40 Sensational Drink Recipes to Beat the Summer Heat

Summer is nearly here and with it comes hot, sunny days and times when you just really need a drink that will cool you off. You are in luck because we’ve found a great collection of 40 delicious summertime drinks that are easy to make and will certainly help you to beat the heat.

From kids’ drinks to cocktails, we have everything in here. We’ve listed the non-alcoholic versions first and those with a little something-something in them last. There are recipes that provide a great twist on traditional cocktails and even those that may be completely new to you and you don’t have to be a bartender to make them.
Whether you prefer your summer drinks to be lemonade, tea or you want a fruity concoction that will make you think you’re on the beach, there is sure to be a drink in this collection that will cool you down, relax you and make you so glad it’s summer.
Choose one or choose them all. They’re great for lazing by the pool, summertime cookouts or just any time you want a fabulous summer drink that won’t take long to make.

White Strawberry Lemon Sangria

This smooth white strawberry lemon sangria takes a bit of time from start to finish but once you have it ready, you’ll agree that it’s the perfect summer cocktail. You need lemons, apples, strawberries, white wine – note that it’s recommended you use a relatively dry wine because the strawberries and soda will add sweetness – light rum and lemon-lime soda. This is a sweet drink but not over the top sweet. The lemons help to tame the sugary taste so it’s a good balance between sweet and tangy. It’s easy to make (aside from the time that it takes) and is sure to become a summer favorite.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Kitchentreaty

Aloha Milkshake

With toasted coconut, pineapple and coconut ice cream and whipped cream, this aloha milkshake is sure to become your favorite cooling drink of summer. The great part is you can make everything from scratch so there’s no need to buy ice cream or anything else. You just assemble the ingredients, add your whipped cream on top and sprinkle with toasted coconut. It’s a yummy and very tropical tasting drink that is sure to have you thinking you’re lying on a beach somewhere. If you need a sweet treat to help you cool down, an aloha milkshake is the perfect choice.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thissillygirlslife

Blackberry Limeade

This great blackberry limeade is as pretty to look at as it is delicious to drink. With blackberries nearly in season, this is the perfect time to learn this recipe for later in the year. The recipe serves 8 and calls for blackberries, water, sugar, fresh lime juice and a few blackberries or lime wedges for garnish. You just blend the blackberries with water, strain out the pulp and then add the remaining ingredients in a pitcher with your blackberries. It has a beautiful rich color that is sure to be a hit at your cookouts and it’s really simple to make.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Cooklikeachampionblog

Watermelon Drink Dispenser

Ok, so this is not a drink in itself per se, but it simply had to make our collection. It’s a drink dispenser made from a watermelon. Now, if you are looking for ideas on what to put inside the dispenser, think club soda, tea or just about anything else you want. You could fill it with lemonade to create a great watermelon lemonade that will really be refreshing or iced tea with just a hint of watermelon. The possibilities are endless but this is certainly something that you want to create for your summer barbecues and such.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Therepowoman

Strawberry Watermelon Cooler

Oh, what could possibly be better on a hot summer day than a scrumptious cooler made with watermelon and strawberries? The watermelon alone makes this the perfect summer cool-down drink. It’s got seedless watermelon (note you can use regular seeded melon but you’ll want to painstakingly remove those seeds), strawberries and orange juice. It takes literally only five minutes to make this and it’s so delicious that it will quickly become your favorite summer cooler. You just add everything into the blender and process. Oh, and the recipe makes enough for four people so it’s a great one to share, too.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Familyspice

Peach Lemonade

So, you’ve probably tried peach iced tea, but peach lemonade? This recipe makes 8 servings and if you love peaches, it’s a great twist on regular lemonade. You need water, chopped peaches, sugar, lemon juice from fresh lemons and mint which is optional. You will absolutely fall in love with the sweet peachy taste of this otherwise tart lemonade. And, not only is it delicious, it’s really pretty in the cup as well. It’s a great drink to have on hand for brunches or other get-togethers and you can garnish with the mint or just stick a peach or lemon wedge on the side of your glass.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Mrsregueiro

Sprite with Rainbow Ice Cubes

If you want a fun, and caffeine free, drink for the kids, rainbow ice cubes in water or Sprite will certainly do the trick. There are a few variations of this recipe. Some recommend using food coloring in water for the ice cubes but we love the idea of freezing Kool-Aid for the ice. Just use different flavors of Kool-Aid to make colored ice cubes and when they’re frozen, drop a few into a glass of water or Sprite. As the ice melts, the flavor from the Kool-Aid will be really great and if you have trouble getting your kids to drink water during the summer, this is a really good trick.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Sheiswoven

