Summer is here and so is the pressure to have a drink in your hand at every barbecue. I get it. I’ve been to those parties where it feels like everyone is holding a beer or a cocktail. For a long time I felt like I had to join in just to fit in. It was part of a lifestyle that left me feeling tired heavy and disconnected from what truly mattered.
My journey to losing over 110 pounds and finding a balanced life wasn’t just about giving things up. It was about finding better things to add. I had to break free from habits like binge eating and drinking that were holding me back. Instead of feeling like I was missing out I started creating things that made me feel good. Things that nourished my body and soul.
That’s where these mocktails come in. They aren’t a sad substitute for alcohol. They are a celebration in a glass. They are vibrant delicious and they let you enjoy every moment with a clear head and a happy heart. Making one of these is a small act of kindness to yourself. It's a way of saying "I deserve to feel great."
So let’s toast to a summer filled with real joy and genuine connection. Here are 20 of my favorite refreshing mocktail recipes to help you do just that.
Bright & Fruity Favorites
These drinks are packed with the natural sweetness of summer fruits. They’re perfect for a sunny afternoon by the pool or a family picnic.
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Watermelon Mint Cooler
- Ingredients: 2 cups cubed seedless watermelon, 5-6 fresh mint leaves, juice of half a lime, sparkling water.
- Instructions: Muddle the watermelon and mint in a glass. Add the lime juice and top with ice. Pour sparkling water over it and stir gently.
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Strawberry Basil Smash
- Ingredients: 4-5 fresh strawberries, 2-3 fresh basil leaves, 1 teaspoon honey (optional), juice of half a lemon, club soda.
- Instructions: Muddle the strawberries basil and honey in a shaker. Add lemon juice and ice and shake well. Strain into a glass with fresh ice and top with club soda.
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Pineapple Ginger Fizz
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger, juice of half a lime, ginger ale.
- Instructions: Fill a glass with ice. Add pineapple juice grated ginger and lime juice. Top with ginger ale and stir.
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Peach & Thyme Iced Tea
- Ingredients: 1 cup brewed and chilled black tea, 1/2 a ripe peach (sliced), 2 sprigs of fresh thyme, ice.
- Instructions: In a glass muddle the peach slices with one thyme sprig. Add ice and the chilled tea. Garnish with the second thyme sprig.
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Blueberry Lemonade
- Ingredients: 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 cup of your favorite lemonade, a squeeze of fresh lemon.
- Instructions: Muddle half the blueberries at the bottom of a glass. Add ice and the rest of the whole blueberries. Pour lemonade over top and add a final squeeze of lemon.
Zesty & Herbal Infusions
If you like drinks with a bit more complexity and a little less sweetness these herbal and citrus recipes are for you. They’re incredibly refreshing and feel very sophisticated.
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Cucumber Lime Spritzer
- Ingredients: 4-5 thin slices of cucumber, juice of one whole lime, a few mint leaves, sparkling water.
- Instructions: Muddle the cucumber and mint in a tall glass. Squeeze in the lime juice add ice and top with sparkling water.
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Rosemary Grapefruit Sparkler
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice, 1 sprig of fresh rosemary, tonic water.
- Instructions: Gently muddle the tip of the rosemary sprig in a glass to release its oils. Add ice and grapefruit juice. Top with tonic water and garnish with the rest of the rosemary.
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Spicy Mango Mule
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup mango nectar, juice of one lime, 2 thin slices of jalapeño, ginger beer.
- Instructions: Muddle one slice of jalapeño in a copper mug or glass. Add lime juice mango nectar and ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with the other jalapeño slice.
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Lemon Lavender Refresher
- Ingredients: 1 tablespoon lavender syrup, juice of one lemon, sparkling water.
- Instructions: To make the syrup gently heat 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon dried lavender until sugar dissolves. Let cool and strain. Then add 1 tablespoon of the syrup to a glass with lemon juice and ice. Top with sparkling water.
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Cilantro Jalapeño Cooler
- Ingredients: A small handful of fresh cilantro, 1 slice of jalapeño, juice of one lime, 1 teaspoon agave, club soda.
- Instructions: Muddle the cilantro jalapeño lime juice and agave in a shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with club soda.
Cool & Creamy Delights
Sometimes you just want something smooth and satisfying. These creamy mocktails feel like a real treat on a hot day.
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Coconut Cream Dream
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1/4 cup pineapple juice, a splash of lime juice, ice.
- Instructions: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. Pour into a chilled glass.
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Virgin Piña Colada
- Ingredients: 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks, 1/2 cup coconut cream, a splash of pineapple juice.
- Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until you have a thick slushy consistency.
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Orange Creamsicle Float
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup milk (or coconut milk), 1 scoop vanilla ice cream, sparkling water.
- Instructions: In a glass stir together the orange juice and milk. Gently add the scoop of vanilla ice cream. Top with a splash of sparkling water to make it fizz.
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Iced Chai Latte
- Ingredients: 1 cup brewed and chilled chai tea, 1/4 cup milk of your choice, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, a dash of cinnamon.
- Instructions: Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the chilled chai tea milk and maple syrup. Stir well and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
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Creamy Matcha Refresher
- Ingredients: 1 teaspoon matcha powder, 2 tablespoons hot water, 3/4 cup milk of your choice, 1 teaspoon honey, ice.
- Instructions: In a small bowl whisk the matcha powder and hot water until smooth. Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the milk honey and the matcha mixture. Stir until combined.
Simple & Classic Sippers
You can’t go wrong with the classics. These are easy to make use simple ingredients and are always a crowd-pleaser.
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Classic Virgin Mojito
- Ingredients: 10-12 fresh mint leaves, 2 teaspoons sugar, juice of one lime, club soda.
- Instructions: Muddle the mint leaves sugar and lime juice in a sturdy glass. Fill the glass with ice and top with club soda. Stir and enjoy.
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The Perfect Shirley Temple
- Ingredients: 1 cup ginger ale, 1 tablespoon grenadine, maraschino cherries for garnish.
- Instructions: Fill a glass with ice. Pour in the ginger ale then slowly add the grenadine. Garnish with a cherry or two.
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Sparkling Cranberry Punch
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup cranberry juice, 1/4 cup orange juice, sparkling water or ginger ale.
- Instructions: Fill a glass with ice. Add the cranberry and orange juices. Top with your choice of sparkling water or ginger ale and stir.
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Arnold Palmer
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup iced tea, 1/2 cup lemonade, a slice of lemon for garnish.
- Instructions: Fill a glass with ice. Pour in equal parts iced tea and lemonade. Stir and garnish with a lemon slice. It’s that simple.
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Simple Raspberry Lime Rickey
- Ingredients: A handful of fresh raspberries, juice of one whole lime, club soda.
- Instructions: Muddle the raspberries in the bottom of a glass. Squeeze in the lime juice. Add ice and top with club soda.
Choosing a healthy lifestyle isn't about restriction. It's about freedom. It’s the freedom to feel good in your own skin. The freedom to be present with people you love. And the freedom to enjoy delicious things that are also good for you. In my own life strengthening my faith and finding a closer relationship with God helped me see that my body is a gift. Honoring it with good choices big and small has become an act of gratitude.
So what’s one small healthy choice you can make for yourself this week? Maybe it’s trying one of these recipes. Pick one that sounds good give it a try and let me know how it goes. Cheers to a refreshing summer.
