High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Classic Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca

Total time30 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Classic Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca

This refreshing drink is everything a summer beverage should be — cool, lightly sweet, and bright with citrus. The secret to keeping it free from high fructose corn syrup is the homemade simple syrup, which uses nothing more than granulated sugar and water simmered together on the stovetop. That small extra step means you're fully in control of what goes into your glass, unlike most store-bought aguas frescas or flavored drinks that sneak in sweeteners you didn't ask for. Fresh English cucumbers get blended and strained into a silky, pale green base that tastes clean and subtly vegetal in the best possible way. A generous pour of fresh lime juice sharpens everything up and gives it that irresistible tang. You can dial the sweetness up or down by adjusting how much simple syrup you stir in, which makes this endlessly customizable for your crowd. Serve it over ice with a sprig of mint and a lime wheel, and it looks like something from a fancy restaurant — no artificial anything required.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the simple syrup

½ cup granulated sugar
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½ cup water

For the agua fresca

2 large english cucumbers (about 2 lb total), peeled and roughly chopped
½ cup fresh lime juice (from about 4 limes)
2 cups cold water
¼ tsp salt

For serving

ice, for serving
lime slices, for serving (optional)
fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 3–4 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool for 15 minutes.
2
Add the chopped cucumber and 1 cup of the cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 45–60 seconds.

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