Minimalist Baker

28 Refreshing Drinks for Summer

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Cherry limeade, iced tea, mocktails, smoothies, and cocktails for our round-up of refreshing drinks for summer

It’s no secret that summertime makes us crave allll the REFRESHING popsicles, hydrating fruits, and especially icy cold beverages! 🍹 To quench your thirst (in an ultra-tasty way), we’ve gathered our BEST refreshing drinks for summer that are FRESH, vibrant, and oh so delicious!

We’ve got nutritious juices, citrusy lemonades, simple iced teas, fruity smoothies, alcohol-free mocktails, and boozy options, too. 😉 Cheers to delicious, summery drinks, friends!

Note: Dietary symbols listed throughout for easy navigation!

Juices

Two bottles of homemade Watermelon Juice
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Watermelon Juice
How to make watermelon juice FAST with just a watermelon and a blender! Options for add-ins and cocktail recipes included!
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Cutting board with glasses of green juice and ingredients used to make it
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Easy Green Juice Recipe + Juicing Tips
Our favorite green juice recipe, just 7 ingredients required! Incredibly refreshing, nourishing, and delicious. Plus, juicing tips, go-to methods, and juicer recommendations.
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Lemonade & Limeade

Glass of homemade strawberry lemon with a lemon slice on the rim
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Easy Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
Easy homemade strawberry lemonade! Quick and easy to make in the blender, naturally sweetened, and perfectly tart-sweet. The ultimate summer refresher!
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Glass of sparkling cherry limeade garnished with a lime slice and fresh cherries
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Sparkling Cherry Limeade (Naturally Sweetened)
Our naturally sweetened, healthier take on Sonic’s cherry limeade! This tart-sweet, refreshing drink is made with just 4 ingredients, including fresh cherries!
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Hand reaching in to pick up a glass of ginger lemonade
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Refreshing Ginger Lemonade
Super refreshing ginger lemonade that’s tart, subtly spicy, and perfect for picnics or BBQs! Just 3 ingredients and 25 minutes required!
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Iced Teas

Glasses of our Perfect Peach Iced Tea with peach slices and ice cubes in them
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Perfect Peach Iced Tea
3-ingredient peach iced tea that’s perfectly sweet and mega peachy. Perfect for hot summer days and BBQs.
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Hand reaching in to grab a tall glass of lemon ginger jasmine iced tea
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Lemon Ginger Jasmine Iced Tea
Energizing iced jasmine green tea with ginger and lemon. Subtly sweetened with maple syrup, perfect for summer, and just 4 ingredients and 15 minutes required!
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Mug of fresh mint tea with mint leaves in it
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Fresh Mint Tea (Hot or Iced!)
Fragrant homemade mint tea made with fresh mint leaves! Just 2 ingredients, 1 pot, and 7 minutes required!
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Mocktails

Lemon slice and fresh rosemary in glasses of blueberry ginger mocktails
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Sparkling Blueberry Ginger Mocktail
Vibrant, bubbly blueberry mocktail with ginger, lemon, and rosemary. A celebratory, sparkling, non-alcoholic drink for everything from parties to poolsides. Naturally sweetened and just 6 ingredients required!
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Close up shot of a glass of our Citrus and Melon Spritzer recipe
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4-Ingredient Citrus & Melon Spritzer
Light and refreshing spritzers made with fresh honeydew melon and lime. Incredibly versatile and made with just 4 simple ingredients.
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Pouring sparkling water over a hibiscus orange mango mixture in a glass
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Sparkling Hibiscus Orange Mocktail
A bright, zesty, beautiful mocktail with hibiscus, orange, and mango. Naturally sweetened, just 6 ingredients, and perfect for summer gatherings!
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Cocktails

