Paleo Cucumber Mint Sparkling Cooler
This sparkling cooler is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel instantly more civilized — cool, herbal, and just the right amount of sweet. The base is built from blended English cucumber strained into pure, silky liquid, then brightened with fresh lime juice and a homemade mint syrup sweetened with maple syrup instead of refined sugar. That swap is what makes this work so well for anyone eating grain-free and avoiding processed sweeteners — every ingredient here is exactly what it looks like, nothing hidden. The mint syrup is dead simple to pull together on the stovetop, and steeping the leaves off the heat keeps the flavor fresh and fragrant rather than bitter. A gentle pour of chilled sparkling water at the end gives it that effervescent lift without knocking out the bubbles. Serve it over ice with a few mint sprigs and a lime slice and it looks genuinely impressive for something that comes together with a blender and a strainer. It's the kind of thing you'll want to keep a pitcher of in the fridge all summer long.
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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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