We love to go to Sonic as a family and get their fun drinks, and one of the family favs is Ocean Water. If you haven’t had it before, it’s a bright blue drink that tastes sweet, fizzy, and lightly tropical thanks to the coconut.
Best part is it’s quick to make and uses just a few simple ingredients. And with the light coconut flavor mixed with fizzy lemon-lime soda, it’s perfect for parties, summer time and baby showers.
Fortunately, this tastes just like the classic you get at Sonic, and we have tested this version several times to get that same sweet and refreshing flavor at home. Serve it with Sonic pebble ice for the most authentic experience.
If you love easy drink recipes, try our Strawberry Lemonade, Mint Julep, Homemade Punch, and Peach Smoothie. You can also find more easy drink ideas in our drinks collection.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Quick to Make: This drink comes together in just minutes with minimal effort.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses pantry staples and soda you can easily find anywhere.
- Light Coconut Flavor: The extract adds just the right hint without overpowering.
- Fizzy Finish: The soda gives it that refreshing carbonation everyone loves.
Ocean Water Drink Ingredients
Ingredient Purposes
- Water (⅔ cup): Helps dissolve the sugar to create a smooth simple syrup base.
- Sugar (⅔ cup): Sweetens the drink and gives it that classic Ocean Water flavor.
- Sprite or 7UP (1 liter): Adds the fizzy lemon-lime base that makes the drink refreshing.
- Coconut extract (1 tablespoon): Gives the signature tropical flavor that makes this drink stand out.
- Blue food coloring (to taste): Creates the fun ocean-inspired color that makes it feel special.
How to Make Sonic Ocean Water
SIMPLE SYRUP. Combine water and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 45 seconds, then stir until the sugar is dissolved.
COMBINE. Pour into a pitcher and add Sprite, coconut extract, and 3–4 drops of food coloring. Mix well.
CHILL. Add ice right before serving.
SERVE. It’s super fun to add Swedish fish to this drink. Not only is it cute, but you can eat the fish too! Here are a few other fun ways to serve this drink:
- Create ocean-shaped ice cubes. You can find several options on Amazon.
- Use a mini umbrella.
- Serve out of a coconut-shaped cup.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Fizz: Let the sugar mixture cool slightly before adding soda so it keeps its fizz. Stir gently after adding soda to keep it bubbly.
- Keep it Cool: Chill the soda beforehand for the best refreshing taste.
- Perfect Color: Start with a small amount of food coloring and add more as needed. You can leave out the blue food coloring without changing the flavor. For a natural color, use natural dye or a splash of blueberry juice.
- Sugar: Since the soda is already sweetened, easily reduce the amount of sugar added or try a sugar substitute.
- Coconut Extract: This is typically near the vanilla in the baking aisle. The extract is pretty strong. Not a coconut fan? Try pineapple extract instead.
- Serving Suggestions: There are so many fun ways to serve this up. Try adding Swedish Fish for the kids, adding a mini umbrella to each glass, serving out of a coconut-shaped cup, or using seashell or sea creature shaped molds to create ocean themed ice cubes.
Ocean Water Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup water
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 liter Sprite or 7UP
- 1 tablespoon coconut extract
- blue food coloring
Instructions
- Combine water and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 45 seconds, then stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour into a pitcher and add Sprite, coconut extract, and 3–4 drops of food coloring. Mix well.
- Add ice right before serving.
Notes
- Fizz: Let the sugar mixture cool slightly before adding soda so it keeps its fizz. Stir gently after adding soda to keep it bubbly.
- Keep it Cool: Chill the soda beforehand for the best refreshing taste.
- Perfect Color: Start with a small amount of food coloring and add more as needed. You can leave out the blue food coloring without changing the flavor. For a natural color, use natural dye or a splash of blueberry juice.
- Sugar: Since the soda is already sweetened, easily reduce the amount of sugar added or try a sugar substitute.
- Coconut Extract: This is typically near the vanilla in the baking aisle. The extract is pretty strong. Not a coconut fan? Try pineapple extract instead.
- Serving Suggestions: There are so many fun ways to serve this up. Try adding Swedish Fish for the kids, adding a mini umbrella to each glass, serving out of a coconut-shaped cup, or using seashell or sea creature–shaped molds to create ocean-themed ice cubes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Sonic ocean water is best when consumed quickly, but can be made up to a day ahead of time and kept in the fridge.
Store leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Be aware that the carbonation in the soda will diminish with storage. Use the leftovers to make a slushy or popsicles.
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This recipe was first shared June, 2016.
will definitely try this one this summer
This is my daughter’s favorite Sonic drink and she loved this copycat!
