Make a 4th of July mocktail without using alcohol or artificial food dye! This festive drink looks impressive and takes just minutes to assemble. Kids and adults will all love it!
You can use this simple concept to dress up any drink you love, but this sparkling lemonade is a must-try. It’s made with 3 simple ingredients and is easy to scale for guests. No shaker is required!
Sip on it while enjoying some July 4th fireworks! It’s also perfect for any other patriotic holiday, like Memorial Day or Labor Day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make the mocktail, you’ll need lemon juice, simple syrup, and club soda. (Or use your favorite flavored sparkling water.)
This recipe is easy to adapt to use any fruit juices you love, like lime juice, pineapple juice, or cranberry juice. Simply replace 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice with cranberry juice for a slightly pink-colored drink!
Garnish with thinly sliced strawberries, apples (cut into stars with a cookie cutter), and fresh blueberries and you’ll have a red, white, and blue drink. It’s the perfect drink for a warm summer day!
How to Make a 4th of July Mocktail
Prepare a batch of honey simple syrup if you haven’t already. It’s simply 1/2 cup of honey mixed with a 1/2 cup of boiled water.
Whisk well until the honey has dissolved, then it’s ready to use.
In a serving glass, combine 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of simple syrup, and 3/4 cup of sparkling water. Stir well to combine, then top it off with ice.
To prepare the garnish, thinly slice a green or yellow apple on a cutting board. (These apples won’t brown as quickly as some red ones do.)
Then use a small star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out a star shape from the apple.
Add a star to each glass you make, along with a few fresh red and blue berries. Sliced strawberries or raspberries will work for the red color! Or you could even use a slice of watermelon.
Finish it off with straws and serve right away. You can also garnish this refreshing drink with fresh mint leaves or any other extras you love.
Note: This ratio is simply a suggestion! If you want to lower the sugar content, use less simple syrup than this recipe calls for. For a non-sparkling drink, swap the club soda for coconut water and stay extra hydrated in the summer heat.
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons honey simple syrup
- ¾ cup sparkling water or club soda
- ice, for serving
- sliced strawberries, green apple, and blueberries , for garnish
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Prepare the mocktail by combining the lemon juice, simple syrup, and sparkling water in a serving glass. Stir well then top it off with ice.
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Thinly slice the green apple into rounds, then use a star-shaped cookie cutter to press a star into each round. (See the photos in the post for guidance.) You’ll need to cut the stars shortly before serving, so they won’t turn brown.
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When you’re ready to serve the drink, top it off with a few sliced strawberries and blueberries for the red and blue color. Then add an apple star to finish off the look!
Make Honey Simple Syrup: Combine a 1/2 cup of honey with a 1/2 cup of boiled water. Stir well until the honey has dissolved, then use it as a simple syrup in any recipe that calls for it. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Sparkling Water Note: I like to use lime-flavored sparkling water for extra citrus flavor, but regular club soda or any other flavor will work here, too. I prefer Spindrift brand because it’s made with fruit juice rather than “natural flavors.” (This is not a sponsored post; just my opinion!)
Star Cookie Cutter: The one I’m using is old, but this one looks similar. (affiliate link)
Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg
If you try this 4th of July Mocktail recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
