Rice 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 trendy café. The process is simple: simmer the fruit with maple syrup and water, steep the basil leaves right in the warm liquid, then strain everything into a clean, jewel-toned syrup that smells absolutely incredible. A squeeze of lemon juice brightens the whole thing before it hits the glass, and the sparkling water adds that satisfying fizz without any artificial flavoring or sweeteners. Because every component here is made from scratch with whole, straightforward ingredients, there's zero guesswork about what's actually in your glass. It's naturally free of grains and starches in any form — just fruit, herbs, citrus, and bubbles doing exactly what they should. Serve it over ice with a halved strawberry and a sprig of basil on the rim and it looks stunning for a summer gathering, a brunch spread, or honestly just a Tuesday afternoon when you deserve something a little extra.
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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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