Vegetarian Cucumber Mint Sparkling Cooler
This sparkling cooler is the kind of drink that makes a regular afternoon feel like a special occasion. Fresh cucumber gets blended and strained into a silky, pale-green base, then brightened with lime juice and a homemade mint syrup that smells absolutely incredible while it steeps. The maple syrup brings just enough sweetness without overpowering the cool, herby notes — and because you're making the syrup yourself, you know exactly what's in the glass. A gentle pour of chilled sparkling water at the end keeps everything lively and effervescent, so every sip has that satisfying fizz. It's elegant enough to serve at a summer gathering but simple enough to throw together on a weeknight when you just want something refreshing. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wheel and it looks like something straight off a restaurant menu.
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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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