Artificial Food Coloring Free Whole30 Lemon Basil Cooler
Bright, herby, and genuinely refreshing, this sparkling lemon basil cooler is the kind of drink that makes you forget you ever needed anything artificially flavored or colored. Every sip gets its vivid character from real squeezed lemons and fresh muddled basil — no dyes, no synthetic additives, just clean, honest ingredients. That's a bigger deal than it sounds, because so many bottled drinks and flavored sparkling waters sneak in artificial colors that are easy to overlook on a label. Here, you know exactly what's going in the glass. The muddling step is key — bruising the basil releases its natural oils and gives the drink that gorgeous, garden-fresh aroma before you even take a sip. Shaking it all together with ice and then topping with chilled sparkling water creates a layered effervescence that feels genuinely special. It comes together in minutes and looks stunning garnished with a lemon slice and a floating basil leaf.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 8 fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 lemons)
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the basil leaves in a cocktail shaker or large mason jar. Muddle firmly with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon until the leaves are bruised and fragrant, about 10 seconds.
- 2
Add the lemon juice, cold water, and ice to the shaker. Seal and shake vigorously for 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker feels cold.
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