Cashew Free Garden Mint Citrus Cooler
Fresh citrus and garden mint come together in a sparkling drink that feels like summer in a glass. The base is a homemade maple mint simple syrup — steeped just long enough to pull out every bit of that cool, herbal fragrance before being strained into a pitcher with freshly squeezed orange and lime juice. The result is bright, lightly sweet, and beautifully balanced without relying on any store-bought syrups or flavored mixes that might carry hidden allergens. Chilled sparkling water goes in last so you keep every bubble intact, and the whole thing comes together with almost no effort. It's the kind of drink that looks impressive garnished with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge, but requires nothing more than a saucepan and a pitcher to pull off. Whether you're hosting a backyard gathering or just want something more exciting than plain water on a warm afternoon, this cooler delivers every single time.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the mint simple syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, plus more for garnish
For the cooler
- 1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 3 medium oranges)
- ⅓ cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 lime wedges (optional)
- 4 small fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the maple syrup fully dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- 2
Add the mint leaves to the warm syrup and press them gently with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon until fragrant and slightly bruised. Let the mint steep for 15 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the leaves to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the spent mint.
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