BHA & BHT Free Whole30 Lemon Basil Cooler
Bright, herby, and genuinely refreshing, this lemon basil cooler is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting on a sun-drenched patio even on an ordinary Tuesday. Fresh basil gets muddled until fragrant, then shaken hard with real lemon juice and ice before being topped off with sparkling water — it's simple technique, stunning result. Every single ingredient here is clean and whole, which means no synthetic preservatives like BHA or BHT hiding in flavored syrups, bottled juice blends, or packaged drink mixes. That's actually harder to guarantee than it sounds when you're reaching for a store-bought sparkling lemonade, so making it yourself from scratch is the smartest move. The fizzy finish from the chilled sparkling water gives it that satisfying effervescence without anything artificial doing the heavy lifting. It's elegant enough to serve to guests but easy enough to throw together on a weeknight, and the fresh basil garnish makes it look like you really put in the effort.
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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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