Honey Free Garden Mint Citrus Cooler

Total time30 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.5

(14)

This refreshing drink is everything you want on a warm day — bright citrus, cool mint, and just the right amount of fizz. The sweetness comes entirely from maple syrup, which gets gently simmered with fresh mint leaves to create a fragrant, herb-infused simple syrup that ties the whole drink together. Freshly squeezed orange and lime juice give it a vibrant, sun-ripened flavor that bottled juice simply can't match. Steeping the bruised mint in the warm syrup is a small step that makes a big difference, coaxing out every bit of that garden-fresh aroma before it ever hits the glass. Everything comes together in a single pitcher, making it an effortless option for entertaining or a quiet afternoon treat. Garnished with lime wedges and a sprig of fresh mint, it looks as good as it tastes.

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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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