When it’s 95 degrees outside, dinner can wait — what you really need is something cold in your glass. That’s where this roundup comes in.
We went looking for the most refreshing summer drinks on the internet, and these 15 made the cut. There are frosty lemonades, fruity agua frescas, big-batch iced teas, creamy sippers, and a few fancy-feeling mocktails that take five minutes flat. Every single one can be made in a small kitchen with everyday tools — if a recipe needs anything more than a pitcher and maybe a blender, it didn’t make the list.
If you loved our copycat Starbucks passion tea lemonade or our frozen raspberry coconut lemonade, you’re going to want to bookmark this page. Each recipe below links to the original creator so you can get the full instructions (and give these talented bloggers some love). Now grab your ice cube trays — let’s get pouring.
Jump to a Recipe
- 1. Strawberry Lemonade
- 2. Strawberry Basil Lemonade
- 3. Brazilian Lemonade (Creamy Limeade)
- 4. Raspberry Mint Limeade
- 5. Watermelon Agua Fresca
- 6. Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea)
- 7. Cucumber Mint Cooler
- 8. Perfect Peach Iced Tea
- 9. Arnold Palmer (Lemonade Iced Tea)
- 10. Homemade Cold Brew Coffee
- 11. Watermelon Slushie
- 12. Mango Lassi
- 13. Authentic Mexican Horchata
- 14. Virgin Mojito
- 15. Virgin Piña Colada
1. Strawberry Lemonade
Photo: Via Love and Lemons
A four-ingredient strawberry lemonade made with fresh strawberries, fresh lemon juice, sugar and cold water, served over ice. The recipe makes about 10 servings, and the creator says it keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 15 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 10
You’ll need: Ice, lemon juice, strawberries, sugar, water
👉 Get the full recipe at Love and Lemons
Best for: Backyard parties, make-ahead pitchers, first-time lemonade makers
2. Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Photo: Via Natasha’s Kitchen
A strawberry lemonade built on lemonade (homemade, ready-made or from frozen concentrate) with fresh strawberries and lemon slices, plus fresh basil leaves as an optional extra. It makes about 10 servings and is ready in around 15 minutes. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 15 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 10
You’ll need: Basil, ice, lemon, lemonade, strawberries
👉 Get the full recipe at Natasha’s Kitchen
Best for: Impressing guests, herb garden surplus, bridal and baby showers
3. Brazilian Lemonade (Creamy Limeade)
Photo: Via Ginger with Spice
Despite the name, this Brazilian ‘lemonade’ is a creamy limeade made with fresh limes, sweetened condensed milk, sugar and water. It is sweet, tart and mildly creamy, takes about 5 minutes, and makes 5 to 6 servings. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 5 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 5-6
You’ll need: Limes, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water
👉 Get the full recipe at Ginger with Spice
Best for: Trying something new, creamy drink lovers, five-minute wins
4. Raspberry Mint Limeade
Photo: Via Alaska from Scratch
A sparkling limeade made with fresh raspberries, fresh mint, freshly squeezed lime juice, sugar and club soda, served over ice. The creator describes it as an effervescent homemade limeade. Alcohol-free.
You’ll need: Club soda, ice, lime juice, mint, raspberries, sugar, water
👉 Get the full recipe at Alaska from Scratch
Best for: Fizzy drink fans, make-ahead syrup, prettiest-in-the-glass award
5. Watermelon Agua Fresca
Photo: Via The Daring Gourmet
A light Mexican-style agua fresca made from ripe watermelon, water, sugar and lime juice. It makes 4 servings, needs about an hour in the fridge before serving, and the creator offers a lower-sugar option. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 1 hour 5 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 4
You’ll need: Lime juice, sugar, water, watermelon
👉 Get the full recipe at The Daring Gourmet
Best for: Using up watermelon, light and hydrating sipping, hot afternoon relief
6. Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea)
Photo: Via Mexican Food Journal
Agua de jamaica is Mexico’s well-known hibiscus drink, made with just dried hibiscus flowers, water and sugar. The creator describes it as sweet and tart at the same time; the recipe makes about 12 glasses. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 17 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 12 glasses
You’ll need: Dried hibiscus flowers, sugar, water
👉 Get the full recipe at Mexican Food Journal
Best for: Big batches for a crowd, caffeine-free refreshment, bold tart flavor
7. Cucumber Mint Cooler
Photo: Via Lemons for Lulu
A no-cook cooler of thinly sliced cucumber, fresh mint and lemon slices topped with sparkling lemon soda (the creator uses San Pellegrino Limonata). It takes about 5 minutes and serves 4. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 5 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 4
You’ll need: Cucumber, lemon, mint, sparkling lemon soda (San Pellegrino Limonata)
👉 Get the full recipe at Lemons for Lulu
Best for: No-cook days, spa-level refreshment, last-minute guests
8. Perfect Peach Iced Tea
Photo: Via Minimalist Baker
A three-ingredient peach iced tea made with ripe peaches, organic cane sugar and black tea, with the peach flavour coming from a homemade peach syrup. The creator describes it as perfectly sweet and very peachy; it makes about 10 servings in around 50 minutes. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 50 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 10
You’ll need: Black tea, cane sugar, peaches, water
👉 Get the full recipe at Minimalist Baker
Best for: Peach season, porch sipping, big-batch make-ahead
9. Arnold Palmer (Lemonade Iced Tea)
Photo: Via Sweet Tea and Thyme
The classic half iced tea, half lemonade drink, made here from scratch with black tea, fresh lemon juice, lemon peels and sugar. The recipe makes about 6 cups in roughly 35 minutes, and the tea can be left unsweetened if you prefer. Alcohol-free as written.