Fresh orange wedge on the rim of a jar of Traditional Red Sangria
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Easy Traditional Red Sangria
Simple, traditional Red Spanish Sangria made with simple methods and just 6 ingredients. The perfect fruity summer beverage that’s adaptable and delicious!
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Using a wooden spoon to stir fresh fruit for making White Sangria
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Easy Traditional White Sangria
An easy, 8-ingredient (1-pitcher!) recipe for traditional white wine sangria. Brandy and wine recommendations included, and seasonally adaptable!
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Side view of glasses of our whiskey ginger recipe
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Orange-Infused Whiskey Ginger
Orange-infused whiskey ginger with fresh lemon and ginger juice. Naturally sweetened, zesty, citrusy, and perfect for the holidays and beyond!
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Lime wedges around glasses of Watermelon Margaritas
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Best Watermelon Margaritas (3 Ingredients!)
The best Watermelon Margaritas with just 3 ingredients! Naturally sweet from the watermelon, tangy from the lime, and spiked with silver tequila!
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Wood cutting board with lime wedges and Chili Lime Mango Margaritas
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Chili Lime Mango Margaritas
Simple mango margaritas with orange, lime, agave, and silver tequila! Cold, sweet, tangy, and subtly spiced. Perfect for Mexican food and warm weather!
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Glass of our fresh strawberry margarita recipe with a slice slice and strawberry on the rim
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Fresh Strawberry Margarita (5 Minutes!)
EASY, naturally sweetened strawberry margarita bursting with fresh strawberry flavor and the perfect tart-sweet balance! A refreshing drink ready in just 5 minutes with 4 ingredients and a blender!
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Close up shot of a glass of our frozen passion fruit mezcalita recipe
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Frozen Passion Fruit Mezcalita
A sweet, tart, and smoky mezcalita made with frozen passion fruit. An easy, fun, and refreshing summertime drink with just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes required!
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Two glasses of homemade Vegan Hibiscus Margaritas beside lime wedges
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5-Ingredient Hibiscus Margaritas
Simple 5-ingredient margaritas infused with hibiscus tea concentrate, giving them the perfect tart, sweet finish. Complex, delicious, and pairs especially well with Mexican food.
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Two homemade Ginger Beer Margaritas on a cutting board
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5-Ingredient Ginger Beer Margaritas
5-ingredient margaritas made with ginger beer and fresh lime juice! Simple, flavorful, and so delicious. The only margarita recipe you'll ever need.
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Glasses of our Cucumber Cooler Cocktail recipe topped with cucumbers slices, mint leaves, and limes
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Cucumber Cooler Cocktails
A light, refreshing cocktail with fresh lime and mint and a surprising, pleasant crunch from cucumber slices.
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Fresh limes, mint, and two Coconut Gin and Tonics
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Coconut Gin and Tonics
4-ingredient Gin and Tonic cocktails infused with naturally sweet coconut water for a refreshing, healthier cocktail perfect any time of year.
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Stemless wine glass filled with our recipe for Mint and Citrus White Wine Sangria
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Mint and Citrus White Wine Sangria
A refreshing white wine sangria with the flavors of mint, lemon, and lime.
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Smoothies & Slushies

Two glasses of our Healthy Cucumber Smoothie topped with sliced cucumber and lime
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Creamy Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie
A creamy, 6-ingredient cucumber smoothie with coconut, lime, pineapple, and greens! A nutrient-rich, refreshing smoothie that will beautify you from the inside out!
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Two short glasses of our Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie recipe beside ingredients used to make it
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Strawberry Chia Watermelon Smoothie
Simple, 6-ingredient smoothie with fresh watermelon, frozen strawberries, lime, and chia seeds! Refreshing, hydrating, and the perfect summer breakfast or snack!
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Vegan piña coladas topped with coconut whipped cream, pineapple, mint, and cherries
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2-Ingredient Piña Colada Smoothie
The flavors of your favorite beach cocktail simplified into a 2-ingredient smoothie. This refreshing smoothie requires just 5 minutes and 1 blender to make. Plus, easy ways to enjoy as a protein smoothie or blended cocktail.
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Top down shot of two glasses of Summer in a Cup Smoothie with fresh raspberries and orange slices
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Summer in a Cup Smoothie
Simple 5-ingredient smoothie that tastes like summer in a cup! Raspberries, frozen banana, 2 pure fruit juices, and creamy almond milk make the healthiest tart-sweet smoothie ever.
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Homemade Watermelon Slushie served in a watermelon rind with fresh limes on top
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Coconut Lime Watermelon Slushie
Super simple, 3-ingredient watermelon slushie with coconut milk and lime juice. The perfect refreshing, naturally sweetened summer treat!
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If you try any of these refreshing drinks, let us know! Leave a comment or take a picture and tag it @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Enjoy, friends!

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