Xanthan Gum Free Garden Mint Citrus Cooler
This refreshing drink is everything a warm-weather cooler should be — bright, herby, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat without tipping into sugary territory. Fresh-squeezed orange and lime juice bring a natural citrus punch, while a homemade mint simple syrup made with maple syrup adds a floral depth you simply won't get from a bottle. The trick is steeping the bruised mint leaves in the warm syrup so every sip carries that garden-fresh fragrance. Chilled sparkling water gets folded in at the end with a gentle stir, keeping the bubbles lively all the way to the last glass. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of thickeners and stabilizers — no label-scanning required, because you're making everything from scratch. Garnished with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint, it's as pretty as it is delicious, and impressive enough to serve at a backyard gathering without any extra effort.
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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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