High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Classic Citrus Mocktail
Bright, tangy, and genuinely refreshing, this citrus mocktail is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting on a sun-drenched patio even on an ordinary Tuesday. The secret weapon is a quick homemade lemon simple syrup made with just granulated sugar, water, and fresh lemon zest — no corn syrup, no mystery sweeteners, just clean ingredients you can feel good about. That matters more than you might think, because so many store-bought mixers, sodas, and flavored syrups sneak in high fructose corn syrup as a cheap sweetener, making it genuinely tricky to find a festive, crowd-pleasing drink that's free of it. Here, every drop of sweetness comes from real citrus and that easy homemade syrup, so you're in complete control. Freshly squeezed orange, lemon, and lime juice layer together into something that's way more complex and lively than the sum of its parts, and the chilled sparkling water gives it a satisfying fizz. A garnish of orange slices and fresh mint takes it from casual to genuinely impressive without any extra effort. Whether you're serving it at a gathering or just treating yourself, this is the kind of mocktail that earns a permanent spot in your rotation.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the simple syrup
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp lemon zest
For the mocktail
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 2 medium oranges)
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 orange slices, for garnish (optional)
- 2 sprigs fresh mint, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the sugar, water, and lemon zest in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool for 10 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl or jar, discarding the zest.
- 2
Combine the orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of the cooled lemon simple syrup in a cocktail shaker or pitcher. Taste and add up to 1 additional tablespoon of syrup if you prefer a sweeter drink.
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