Summer Drink Recipes

What’s better than an ice cold refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day? These summertime beverage recipes are fun, fruity and tropical alternatives to traditional lemonade. Plus, you can squeeze even more goodness from your concoctions by freezing up treats all summer long.

Red, White and Blueberry Smoothie 
This frosty and patriotic delight is an effortless treat. Enjoy the sweet summer berries and try something unique for dessert.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup whipped cream
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 dash of lemon juice
Sugar, to taste
A few small, fresh strawberries, to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix together all ingredients in a blender and blend until desired thickness.
2. Wash fresh strawberries and slit at the bottom to use as garnish for individual glasses.

Pomegranate Sangria Bliss 
Pomegranates are all the rage, and while the fruit isn’t available in the summer, the juice is easy to find. This fruit-infused cocktail is a non-alcoholic take on the summer party staple, sangria. It’s good for you too; pomegranates are loaded with healthy antioxidants.

INGREDIENTS
1 quart pomegranate juice
2 cups papaya, mango or apple juice
1-2 oranges (depending on size)
6-8 strawberries
2 kiwis
1/2 cup sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix juices and sugar briskly until sugar dissolves.
2. Wash oranges and berries and cut into thin, round slices.
3. Remove kiwi skin and cut into thick, round slices. Place all fruit into your juice mixture and allow the flavors to blend in fridge for 2-3 hours or overnight, before serving.
4. Serve in individual glasses, garnished with fresh fruit slices.

Mango Madness Smoothie and Lemonade 
Mango can add a bit of exotic flavor to your everyday summer drinks or smoothies. Summer is also the best season for fresh mangos. Look for plump fruits without soft spots, shriveled skin or blemishes. The color will vary depending on the type, but many will be green.

Mango Smoothie

INGREDIENTS 
1 mango, peeled, pitted and sliced
1 cup coconut milk
2 cups ice
1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into chunks (or one 12-oz can pineapple chunks)
1 tablespoon honey

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place all ingredients, except honey, into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into chilled glasses and drizzle with honey.
3. Garnish with a mango or pineapple slice, if desired.

Tip: Freeze your blended smoothie for 20 minutes for a firmer texture.

Mango Lemonade

INGREDIENTS
2 large ripe mangos
2 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups lemon juice
1 cup sugar, more if desired
Mint sprigs, as much as desired
Pitcher, with lid

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Peel, pit and chop mangos into chunks.
2. In a food processor or blender, puree the mango. There should be about 2 cups of puree when you’re finished.
3. In a pitcher, combine the mango puree, water, lemon juice and sugar. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
4. Cover with lid and refrigerate until very cold, at least 5 hours and preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to blend and intensify.
5. Taste and add additional sugar if desired.
6. Pour the lemonade over ice in tall glasses. Garnish with mint, and serve.

Pomegranate-Ginger Lemonade Spritzer

INGREDIENTS
2 cups lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
6 cups water
16 ounces pomegranate juice
2 1/2 cups ginger ale

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large pitcher, stir together all of the ingredients. Serve over ice with a lemon slice for garnish.

Tip: Like other dark, tart fruits—think blueberries and plums—pomegranates are an excellent source of antioxidants.

Tip: In place of the pomegranate juice, use pureed frozen strawberries for a different flavor.

Rosemary Peach Frost 

INGREDIENTS 1 bag frozen peaches
1 sprig of rosemary
24 ounces club soda
1 cup granulated sugar
Juice of half a lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the peaches, rosemary, club soda, lemon juice and sugar in a blender.
2. Blend till smooth and serve in a high ball glass with sprig of rosemary as garnish.

No summer party or cookout is complete without special summer drinks. These sweet summer sips will help bring something unique and refreshing to your summer table.

Lemonade Raspberry Ice Cubes and Ginger Ale Ice Cubes with Lemon Zest 
Add a taste of summer to any drink with these flavored ice cubes. Serve with iced tea, cranberry juice or whatever quenches your thirst.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups lemonade
24 fresh raspberries
2 cups of ginger ale
Zest of 2 lemons
4 ice cube trays

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour the lemonade into two ice cube trays.
2. In the lemonade trays, place one raspberry per cube.
3. Pour the ginger ale into a large bowl and stir in lemon zest.
4. Pour the ginger ale mixture into the other two trays.
5. Freeze and serve.

No summer party or cookout is complete without special summer drinks. These sweet summer sips will help bring something unique and refreshing to your summer table.