⏱ Total Time: about 35 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 6 cups
You’ll need: Black tea, lemon juice, lemon peels, sugar, water
👉 Get the full recipe at Sweet Tea and Thyme
Best for: Crowd-pleasing classics, Southern-style refreshment, tea and lemonade fans
10. Homemade Cold Brew Coffee
Photo: Via Fork in the Kitchen
Homemade cold brew made from freshly ground whole coffee beans and filtered water, with an optional cinnamon stick, and simple syrup or creamer to taste. The recipe makes about 20 ounces of strong cold brew, enough for 3 to 4 drinks, and it needs a long steep of around 18 hours. Contains caffeine; alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 18 hours 👨👩👧 Serves: 4
You’ll need: Cinnamon stick, coffee beans, coffee creamer, simple syrup, water
👉 Get the full recipe at Fork in the Kitchen
Best for: Coffee lovers, weekly meal prep, skipping the drive-thru
11. Watermelon Slushie
Photo: Via One Lovely Life
A frosty slushie made from frozen watermelon, fresh lime juice and water (plain or sparkling), with mint leaves optional. Maple syrup, agave or sugar is added only if needed, and the creator labels it vegan and paleo. Makes about 4 cups; alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 15 minutes, plus freezing the watermelon 👨👩👧 Serves: About 4 cups
You’ll need: Lime juice, maple syrup or agave or sugar, mint, water, watermelon
👉 Get the full recipe at One Lovely Life
Best for: Kid-approved treats, no added sugar option, instant cool-down
12. Mango Lassi
Photo: Via Cook With Manali
A classic Indian mango lassi of mango pulp, plain yogurt and milk, sweetened with sugar and flavoured with cardamom. Fresh or canned mango pulp both work, and saffron or pistachios are optional garnishes. Makes 2 servings in about 10 minutes; alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 10 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 2
You’ll need: Cardamom, mango pulp, milk, pistachios, saffron, sugar, yogurt
👉 Get the full recipe at Cook With Manali
Best for: Creamy drink cravings, cooling down spicy dinners, protein-rich sipping
13. Authentic Mexican Horchata
Photo: Via My Latina Table
A traditional Mexican horchata made with white rice, almonds and a cinnamon stick, finished with evaporated milk, milk (or almond milk), sugar and vanilla. It needs at least 5 hours of soaking, so plan ahead; the recipe makes about 7 cups. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 5 hours, mostly soaking 👨👩👧 Serves: 7 cups
You’ll need: Almonds, cinnamon stick, evaporated milk, ice, milk or almond milk, sugar, vanilla, water, white rice
👉 Get the full recipe at My Latina Table
Best for: Taco night pairing, cinnamon lovers, make-ahead planning
14. Virgin Mojito
Photo: Via Feast + West
A non-alcoholic take on the classic mojito made with fresh mint, lime juice, simple syrup, a zero-proof rum alternative and club soda. It makes one drink in about 5 minutes. Alcohol-free (uses a zero-proof rum alternative).
⏱ Total Time: about 5 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 1
You’ll need: Club soda, lime, lime juice, mint, simple syrup, zero-proof rum
👉 Get the full recipe at Feast + West
Best for: Alcohol-free happy hour, single-serving treats, fresh mint surplus
15. Virgin Piña Colada
Photo: Via The Live-In Kitchen
A creamy, tropical piña colada mocktail made with frozen pineapple, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, lime juice and ice. The creator calls it a good fit for kids and anyone avoiding alcohol; it makes 2 drinks in about 10 minutes. Alcohol-free.
⏱ Total Time: about 10 minutes 👨👩👧 Serves: 2
You’ll need: Cream of coconut, ice, lime juice, pineapple, pineapple juice
👉 Get the full recipe at The Live-In Kitchen
Best for: Tropical staycations, dessert-like drinks, blender-only ease
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