Lemony Orange Shakeup

So, lemonade is the official drink of summer but that doesn’t mean you can’t shake it up just a bit. Take for instance, this lemony orange shakeup. It has lemon, orange and sugar and you mix it together in a shaker with ice to give it a smoothie consistency. Garnish with lemon and orange slices or you could throw a sprig of mint in there for a little extra flavor and garnish. This is a really easy drink to make and it’s chocked full of vitamin C so it’s great for warding off those summer colds.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Lovegrowswild

Black Cherry Soda

Making your own soda is really easy with club soda and simple syrup and the great thing is, you can create all sorts of flavors depending on the simple syrup that you make. Take this yummy black cherry soda for instance. The simple syrup is well, simple. Once you have that made you just mix with club soda and add your ice. If you have a Soda Stream, you could make your own carbonated water and then mix the simple syrup with that. You don’t have to continue buying the syrups that are designed for your soda maker. Just mix up your own – save money and enjoy a cooling drink this summer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Flouronmyface

Orange Julius

You could head out to your local Dairy Queen for an Orange Julius smoothie but why would you do that when you can make it yourself at home? This yummy orange flavored drink is perfect for summer and it’s so very easy to make. You need frozen orange juice, water, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract and ice cubes. You can add a couple of tablespoons of powdered milk which is optional but it does make it a bit thicker and it tastes much better with it. Just put all of the ingredients in the blender and process until you get a smoothie consistency.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Amothersshadow

Watermelon Coconut Cooler

Watermelon and coconut together simply scream summer. You can have your own little tropical drink with this yummy watermelon and coconut cooler that uses seedless watermelon, sugar, water, lime juice and coconut flavored sparkling water. You make a watermelon simple syrup from the melon and sugar and then add this to your ice and sparkling coconut water. It’s a really easy recipe and one that will definitely cool you down come those hot summer days. If you aren’t a huge fan of coconut, you can use another flavor of sparkling water or just use club soda and have a plain watermelon cooler.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Crumbsandchaos

Cucumber Lemonade

Cucumber is so good for you in so many different ways that you should definitely think about adding it to your summer drink list. This cucumber lemonade recipe is an easy one and it’s so delicious and refreshing. You need a large cucumber, lemon juice and zest, sugar, water and ice cubes. You can use salt, too if you want but it’s optional. Cucumbers are great for ridding you of bad breath and they help to aid in digestion. Cucumber lemonade is the perfect way to cool off this summer with a deliciously refreshing drink and to add those vital antioxidants and other good properties that you get from the cucumber.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Indiankhana

Italian Sodas

These Italian sodas use fresh strawberries or blueberries to create a summer drink that is so very different from any soda you have ever tasted. You use the berries to create a simple syrup and then club soda and just a smidgen of cream. If you can’t decide between a smoothie and a soda, these are the perfect alternative. You get a bit of soda and smoothie taste in every one. Not only do they taste great, they present well, too. They are beautifully colored and perfect for themed parties or brunches or just have them on hand for any time when you want a cooling summer drink that’s a bit different from carbonated sodas.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Sugarandcharm

Peach Iced Tea

Peach iced tea really is a wonderful summertime drink. To make it as delicious as what you get at your favorite steakhouse, you need about an hour. The recipe makes 8 cups and includes sugar, water, 2 peaches, tea bags and mint sprigs if you want them for garnish. You could also slice up an extra peach and garnish your glasses with that. It’s an easy recipe and you can use any type of tea that you want so if you’re not a traditional iced tea drinker, substitute those regular tea bags for chai tea, English Breakfast or even green tea if that’s what you prefer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Jellytoastblog

Thai Iced Tea Float

Iced tea is great for cooling off during the summer and when you combine that with ice cream, you get a delicious drink that is sure to help you beat the summer heat. This Thai iced tea float has brewed Thai tea, soda water, sugar and ice cream that you make from condensed milk, eggs, half and half and vanilla. Not only is this deliciously cool and refreshing, it looks really good in the glass and it’s so easy to make that you’ll be the envy of your entire neighborhood when they see you sitting on the deck and sipping on it.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Honestlyyum

