Chicken Free Garden Mint Citrus Cooler
Fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice meet a fragrant homemade mint syrup in this sparkling drink that feels like a warm-weather celebration in a glass. The syrup comes together in minutes on the stovetop — maple syrup dissolves into water, mint leaves steep until the whole thing smells incredible, and then it's strained into a pitcher ready to go. Muddling the mint before steeping pulls out every bit of that bright, herbal flavor, so you're not left with something flat or barely-there. Chilled sparkling water goes in last with just a gentle stir, keeping the bubbles lively all the way to the first sip. It's naturally free from any animal proteins, built entirely from citrus, herbs, and a touch of natural sweetness — no label-reading required. Dress each glass with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint and it looks like something you'd pay twelve dollars for at a rooftop bar.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!