High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Cucumber Mint Sparkling Cooler
Crisp, cooling, and genuinely refreshing, this sparkling drink is the kind of thing you'll want to make on repeat all summer long. The sweetener here is pure maple syrup, which means none of the processed corn-derived syrups that sneak into so many store-bought beverages and cocktail mixers. A homemade mint simple syrup steeps right on the stovetop, pulling out every bit of herbal fragrance before it gets blended with fresh cucumber and bright lime juice. Blending and straining the cucumber gives the base a silky, clean texture that feels almost fancy without any real effort. A gentle pour of chilled sparkling water at the end keeps the bubbles lively and the whole drink light. Served over ice with a few mint leaves and a lime slice, it looks as good as it tastes — the kind of glass that makes people ask for the recipe before they've even finished their first sip.
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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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