands to look for at the store:

• Fresca
• Ting
• Squirt
• Kiss
• Goya
• Jarritos
• Fever Tree
• IZZE
• Sprindrift

Cocktails that use grapefruit soda

You can also use this homemade soda for a cocktail: it makes one refreshing drink! Here are a few cocktails that are traditionally made with grapefruit soda:

• Paloma: The most famous of all, this classic Mexican drink pairs grapefruit with tequila.
• Cantaritos: Cantaritos are Mexican tequila cocktails served in clay cups! The drink is incredibly refreshing, featuring lemon, lime, grapefruit and tequila.
• Finnish Long Drink: Also known as the lonkero, it’s a highball cocktail served in Finland, a combination of gin and grapefruit soda. 

More DIY soda recipes

Want to make more soda recipes at home? Here are a few more sparkling drinks you might enjoy:

• Grab a Lemon Soda or Lemon Lime Soda
• Opt for berries with Strawberry Soda
• Make an Italian Soda with syrup, soda water and heavy cream
• Go for a citrusy Orange Cream Soda

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Lemon Soda

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Strawberry Soda

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Italian Soda

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Orange Cream Soda

This grapefruit soda recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Grapefruit Soda

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: 3 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 3 minutes
• Yield: 1 drink (or 8 drinks)

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Description

Grapefruit soda is citrusy and refreshing: ideal for sipping solo or adding to mixed drinks! It’s simple to make at home.

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Ingredients

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) simple syrup
• 2 ounces (¼ cup) fresh grapefruit juice
• 8 ounces (1 cup) soda water (club soda)

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Instructions

1. Single glass: In the serving glass, stir the simple syrup and grapefruit juice. Add ice and top with soda water and stir gently to combine. Taste and add additional sweetener if desired. Garnish with grapefruit wedge and serve with ice (makes 10 ounces or 1 ½ cups).
2. Pitcher: In a large pitcher, combine 1 cup simple syrup, 2 cups grapefruit juice, and 8 cups soda water. Add ice and serve (makes 8 1 ⅓ cup servings).

• Category: Drink
• Method: Stirred
• Cuisine: Drink
• Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Grapefruit soda

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.