When it is hot outside, a cold drink makes everything a little more bearable. Store-bought options are always there, but making something at home is usually a lot more rewarding and easier than most people expect. A good homemade drink just hits differently on a warm day, and once you have a few go-to recipes, you will find yourself reaching for them all season long.
This list has a good mix of recipes that are simple to put together and perfect for sipping on a hot afternoon. Some are great for making a big batch when you have people over, and others are quick enough to whip up just for yourself. Try a few and you will have no shortage of cold, refreshing options to get you through the rest of the summer.
Fruit Flavored Water aka Fruit Infused Water Recipe
Fruit infused water is one of the simplest ways to make drinking more water feel like something you actually want to do. The fruit adds a light, natural flavor that makes each glass more enjoyable without being heavy or sweet like juice. It looks great in a pitcher and tastes clean and refreshing in a way that plain water sometimes doesn’t.
Keeping a pitcher of this in the fridge makes staying hydrated so much easier and more pleasant throughout the day. You can switch up the fruit combinations to keep things interesting, so it never gets boring. Once you get into the habit of making infused water, plain water starts to feel like a missed opportunity.
Get the Recipe: Fruit Flavored Water aka Fruit Infused Water Recipe
Lavender Mocktail Recipe
Lavender mocktail is a pretty drink that tastes just as good as it looks, with a light floral flavor that feels special without being overpowering. It’s refreshing and slightly sweet, so the lavender comes through gently in every sip. The soft purple color makes it look great in a glass, which adds to how fun it is to serve.
People who try this one always comment on how good it looks before they even take a sip, and the flavor backs it up completely. Because there’s no alcohol involved, it works for everyone at the table, which makes it a great option for any gathering. Once you’ve made one and seen the reaction it gets, it becomes one of your go-to drink recipes.
Get the Recipe: Lavender Mocktail Recipe
Cold Brew Sorrel Drink
Cold brew sorrel is a deep, ruby-colored drink with a tart, slightly floral flavor that’s unlike most other drinks you’ve probably tried. The cold brewing method brings out the best qualities of the sorrel without any harshness, so the result is smooth and really enjoyable to sip. It looks great in a glass and tastes as interesting as it looks.
People always get curious when they see it because of that deep red color, and the flavor is bold enough to be interesting but easy enough to drink a lot of. Because it’s cold brewed, the flavor is smoother than a hot-brewed version would be. Once you’ve tried cold brew sorrel, it becomes a drink you want to make on a regular basis.
Get the Recipe: Cold Brew Sorrel Drink
Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Cold brew coffee is smoother and less bitter than regular iced coffee, and once you’ve had a good glass, the difference is impossible to ignore. The long, slow cold steep pulls out all the rich coffee flavor without any of the harshness that comes from hot brewing. It takes some patience to make, but the payoff is completely worth the wait.
Keeping a big jar of this in the fridge means great coffee is ready to pour at any point during the day without any extra effort. Because the brewing happens overnight, there’s no real hands-on time involved once you set it up. Once cold brew becomes part of your routine, it’s very hard to go back to making coffee any other way.
Get the Recipe: Cold Brew Coffee Recipe
Cranberry Juice
Homemade cranberry juice has a bright, tart flavor that tastes like the real thing because it is, and once you’ve had a glass of it fresh, you’ll notice how much better it is than anything from a bottle. It’s clean and tangy, with a natural flavor that feels honest and really satisfying to drink. You can adjust the sweetness to suit your taste, which is something bottled versions just can’t offer.
What I love about making this at home is how straightforward the process is and how good the result tastes compared to anything pre-made. It works on its own over ice, mixed into other drinks, or used in recipes that call for cranberry juice. Once you’ve made your own and tasted how good it is, buying it starts to feel like settling for less than you could easily have.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Juice
Infused Cold Brew Tea
Infused cold brew tea is a real upgrade from regular iced tea once you’ve tried it and tasted the difference. The slow cold brewing process pulls out a smooth, clean flavor from the tea that is less bitter and more enjoyable than tea brewed with hot water. It’s refreshing and really good, and the kind of drink you’ll want to have ready in the fridge all the time.
Once you start making cold brew tea, it’s hard to go back to the regular method because the flavor is just so much smoother. You can infuse it with whatever flavors you like, so the combinations are really endless. Make a big pitcher at a time, because it goes fast and you’ll be reaching for a glass more often than you expect.
Get the Recipe: Infused Cold Brew Tea
Ginger Turmeric Shots
Ginger turmeric shots pack a strong, sharp flavor into a small glass, so they hit fast and give you a real kick. The ginger brings heat, while the turmeric adds an earthy depth that rounds the whole thing out nicely. They’re quick to drink and quick to make, which makes them easy to fit into any routine.
A batch of these lasts for several days in the fridge, so making a big one at a time is always worth it. Because each shot is small, the prep time is minimal but the result feels like something that actually does something. Once you’ve made your own, you’ll find it’s a lot more practical than buying them pre-made anywhere else.
Get the Recipe: Ginger Turmeric Shots
