Hazelnut Free Chilled Cucumber Mint Lemonade
Cool, green, and genuinely refreshing, this cucumber mint lemonade is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel instantly more manageable. Fresh English cucumber is blended and strained into a silky juice that gives the whole pitcher a subtle, garden-fresh flavor without any bitterness. A homemade mint simple syrup — steeped right in the pan and sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar — adds a fragrant, slightly earthy sweetness that store-bought lemonade just can't touch. The fresh lemon juice ties everything together with a bright, tart backbone that keeps each sip lively. Because every ingredient here is a whole fruit, vegetable, or pantry staple, there's zero concern about hidden nut derivatives or shared-facility cross-contact that can sneak into flavored drinks and pre-made syrups. Serve it over ice with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint for a presentation that looks far more impressive than the effort involved.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
For the lemonade
- 1 medium english cucumber (about 10 oz), peeled and roughly chopped
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4–5 lemons)
- 2 cups cold water
For serving
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 4 thin lemon slices (optional)
- 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the 1/2 cup water and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the maple syrup fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the mint leaves, and let steep for 10 minutes, until the syrup is fragrant and pale green. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl or measuring cup, pressing the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible; discard the solids. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- 2
Place the chopped cucumber in a blender with 1/2 cup of the cold water and blend on high until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Strain the cucumber purée through the fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, pressing firmly with a spoon to extract all the juice; discard the pulp.
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