Chicken Free Raspberry Lemon Cooler
Bright, tangy, and beautifully pink, this sparkling drink is the kind of thing that makes a regular afternoon feel like a little occasion. A homemade raspberry syrup — cooked down with maple syrup and water, then strained smooth — forms the backbone of the whole drink, giving it a deep, jammy berry flavor that no store-bought mix can match. Fresh lemon juice cuts right through the sweetness, and chilled sparkling water brings the fizz that makes it genuinely refreshing. The whole thing comes together in a pitcher, so it's just as easy to scale up for a crowd as it is to pour a single glass for yourself. Garnished with mint and lemon slices, it looks stunning without any extra effort. Naturally free from any meat or poultry, every single ingredient here is plant-based and straightforward, so there's nothing to second-guess before you sip.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the raspberry syrup
- 1 ½ cups fresh raspberries
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup water
For the cooler
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3–4 lemons)
- 3 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- fresh mint sprigs (optional)
- lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the raspberries, maple syrup, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing the raspberries against the side of the pan with a spoon, until the berries have completely broken down and the syrup is slightly thickened, about 6–8 minutes.
- 2
Pour the raspberry mixture through a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl or measuring cup, pressing firmly on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes.
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