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Beat the summer heat with any of these delicious summer drinks! These refreshing drinks are perfect for serving at BBQs and parties!
More Collections: Summer Salad Recipes, Summer Desserts, Summer Recipes
Refreshing Drinks to Love!
As soon as the weather starts warming up here in Arizona, I immediately start craving refreshing drinks to sip on.
Sometimes I just want something cold and fruity to cool me off in the summer heat, and other times I get a hankering for a breakfast smoothie in place of a meal.
Why we love these summer drinks:
- Party perfect. These drinks are both fun and flavorful, perfect for summer celebrations and family gatherings.
- Fun for all. Every recipe is kid-friendly and perfect for sharing with the entire crew!
- Practical tips. I’ve included tips on transporting, keeping drinks cold, and making your drinks fun and fabulous when hosting summer gatherings!
Serving Summer Drinks
- Decorations. Create alcohol-free summer cocktail recipes with fun straws and paper umbrellas.
- Sugared rims. Use cool drink cups like mason jars, or garnish the glasses with a rim of sugar.
- Use a bowl of lemon or lime juice and a bowl of sugar. Dip the rim of the glass in the juice, then into the sugar. Let dry.
- Carbonation. Add ginger ale or soda water to the mixture. Do not mix up carbonated drinks too soon.
- Cream. Add a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.
- Citrus. Add a spritz of lemon juice or fresh lime juice with the wedge on the rim of the cup.
- Herbs. Garnish with herbs like fresh basil or fresh mint.
- Fruit. Use fresh-cut fruit, berries, or even sliced cucumber in the beverage dispenser.
Summer Fruits
Fruit can be added to the beverage dispenser for looks and a bit of added sweetness and flavor, or to garnish the individual cups.
- wedge of coconut, pineapple, cantaloupe or honeydew
- raspberries, strawberries, blueberries
- maraschino cherries
- sliced oranges, lemon, lime, grapefruit
- melon wedges or balls
- add a twist with cranberry juice, pineapple juice, coconut water, or grapefruit juice
Keep Drinks Cold
- Transporting. Do not use punch bowls and pitchers as many don’t have secure lids and may spill.
- Save empty water jugs to fill with punch or fill large insulated beverage coolers with the punch. Once you’re ready to serve the punch, pour it into serving pitchers and bowls.
- To keep them cool outside, here are some suggestions:
- Ice cubes. Make extra juice and freeze it into ice cubes or ice blocks. The melting ice will not dilute the punch.
- Frozen fruit. Instead of adding ice cubes, use frozen fruit.
- Chill extra punch in the fridge or a cooler. Fill the beverage dispenser as needed.
our go-to Summer Drink Recipes
Blend up a fresh smoothie recipe or a refreshing summer drink with our favorites to enjoy on a hot summer day!
Set out a Beverage Station and enjoy a summer picnic or BBQ!
Pineapple Pink Lemonade Soda Recipe
All-time Favorite Party Drink – this Pink Drink recipe (aka Baby Shower Punch) takes a minute to make and is made with 3 ingredients including – pink lemonade dry mix, sprite, & pineapple juice!
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Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Refreshing homemade lemonade is made with a simple syrup for the perfect sweet-to-tart ratio. It is perfect for warm summer days, or any day!
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Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe
Delicious recipe for Sonic’s Cherry Limeade – tastes just like it! Ingredients include 7-Up, cherries, a lime, and maraschino syrup!
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Orange Julius
This refreshing, nostalgic Orange Julius recipe tastes just like the original and whips up in only 5 minutes with a few simple ingredients!
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Homemade Root Beer
This do-it-yourself homemade root beer has the perfect touch of fizz and amazing flavor. It's party perfect!
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Butterbeer Recipe
This butterbeer recipe is a rich, delicious chilled drink with butterscotch flavoring. It's alcohol-free and perfect for sharing!
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Horchata Recipe
This horchata recipe is a refreshing, cinnamon-flavored Mexican drink filled with flavor! It's festive and perfect for any occasion.
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Shirley Temple Recipe
Our classic Shirley Temple recipe is a favorite non-alcoholic drink – sweet and vibrant red, perfect for any party and any age!
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Ocean Water Recipe
Fizzy coconut Ocean Water is easy and refreshing! This copycat Sonic drink is perfect for parties or a hot, summer day.
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Watermelon Juice Recipe
Delicious and refreshing watermelon juice is a favorite drink in the summertime! It takes minutes to make and is perfect for fruit lovers.
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More Refreshing Drinks + Smoothies
I love virgin piña coladas, but I have even more tasty drink options to choose from! Kick of summer with something cool and refreshing with even more of our favorites.
Tropical Smoothie Recipe
This easy one minute Aloha Tropical Smoothie has just 6 simple ingredients with tropical goodness in every sip!
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4th of July Punch Recipe
This layered Patriotic drink is pure magic! It's not difficult to make, all it takes is Hawaiian Punch, blue Gatorade, and sprite zero.
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Slushy Punch Recipe
Slushy punch is fruity and fizzy and perfect for any occasion. Adding wax fangs make it a Halloween must!
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Non Alcoholic Mint Julep
Ready in minutes, this copycat non-alcoholic mint julep captures the magic of Disneyland in one refreshing drink!
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Pineapple Banana Smoothie Recipe
A quick & simple Pineapple Banana Smoothie is a family favorite!! It's a perfect meal or a refreshing snack.
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Fruit Smoothie
Our favorite fresh and easy fruit smoothie takes minutes to make. It is filled with kiwi, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and more!!
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Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie Recipe
Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie is quick, delicious and so refreshing. With only 4 ingredients, it makes for a healthy meal or snack!
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Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Frozen strawberry lemonade takes minutes to make. With a pop of pineapple, it's a refreshingly tasty summertime drink!
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Best Strawberry Lemonade
The BEST Strawberry Lemonade filled with chunks of your favorite fruit including strawberries, pineapple, mangos, cantaloupe and watermelon!
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Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
This Strawberry Banana Smoothie is delicious and made with ingredients you probably have on hand – bananas, strawberries, yogurt and milk!
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Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie
Salty & sweet peanut butter and banana smoothie makes a satisfying breakfast or afternoon snack, packed with protein and flavor!
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Peach Smoothie Recipe
A Peach Smoothie has the most deliciously bright flavor. With a pop of orange, you've got the perfect breakfast or lunch!
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Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie Recipe
5 minute Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie is a thick and delicious drink filled with all the flavors of a strawberry cheesecake!
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Peach Mango Smoothie Recipe
A tasty 5-ingredient smoothie, perfect for breakfast or a cool refreshing drink on a hot summer day. With peaches, mangos, peach yogurt, and Orange Peach Mango juice, the flavor is undeniably delicious!
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Orange Juice Smoothie Recipe
Best-loved Orange Juice Smoothie using Florida Orange Juice is super tasty. The kids LOVE the taste of oranges & strawberries!
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Watermelon Smoothie Recipe
Naturally sweetened Watermelon Smoothie is refreshing and under 100 calories! It's the perfect healthy treat to satisfy that sweet tooth.
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Kool Aid Ice Recipe
Simple & Tasty Kool Aid Ice is perfectly festive for the kids to enjoy at parties or to make any day magical!!
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A Summer Classic!
What screams summer more than a glass of fresh Homemade Lemonade?
This refreshing drink is made with a simple syrup for the perfect sweet-to-tart ratio. It is perfect for warm summer days or any day!
Here is the recipe:
25+ Summer Drinks
Beat the summer heat with any of these delicious summer drinks! These refreshing drinks are perfect for serving at BBQs and parties!
Ingredients
- 1½ cups sugar
- 8 cups water, divided
- 1½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice, from about 8 lemons
Instructions
- Soak lemons in hot water for 10 minutes to get the most juice from your lemon.
- Make the syrup while the lemons are soaking: Combine 1 cup water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Once the syrup has cooled to room temperature, cover, it and place it in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
- Gently remove lemons from hot water. Let cool until ready to handle. Firmly roll each lemon on the countertop a few times. Cut lemons in half and juice them. Keep the pulp to use, but remove all seeds. Set Juice aside until syrup is cool.
- Combine chilled syrup, lemon juice, and the remaining 7 cups water in a pitcher. Stir lemonade well, and serve over ice.
Notes
Make ahead of time. Lemonade can be made ahead and stored in a pitcher in the refrigerator for 5–7 days.
Variations:
Limeade: Simply substitute the lemons for limes.
Strawberry Lemonade: Place about 1 cup sliced strawberries in a bowl with 2 tablespoons sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes, then mash with a fork or use a food processor to puree. Mix strawberry puree into the lemonade, using more or less to taste.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 124kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.2g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.002g, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 38mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 31g, Vitamin A: 2IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 0.04mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy these Refreshing Summer Drinks!
Whether you’re looking for the perfect drink to serve at a summer BBQ, a pool party, or just to enjoy as a special treat – you’re sure to find several drink recipes you’ll want to try!
More Collections: Summer Appetizers, Summer Side Dishes, Summer Crockpot Recipes
Love the colours throughout the drinks. Will make sure too try each and everyone of them….
I love all of these drinks. Cant wait to make them all.
I was the cook for my church’s girls camp and brought up the strawberry lemonade for the special Friday night dinner. Big hit!
Love so many of these!! We make your pink pineapple drink ALL the time!! It’s our absolute favorite!! I’ll be making your pina colada drink this week!
Such a great place to serve up the best drinks! A drink for every occasion. Love it!