Save money with these delicious iced summer drink recipes
The typical Canadian summer is already too short, so why spend a single second of it idling in line at the Tim Hortons Drive-Thru waiting for an expensive, machine-made iced coffee or smoothie? With a few simple ingredients and these easy-to-follow recipes for the whole family, you’ll be ready to embrace every moment of summer. Just add ice and enjoy!
Making your own delicious cold drinks, smoothies, and cocktails at home will save you big bucks. It’s also a much more environmentally friendly habit to get into—think of all the disposable cups and straws you’ll be saving from landfill! Plus, you’ll be able to tweak and customize each drink recipe to suit your dietary preferences and mood, without feeling high-maintenance or worrying that your order might be prepared incorrectly.
To get started, try these 12 tasty, budget-friendly iced summer drinks that will help you keep cool all summer long.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Looking for simple, refreshing summer drink recipes? These non-alcoholic beverages are big on flavour and require just a few minutes of prep time.
Cold-Brew Iced Coffee:
If you have some ground coffee on hand, there’s no need to spend money at your local coffee shop. It’s easier than you think to make a perfect iced coffee at home.
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
⅓ cup ground coffee
1 ½ cup cold water
Ice
Milk (optional)
Preparation:
Put coffee and water in a jar.
Stir and leave for at least 12 hours.
Strain mixture using a coffee filter or sieve.
Dilute cold-brew with water to taste, and serve over ice.
Add milk (optional).
Summer Apple Cider:
This iced apple cider recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next backyard barbeque or picnic at the park.
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients:
6 ¼ cups unsweetened, unfiltered apple juice
6 cinnamon sticks
1 cup honey
¼ cup star anise (optional)
2” piece of fresh ginger, sliced
2 tbsp whole cloves
Ice
Preparation:
Heat up apple juice, honey and all spices in a pot until steaming.
Let mixture cool and then transfer into a pitcher.
Place in refrigerator overnight.
Serve with ice.
Iced Chai Energy Drink:
This flavourful chai drink makes for a sweet afternoon pick-me-up. Made with a plant-based milk like soy, almond, or oat, it’s also a great option if you’re lactose intolerant.
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 chai black tea bag
1-2 tbsp honey
½ cup unsweetened plant-based milk
Ice
Preparation:
Brew tea and let steep for three to five minutes.
Remove and discard tea bag.
Add honey and milk; stir well.
Pour over ice to serve.
Iced Honey Latte:
Make your everyday iced coffee taste more decadent just by adding some half-and-half cream and a few tablespoons of honey.
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
1 cup ice
¾ cup cold brew coffee
3-5 tbsp honey (to taste)
3-4 tbsp half and half cream
Preparation:
Put the ice, coffee, and honey in a glass.
Stir well.
Add cream and enjoy!
Alcoholic Drinks
Mixing your own cocktails at home can be surprisingly fun, and it’s an easy way to save money. These summer cocktail recipes run the gamut from classic to quirky.
Classic Summer Mojito:
Refreshing and light, the classic mojito pairs perfectly with hot summer weather.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
12 mint sprigs
Ice
6 oz. light rum
6 tbsp fresh lime juice
4 tbsp sugar
Club soda
4 slices lime (optional)
Preparation:
Crush eight of the mint sprigs lightly.
Place them in a cocktail shaker with ice, rum, lime juice and sugar.
Shake well.
Serve over ice and add a splash of club soda.
Garnish with lime and remaining mint.
Sangria Slushie:
This five-minute recipe is virtually foolproof. You can even substitute the berries with other frozen fruits.
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups frozen red berries
2 cups red wine
¼ cup orange juice
2 oz. brandy
1 lime, juiced
1 cup ice (optional)
Preparation:
Blend all ingredients together in a blender, adding ice if desired.
Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail:
If you’re a fan of vodka-based cocktails, this tasty rhubarb drink is sure to become a new favourite.
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
6 oz. rhubarb, chopped
⅛ cup water
⅛ cup sugar
4 oz. vodka
Club soda
For rim: ⅛ cup granulated sugar mixed with a pinch of ground cinnamon
Preparation:
Combine rhubarb, water, and sugar and then cook on medium heat until the rhubarb breaks down.
Strain the mixture and discard pulp.
Sugar-rim your glass.
Combine two ounces of vodka with one ounce of juice; shake with ice.
Pour mixture into glass, over ice.
Add a splash of club soda.
Classic Strawberry Daiquiri:
With a blender and some frozen fruit, it takes just a few minutes to make a beautiful daiquiri. To make this cocktail non-alcoholic, just leave out the rum.
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
4 oz. light rum
½ cup fresh strawberries, chopped
10 oz. frozen strawberries
1 lime, juiced
Garnish: whole fresh strawberry, lime slices (optional)
Preparation:
Blend rum, strawberries and lime juice.
Serve in cocktail glass.
Add garnishes (optional).
Kid-Friendly Smoothies
These fruity smoothies are sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike. And with no added sugar, they’re quite healthy compared to what you might find at a restaurant or the grocery store.
Watermelon Strawberry Smoothie:
Thanks to the inclusion of fresh watermelon, this pretty smoothie is also light-tasting and extra hydrating.
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
1½ cups fresh seedless watermelon
1 cup frozen strawberries
½ frozen banana
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
1 lime, juiced
1 tbsp chia or hemp seeds (optional)
Preparation:
Blend all ingredients in a blender.
Pour into glasses, and top with seeds (optional).
Cherry Banana Smoothie:
This easy, classic blend can easily be customized with other add-on fruits and toppings.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 frozen bananas
2 cups frozen cherries
2 cups milk
½ cup Greek yogurt
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve.
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie:
The trick to perfecting this smoothie’s distinctive, nostalgic flavour is to prepare it with an under-ripe frozen banana.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups orange juice
½ cup milk
1 frozen underripe banana
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups ice
Preparation:
Place all ingredients into a blender.
Blend on high until combined.
Berry Coconut Smoothie:
This creamy, plant-based smoothie is a great option for vegans and lactose-intolerant kids.
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
¾ cup coconut water
¼ cup coconut milk
5 fresh or frozen strawberries
10 fresh or frozen raspberries
Preparation:
Blend ingredients together.
Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 12 hours.
