Black Pepper Free Cucumber Mint Sparkling Cooler
Fresh cucumber blended smooth, bright lime juice, and a homemade mint simple syrup sweetened with maple — this sparkling cooler is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel instantly manageable. The whole thing comes together with real, whole ingredients and zero hidden spice blends, so you never have to second-guess what's in your glass. Making the mint syrup from scratch is easier than it sounds: a quick simmer, a 20-minute steep, and a strain is all it takes to get that clean, floral sweetness. Blending and straining the cucumber pulls out pure, cool flavor without any bitterness, and the lime juice adds just enough tartness to keep everything lively. A gentle pour of chilled sparkling water at the end keeps the bubbles intact for a satisfying fizz in every sip. Serve it over ice with a few mint leaves and a lime slice, and it looks as good as it tastes — genuinely impressive for something this simple to pull off.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
For the cucumber base
- 1 medium english cucumber (about 12 oz), peeled and roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 cup cold water
To finish
- 2 cups sparkling water, chilled
For serving
- ice cubes, for serving
- lime slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the syrup dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add the mint leaves, and stir to submerge. Let steep for 20 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl, pressing the leaves to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the spent mint. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- 2
Add the chopped cucumber and 1 cup cold water to a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour through the fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the solids with the back of a spoon to extract all the liquid. Discard the solids.
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