Peanut Free Strawberry Basil Sparkling Cooler
Fresh strawberries and fragrant basil come together in a homemade syrup that makes this sparkling cooler feel genuinely special — the kind of drink you'd pay too much for at a fancy café. Cooking the berries down with maple syrup and water coaxes out their natural sweetness, and steeping the basil leaves in the warm liquid adds a herbal depth that's subtle but unmistakable. A squeeze of lemon juice brightens everything up before the syrup gets topped with chilled sparkling water for that satisfying fizz. Because every component here is made from scratch with whole, simple ingredients, there's no need to scan labels or worry about what might be hiding in a store-bought mixer. The result is a beautifully layered drink that looks stunning in a tall glass, especially with a halved strawberry and a fresh basil sprig on top. It's refreshing enough for a hot afternoon and elegant enough to serve at a summer gathering without any extra effort.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the strawberry basil syrup
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup water
- 10 fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish
For the cooler
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 4 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 2 cups ice cubes
For serving
- 4 fresh strawberries, halved (optional)
- 4 fresh basil sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the strawberries, maple syrup, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries have softened and released their juices and the liquid is lightly syrupy, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Remove the pan from the heat. Add the basil leaves and press them gently into the warm syrup with a muddler or the back of a spoon. Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes, until the syrup is fragrant with basil.
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