Frozen Thai Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is such a wonderful way to cool down during the summer. Not only does it give you that much needed caffeine boost, but it’s refreshing and oh, so delicious at the same time. This particular recipe has a Thai twist and includes coconut for a bit of a tropical appeal. You’ll need a couple of cups of strong hot coffee, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, vanilla, sugar, whipping cream and coconut flakes. It takes about four hours for the ice cream to freeze properly but while you’re waiting you can work on the other ingredients.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Girlversusdough

Watermelon Green Tea

Watermelon really is a great summer fruit and when you combine it with green tea, it gives you a wonderful summer drink. The best part of this recipe is that it only takes two ingredients. You need watermelon and you need green tea. That’s it. You just puree and then strain the watermelon and add it to sweetened green tea. It gives it a great color and if you prefer regular tea as opposed to the green varieties, you could use whatever type of tea you want. This is one of the easiest summer drink recipes in the world and also one of the best tasting.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thecountrychiccottage

Peaches and Cream Smoothie

Who doesn’t just love a yummy smoothie during summer? If you are a huge fan of the smoothie in general and you love peaches, this peaches and cream smoothie is right up your alley. You need a fresh banana, canned or frozen peaches, vanilla fat-free yogurt, cinnamon and milk. Note that if you use fat-free or low-fat milk, this is a really healthy smoothie that has just a few calories so you can enjoy it as often as you like. The cinnamon gives it a wonderful flavor and it takes literally just a few minutes to make and serves four.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Rightathome

Salad Drink

We just love summer drinks that are filled with fruity goodness and this salad drink certainly has that. It’s got coconut, condensed milk, fruit cocktail, red Nata de Coco and bananas. Not only is it a really refreshing summer drink but it looks so lovely in the pitcher and glass. You definitely want to try this for summer brunches, baby showers or even weddings. The fruit really makes it beautiful so not only is it delicious and cooling, it’s really nice to look at, too. You can make it a bit less fatty by using skim milk and fruit cocktail preserved in water as opposed to syrup.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Angsarap

Strawberry Aqua Fresca

This great strawberry aqua fresca takes only a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to pull together. You need strawberries, sugar, water, crushed ice and lime juice which you can buy or squeeze from fresh limes. The strawberries should be fresh though to get the best flavor and consistency. Just add all of your ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. Serve over ice and garnish with strawberries, mint sprigs or whatever you want. This is a really pretty drink that is also pretty refreshing. It’s really easy to make, too which is why we love it.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thetaylor-house

Cake Batter Milkshake

What would summer be without a delicious and easy to make homemade milkshake? This cake batter milkshake has delicious written all over it and it’s much easier to make than you may think. You make it with vanilla ice cream, yellow cake mix (in the box not prepared), a bit of milk and some sprinkles for garnish. Just combine the milk, ice cream and cake mix in a blender and then pour into your glasses and garnish with the sprinkles. You can rub the edges of your glasses in corn syrup and then dip in sprinkles to make them really special.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thenovicechefblog

Frozen Peach Berry Cocktails

If you want a refreshing summer cocktail, these frozen peach berry drinks are great. They have strawberries, sugar, water, vodka and peach schnapps and they are really easy to make. You use the strawberries, sugar and water to create a simple syrup and then you blend together in an ice cream maker. You can do these as an Italian ice type drink or a frozen slushie type cocktail. They may take a bit more time than your traditional shaken frozen drinks but they are definitely worth the wait and they are great for parties because you can prepare most everything ahead of time.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thissillygirlslife

Riesling Strawberry Slushies

Take that Riesling that you have left over from your last get-together and use it to create these delicious strawberry slushies. You need a couple of cups of strawberries, a bottle of dry Riesling, fresh lime juice and sugar. You puree the strawberries, part of the wine, lime juice and sugar all together and then pour into ice cube trays and freeze. When you are ready to make your slushies, puree those ice cubes with the remaining wine and serve. It takes a couple of hours from start to finish because you have to wait on the ice cubes to freeze but it’s definitely worth it.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Withstyleandgraceblog

Raspberry Beer Cocktail

This raspberry beer cocktail is sure to make you cooler this summer and it’s one of the easier cocktails to make. You need about a cup of fresh or frozen raspberries, 4 bottles of corona, frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate (or you could use pink lemonade) and vodka. You can garnish with lemons, raspberries or whatever you want. If you aren’t really a fan of raspberries, you could substitute blackberries and use the pink lemonade to create a blackberry beer that will also be very refreshing. To make, you just stir the ingredients together and serve over ice.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Acupofmai

Grapefruit Mojitos

Mojitos are a great summer cocktail and when you pair them with grapefruit, they’re even better. This grapefruit mojito recipe makes 2 cocktails and uses a grapefruit, mint leaves, agave nectar, lime juice, grapefruit juice, rum, sparkling water, and ice. They are very easy to make and perfect for those warmer summer evenings when you really want to relax with an exotic drink in your hand. They’re great for parties too because they don’t take a lot of prep time so make up a batch before those 4th of July cookouts and impress your friends with your bartending skills.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Iowagirleats

Frozen Peach Old Fashioneds

Frozen peach concoctions make great summer cocktails and these peach old fashioneds are certainly no exception. With peaches, bourbon, peach nectar, peach sorbet, orange bitters and just a pinch of kosher salt and sugar, they are delicious and very refreshing. You have to blend the first few ingredients and then add the bitters and salt to process until smooth. The sugar is stirred in and all in all, this takes only about ten minutes to make and serves eight. It’s the perfect cocktail for summer brunches or early evening cookouts. Of course, if you don’t like peaches you could substitute other fruits and fruit nectars.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Myrecipes

Pear, Rosemary and Lemongrass Cocktail

This really unique summer cocktail serves four and is really easy to make. It looks sort of like a martini and includes pears, fennel, rosemary, ginger, lemongrass, nutmeg, vanilla and sparkling water. You cut down the amount of sparkling water in half and then add whatever type of liquor you want to use. Vodka is a great choice given the pears and lemongrass or you could use whiskey and then add just a few drops of fresh lemon juice. This is a cocktail that you can completely customize and however you make it, it is certain to cool you off during those hot summer afternoons.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Greenkitchenstories

Watermelon Cucumber Cocktail

Watermelons and cucumbers are such summer foods and combined with vodka, they can make a wonderfully refreshing summer cocktail. To make this, you need about a pound or so of seedless watermelon. You can use seeded but you’ll have to be sure to get all of the seeds out. You also need a large cucumber, fresh lime juice, honey, ice and vodka. You can garnish with cucumbers or cutouts from the watermelon. It’s a pretty cocktail that has wonderful summer flavors and just the right amount of sweetness. The recipe serves four so it’s a good one for smaller get-togethers.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Marthastewart

Blueberry French 75

Just the name of this Blueberry French 75 makes it sound exotic and it has just a handful of ingredients. To make it, you need a few fresh blueberries, lemon juice, gin, sparkling wine and ice. It’s recommended that you use a dry sparkling wine or a brut champagne. You have to mush the blueberries just a tad to get their juices flowing and then add the lemon juice, gin and ice. Once this is blended, you add your sparkling wine and garnish with a few blueberries. The recipe makes just one drink so it’s great for quiet summer evenings.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Eatlovedrink

Skinny Sipper

This is the perfect summer cocktail for anyone watching their calories. Not only is it delicious and really refreshing, it has less than 100 calories per serving. You’ll need green tea, gin, diet ginger ale, lime wedges, mint leaves and cucumber slices. See, everything is really low in calories which makes this the perfect summer drink for those of you watching your weight. It’s also really easy to make and it’s this neat greenish color that is super cool. Note that you don’t have to use diet ginger ale. You can make this with regular club soda or ginger ale if you aren’t concerned about calories.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Refinery29

Cherry Beer Margaritas

These margaritas are really easy to make and have ingredients like limeade and cherry soda that make them great for summer refreshment. You need frozen limeade concentrate, cherry flavored soda, beer, tequila and kosher salt. The best thing about these cocktails is that they take literally only five minutes to make from start to finish and that includes rimming the glasses and garnishing. The recipe makes 48 ounces. These look so great in mason jars and topped with lime wedges and cherries and they are certainly going to be refreshing on those hot summer days.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Theblondcook

Pink Tequila

Pink is such a pretty color and this pink tequila is a great choice for summer refreshment. Aside from the tequila, it’s got chopped watermelon, strawberries, limes and agave nectar or sugar, your choice. You just put all of the ingredients in your blender, aside from the tequila, add a few cups of ice and then top it off with your tequila. The recipe calls for eight ounces but you can use as much or as little as you like. These really look refreshing with watermelon wedges on them and the only calories you really have are in the tequila so they’re also a lighter cocktail for the summer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Girlsguideto

Strawberry Champagne Slushies

Strawberries and champagne are romantic and when you turn them into slushies, they can also be really refreshing summer cocktails. You simply frozen strawberries with champagne and serve. This is such an easy cocktail to make and is perfect when you need something to cool you down on a hot summer day. It’s got just the right amount of sparkle and the strawberries make it sweet but not too sweet. Plus, it presents really well. You could also do this with a sparkling wine if you wanted but the champagne and strawberry combination is just the perfect summer cocktail combination.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Bestofbklyn

Basil Blender

This basil blender has all the makings for the perfect summer cool down drink. With frozen pina colada mix, spiced rum, lime juice, basil leaves and ice, you get a wonderful drink that is as delicious as it is lovely. The light green color really screams summer and it’s a great choice for garden parties. You can garnish with fresh limes and basil. You just mix everything together in your blender and then pour into your chosen glasses. It’s really light and refreshing and the recipe serves four. If you need more, just mix up another batch. It literally only takes about two minutes to create.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Pizzazzerie

Cilantro Pineapple Julep

If you love mint juleps, then you are definitely going to love these cilantro and pineapple juleps. Juleps are wonderful summer drinks. They’re light and very refreshing so if you want something for a hot summer day that will cool you down and give you the great taste of pineapple, this is the recipe for you. You need about ten fresh cilantro leaves, pineapple juice, tequila, limes and honey. It’s really easy to make and you could play around with other flavors if you wanted or if you aren’t a fan of pineapple. It’s a great twist on the traditional mint julep and a perfect summer cocktail.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Kettlercuisine

The Pimm’s Sippy Cup

Ok, so this isn’t any sippy cup that you want your kids to have but it’s a great cocktail for adults on those hot summer evenings. It’s filled with colorful and yummy fruits and really easy to make. Each cocktail takes about five minutes to prepare. You will need blueberries, raspberries, cherries, lemons, mint leaves, cucumber slices, Pimm’s No. 1, ginger ale (you could also use lemonade or ginger berr) and garnishes. This is such a lovely drink because all of the fruits and the cucumber are there in the glass so they let off a lot of color and it’s really refreshing, too.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Theboysclub

Honeydew Citrus Sangria

Sangria can be made in so many different ways and this one with honeydew and citrus is perfect for summer. You just need a bottle of inexpensive Moscato (we love the inexpensive part), Midori, lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, honeydew melon balls, limes and lemons. You can actually make this with any type of melon so if honeydew is not really your thing, use watermelon or cantaloupe. This is great because you can take advantage of those melons in the store during summer or if you are growing your own, use whatever is ripe at the time.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Redbookmag

Sex in the Driveway

While the name may seem a bit odd, this is a great summer cocktail. Note that you can omit the vodka if you want but the recipe with vodka included is very refreshing and it turns out this beautiful blue color that will make you think of ocean waves. You’ll need Blue Curacao, Peach Schnapps, citrus flavored vodka and sprite. That’s it and you just mix all of the ingredients together. There’s no blending or shaking. Just pour everything together and then garnish however you want. It’s a great drink for cooling off in the summer. You know, on the deck or even in the driveway.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Dailynoff

The Shucks Deluxe

This peachy drink is sure to help you to beat the summer heat. It contains peaches, sugar, lime juice, vodka, honey and Sprite. Topped off with rosemary sprigs and peach wedges, it’s a really attractive cocktail as well. You will need to make a bit of rosemary simple syrup but it’s fairly easy and this cocktail only takes a few minutes to put together once you have that done. The recipe serves two so it’s great for quite summer evenings at home and it’s got a bit of fizz to it thanks to the Sprite.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Versesfrommykitchen

Moon-A-Rita

A great twist on the traditional margarita, this Moon-A-Rina has summer taste and loads of refreshment. You’ll need to pick up mango margarita mix or you could make your own with frozen mangos, triple sec, tequila and sweet and sour mix. You also need tequila, Blue Moon Beer and a lime. Just blend pretty much like you would for any frozen margarita but you get a wonderful mango taste from this one that is summer at its best. It’s a lovely color and you can rim the glass just like you would for a regular margarita and make it look even better.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thestyledossier