Nitrate & Nitrite Free Garden Strawberry Lime Cooler
Fresh strawberries and real maple syrup do all the heavy lifting here, creating a vibrant pink syrup that tastes like summer in a glass. Many store-bought flavored drinks and cocktail mixers sneak in preservatives that people avoiding nitrates and nitrites have to watch out for, but every ingredient in this cooler is exactly what it says it is — fruit, citrus, and a touch of natural sweetener. The syrup comes together in just a few minutes on the stovetop, and once it's strained and chilled, assembly is effortless. Bright lime juice cuts through the sweetness, and the sparkling water gives it that satisfying fizz that makes it feel genuinely refreshing rather than just fruity. A sprig of mint and a lime wheel on the rim take it from casual to company-worthy without any extra effort. It's the kind of drink you'll want to batch up for a backyard gathering or sip solo on a warm afternoon.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the strawberry-lime syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 1 tbsp lime zest (from about 2 limes)
For the cooler
- ½ cup fresh lime juice (from about 4 limes)
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
- 4 lime wheels or wedges (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the maple syrup, water, strawberries, and lime zest in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries soften and begin to break down and the syrup turns a deep pink, about 4–5 minutes.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mixture cool for 15 minutes. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing the solids firmly with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
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