We love the blue ocean water from Sonic! Love having this recipe to make it ourselves as we can regulate the amount of sugar going in!! Thanks for sharing!!
Such a fun drink to make. My nephew who is into sharks loves when I put a gummy shark in it. Always asks me to make him a “shark drink” when he’s over.
This was really good. I am single so I only wanted one glass full. I used 1/8 C of water, 1 T. Sugar, 10 oz. can of sprite, 1/8 t. Coconut extract and 1 drop of blue food coloring. Poured it over crushed ice. Was perfect. Of course you can adjust to your taste. I love Sonics Ocean water but can’t always get one. Especially when I’m home. Thanks for this incredible recipe.
Pretty close to the sonic ocean water. Refreshing summer drink. I love anything coconut and this is my go to drink from sonic. Thanks for the recipe
I’ve never had ocean water at Sonic, but this is a good recipe for a fun beverage. Adding Swedish fish is inspired.
My family’s favorite!! So good!!
I know this recipe just came, but I had everything I needed to make it, so I’m sitting here drinking it! Soooo delicious! Perfect for a hot and humid summer day in Indiana!
Kids would love this drink. Easy and refreshing. Better than colas!
I doubled the recipe to use a whole 2 liter of sprite. I only used 1 tbsp. Of coconut extract and it’s perfect. Next I won’t double the water or sugar as it’s to much. It makes it to thick!! I’m hoping when I add more sprite it will make it then like sonics ocean water and not thick like drinking syrup.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
Could you use coconut syrup instead of the extract?
I haven’t ever swapped the two, but you could certainly try!
I havent made this recipe yet but i am wondering if i could substitute the sugar with something else that is diabetic friendly like splenda or something like that. i appreciate the help thank you.
I haven’t tried subbing the sugar for Splenda, but I imagine it would work just fine. You’ll have to let us know how it turns out! 🙂
Coconut snow cone syrup is Sonic uses, and you can order it online ( i LOVE coconut snow cones!). Originally they put in cherries and slices of oranges and lime .
An adult drink uses Ocean Water and Malibu or Parrot Bay rum.
Thanks so much for the tip on the Sonic Coconut Snow Cone Syrup! Sounds delicious!
Hey there! This ocean water recipe looks very refreshing and delicious! I am a huge fan of all things Sonic, but I am not a fan of artificial dyes and colouring. As far as the bright blue colour goes, is there a way to naturally colour the drink? Perhaps with berries or fruit of some sort? If not, how would you suggest sprucing up this drink without colour? Maybe a fancy mint leaf, fruit ice cubes, or cranberries? Thank you for the recipe! I’m just too excited to test it out! As a Canadian, Sonic is not available to us, and I am always craving their sweet, sugary, and summery drinks! 😋
You are welcome. I have not tried other ways, but I think you are on the right track..those sound like great ideas!
For natural blue coloring, look into butterfly pea tea leaves! Depending on the acidity of the soda it might turn pink though but it’d still be a pretty, natural drink.
That’s a great suggestion! Thanks for sharing!
Don’t let the fact that the recipe calls for food coloring throw you off. It only for color and contributes nothing to the taste. Feel free to just leave it out. It’ll taste the same. If you want the color, try adding fresh squeezed blueberry juice, or if you’d like a purple color, try pomegranate. Even though the juices have a flavor, you’re not using enough to significantly alter the taste of the original recipe. I do find it odd that you’re more concerned about a few drops of FDA-approved food coloring, than you are the 185g of sugar in this recipe. This drink (which I must confess is awesome tasting!!), contains 7x the recommended daily intake of amount of sugar.
You can use Butterfly Pea Tea that is readily available online and at many grocery stores! Completely 100% natural blossom!
Butterfly Pea Tea turns anything BLUE!
Fun summer drink. Its especially refreshing here in AZ
The little kids will love this fun drink. Very easy to make!
My kids will be so excited for me to make them this drink! They always want blue drinks!! This tastes great!
This is one of my favorite drinks over at sonic! Glad I can make some at home now, ESPECIALLY since ours just closed.
we love this for parties! It’s incredibly easy to make & always a hit! Love the hint of coconut..so refreshing!
Besides a Blast(if that even counts as a real “drink”), this is the ONLY drink I ever order from Sonic!! So glad I found a recipe that works so I can just make it at home! (;
My children would love these.
If they love a fun drink, then I bet they would! Hope you give them a try! Thanks for stopping by!
Ocean water looks really delicious! Definitely making a batch for my kids!
It is super delicious!! They’ll love it! Thanks for stopping by!
I just made this recipe and it turned out really good except I do think it was a little bit too sweet but it was still great!