Food Shopping and Storing Beverages 37 Cold Drinks to Stir up on a Hot Summer Day These ice-cold drinks taste better than store-bought, and most feature antioxidant-rich additions like herbs, spices, or fruit. By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 25, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Victor Protasio Nothing says "summer" like a cold drink on a scorching day. Whether you're looking for the perfect iced tea, a kicked-up lemonade, or a fabulous tropical cocktail, a sip or two from this collection of summer drinks will help cool you off when the weather gets hot. From smoothies to shakes, spritzers to slushies, there's something for everyone here. The top of the list features alcohol-free refreshments for all ages, followed by boozy libations for the over-21 crowd. Cheers to a long, hot summer! 01 of 37 Mango Smoothie Maura McEvoy We gave this mango smoothie some tang by blending in yogurt. Use a sweet, ripe mango for best results, and try our hassle-free method of cutting a mango. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 37 Watermelon-Mint Agua Fresca Greg DuPree We sweetened this refreshing watermelon drink with mint-infused syrup. Not a watermelon fan? You can also make it with cantaloupe or honeydew. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 37 Peach Iced Tea Kevin Miyazaki/Meredith This recipe calls for rehydrating dried peaches in honey-infused water and English breakfast tea. It's a low-sugar version of a summer classic that you can feel good about drinking. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 37 Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie Greg DuPree This fiber-rich smoothie is sweetened with mangoes, carrots, and honey, while the "cream" comes from coconut milk. You'll also note a slight tang from apple cider vinegar, which is good for your gut. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 37 Hibiscus Lemon Iced Tea Greg DuPree This bright, colorful, sweet-tart tea is made with just three ingredients: hibiscus tea, lemons, and sugar. The fuchsia color, which comes from dried hibiscus flowers, is a pick-me-up in itself! GET THE RECIPE 06 of 37 Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana Christopher Baker Here's an option for using that coconut milk leftover from a recipe (say coconut curry sauce). Instead of throwing it out, use it to add a creamy texture to your next kale smoothie. If you don't have kale on hand, swap it out for spinach. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 37 Tropical Lemonade Antonis Achilleos This recipe is a bit work-intensive—it requires fresh juice from about 12 lemons—but the result is worth it. Pineapple juice and apricot nectar are among the other ingredients that give this lemonade a tropical upgrade. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 37 Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale Yunhee Kim Pineapple juice sweetens the tang of ginger ale for this cool drink with tropical vibes. Up the ante by adding fresh pineapple triangles to float in this deliciously fruity drink. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 37 Creamy Date Shake Greg DuPree If you love milkshakes but are trying to cut back on sugar, this shake is for you. It's sweetened with ground cinnamon and Medjools dates, which taste a bit like caramel. This recipe also calls for healthy hemp seeds that deliver protein and omega-3 fatty acids. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 37 Frozen Blueberry Lemonade Charles Masters A drink doesn't get any colder than a slushie, and this four-ingredient recipe gets one in your hand in 5 minutes. Just blend with ice, pour, and chill out. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 37 Gingery Berry and Oat Smoothie Grant Cornett With the healing antioxidants in blueberries and the gut-healthy fiber in rolled oats, this smoothie is as good for you as it is delicious. It also has a bit of a kick from adding fresh ginger to the blend. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 37 Lemon Iced Tea Maura McEvoy This perfect marriage of lemonade and iced tea is a match made in summer refreshment heaven. Sure, you could buy a jug of the stuff, but this recipe uses real lemons, mint leaves, and freshly brewed black tea to fill a half-gallon pitcher that tastes soooo much better. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 37 Creamy Lemonade Getty Images We picked up this trendy refresher from TikTok and found it simple, sweet, and refreshing. The recipe has just three ingredients—freshly squeezed lemon juice, water, and sweetened condensed milk—and we couldn't help but suggest a few tweaks to liven things up. We bet you'll have your own ideas. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 37 Sparkling Cantaloupe Lemonade Greg DuPree This lemonade has a few twists that no one will see coming. First, there's cantaloupe, which is certainly not known for its juice. Second, it's spiked with pink peppercorns that give it a certain punch. Third, the last-minute addition of sparkling water or club soda gives this lemonade a delightful, refreshing fizz. Try it! GET THE RECIPE 15 of 37 Tom Collins Guillermo Riveros / Food Styling by Oset Babür-Winter This classic cocktail has been popular for decades, and this version calls for just two ingredients. Just pour 1 part gin and 2 parts soda into a rocks-filled highball glass. Cheers! GET THE RECIPE 16 of 37 Raspberry Rum Cocktail Belmond La Samanna To make this unique, flavorful cocktail, start with dark rum and add pureed raspberries, fresh apple juice, lime, and a splash of ginger ale. This recipe is courtesy of Marco Nobile, Head Bartender at La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel in St. Martin. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 37 Boozy Watermelon Frozen Slushie Half Baked Harvest It takes less than 5 minutes to whip up this refreshingly cool drink on a hot day. Your choice of rum or vodka adds the "boozy" element. There's no better beverage to celebrate summer. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 37 Kombucha-Blood Orange Mule STEPHEN DEVRIES Blood oranges give this fizzy, spicy-sour drink a beautiful hue. If you don't have them, use freshly squeezed orange juice or grapefruit juice. The kombucha does the rest. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 37 Sex on the Beach bhofack2/Getty Images This popular vacation cocktail, which has been around for decades, calls for vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, and cranberry juice. Refreshing and sweet, it instantly transports you to a tropical island. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 37 Classic Margarita Chef John Break out the tequila, it's margarita time! There's just one big decision to make: Rub the rims with a lime slice and dip them in salt or not? Regardless, make sure you add ice and garnish with lime slices. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 37 Mai Tai Antonis Achilleos This classic tropical cocktail combines pineapple, lime, and maraschino cherry juice with rum and Curacao for a fun and festive drink. Don't forget the pineapple and maraschino garnish! GET THE RECIPE 22 of 37 White Sangria Charles Maraia Club soda adds fizz to white wine, white grape juice, and a veritable fruit medley for a light, summery take on the standard sangria. This drink sweetens with time, so let it sit in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 37 Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita Stephen DeVries This recipe starts with the classic elements of a margarita—tequila and lime juice—in a cocktail shaker but adds a splash of grapefruit juice and simple syrup. Give it a quick shake and then add the fizzy kombucha. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 37 Mojito The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi This classic Cuban cocktail requires just five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, mint, and soda water. Don't skimp on using freshly squeezed citrus juices. It's the difference between a so-so mojito and a great one. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 37 Boozy Dole Whip Debbie Galbraith/Getty Images Transport yourself to a tropical beach (or your favorite Disney park) with this fun, adults-only pineapple-and-coconut frozen concoction. Whether you sip it with a straw or scoop it with a spoon, make sure to add extra pineapple and coconut flakes on top. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 37 Partida Passion Fruit Cocktail Rob Howard Tequila fuels this citrusy sweet-tart recipe from Partida Tequila that features grapefruit, lime, and passion fruit. For added refreshment and more fruity flavor, slip in some sliced apples and berries. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 37 Frosé bhofack2 Freeze your favorite rosé into ice cubes so you can blend this easy cocktail recipe for your next happy hour. Add strawberries, grenadine, and a shot of vodka to the mix, and this adult slushie is ready to go. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 37 Grapefruit Thyme Cocktail Levi Brown Freshen up this cocktail of gin, grapefruit juice, and seltzer with an extra punch of herbs from your garden. Garnish with a fresh grapefruit slice and serve to delighted guests. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 37 Cherry Gin Rickey Victor Protasio Cherry and lime make the perfect sweet-tart combination for this summery cocktail. Strain the cherries yourself to extract their full flavor and use freshly squeezed lime juice for best results. GET THE RECIPE 30 of 37 Espresso Martini Getty Images You don't often look to coffee to cool you down, but perhaps this cocktail will change your perspective. With just four ingredients—vodka, espresso, coffee liquor, and simple syrup—you have a refreshing and a little frothy martini to wake up your happy hour. GET THE RECIPE 31 of 37 Chambord Lemonade Cocktail Getty Images Stay cool and in the pink by sipping this three-ingredient, lemonade-cocktail mashup. Chambord, a naturally-flavored raspberry liqueur, lends it color and fruity flavor while vodka kicks in up a notch. GET THE RECIPE 32 of 37 Paloma Greg DuPree Think of a Paloma, a Spanish classic, as a kinder, gentler version of a margarita. It features a simple syrup made with grapefruit juice (the recipe tells you how), a little less tequila than your typical margarita, a splash more grapefruit juice, and soda water. Garnish with a grapefruit peel twist, a salted rim, or both. GET THE RECIPE 33 of 37 Green Tea Pimm’s Fred Hardy Pimm’s—a gin-based English liqueur with herbal and fruity notes—teams up with zesty ginger-infused green tea for this adults-only iced refresher. Make this big-batch (eight-serving) recipe—with or without vermouth—and allow plenty of refrigerator time (at least 2 hours) for maximum chill. GET THE RECIPE 34 of 37 Long Island Iced Tea bhofack2 Iced tea is the ultimate summer refresher and this cocktail—other than its name, its sweet refreshing taste, and how it looks—has practically nothing else in common with it. Emboldened with five types of alcohol, this potent iced tea is not for guzzling. GET THE RECIPE 35 of 37 Cucumber Spritzer Victor Protasio This cocktail is out to prove that vegetables can be refreshing, too. It combines a minty simple syrup with cucumber, lime juice, club soda, and gin for a healthy-ish cocktail poured over ice. For an alcohol-free version, just swap out the gin for more club soda. GET THE RECIPE 36 of 37 Campari Soda With Orange Greg DuPree Many know Campari as the bitter component in classic Italian cocktails like Negroni and Americano, but here its strong orange flavor is mixed with orange juice for sweetness and club soda for fizz. The result is a cocktail on the rocks that's bright and invigorating. GET THE RECIPE 37 of 37 Cold Brew Slushies wmaster890/Getty Images Coffee fans rejoice! It can cool you off on a hot day, too. The secret to getting this Irish cream- and vodka-spiked rendition to go down like a frothy milkshake is in the ice cubes. This recipe calls for making them from coffee instead of water, so your cocktail doesn't get diluted while sipping in the sun. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit