There should be no pressure for drinks when people come to hang out.
These are my favorite summer drinks, no alcohol required. You can easily spike them with tequila or vodka. You can turn the lemonade into orange-ade or lime-ade. You can swap the iced tea for iced coffee. Use frozen grapes as ice cubes to eliminate dilution entirely.
I love putting them all out when I have friends over and letting people make their own drinks. It’s low effort, it looks beautiful, and everyone feels taken care of.
Iced Tea with Tea Ice Cubes
No dilution of your iced tea because the ice cubes are made of tea. You can make iced green or herbal tea using the same concept. Same goes for iced coffee with coffee ice cubes.
Ingredients:
12 black tea bags (Orange Pekoe or English Breakfast)
Makes: 4-6 glasses
Method:
Make the iced tea: In a medium pot, bring 2 quarts of water to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat. Add the tea bags and steep 6–8 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags. Cool completely.
Make the ice cubes: Pour some of the tea into a 14-cube square ice cube tray. Fill each to the brim. Freeze. Refrigerate the remaining tea.
Serve: Put 3 ice cubes in a rocks glass and fill with the chilled tea.
Horchata
I learned how to make this from my daughter. She says horchata is her favorite because it’s sweet, milky, and complex all at once. It also happens to fall into the category of an Agua Fresca. And it’s fantastic added into iced coffee.
Ingredients
1 cup long grain white rice (Jasmine, for example), rinsed
3 cinnamon sticks, or 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
Makes: 4-6 drinks
Method:
Make the horchata mix: In a large non-reactive bowl, combine the rice and cinnamon with 4 cups of water. Let it sit at room temperature overnight.
Blend: Transfer the rice mixture to a blender. Pulse to coarsely blend. Strain out the rice and solids.
Finish: Stir in the evaporated milk, vanilla, and condensed milk. Transfer to a pitcher.
Serve: Serve as is, or shake the horchata right before pouring over ice into highball glasses.
Marmalade Lemonade
I have always liked the texture and pulp in lemonade. The marmalade adds an extra depth of flavor and will be your secret cheffy recipe. Don’t tell anyone how easy it is.
Ingredients:
Juice from 11–12 lemons (about 1½ cups juice), pits removed but pulp intact
1 tablespoon orange marmalade, roughly chopped
1 cup granulated sugar
Makes: 4-6 drinks
Method:
Make the lemonade: In a large pitcher, stir together the lemon juice, marmalade, and sugar. Add warm water and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Refrigerate.
Serve: Pour into a pitcher with a few lemon slices, if desired.
A Few More Ideas:
Spike any of these with tequila or vodka if the occasion calls for it.
Swap the iced tea for iced coffee and make coffee ice cubes the same way.
Turn the lemonade into orange-ade or lime-ade with the same method.
Use frozen grapes as ice cubes in any of these drinks. No dilution, and you get a snack at the end.
What’s your go-to summer drink? And are you a pulp person or a no-pulp person? I need to know.
Your the best Alex. May I say that your hair is better than a favorite dinner. It is spectacular on you
Love all your cooking🥰🥰🥰
I watch all you shows and read everything you write.
Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