From the roundup: 12 Easy Non Alcoholic Drink Recipes: Mocktails, Smoothies, and Lemonades
This strawberry basil sparkling mocktail has become my go-to when I need something that looks put-together but takes almost no time. Five minutes, one glass, and you are done. The muddled strawberries and basil make it taste fresh in a way that a flavored syrup or powder just cannot replicate.
The basil is the part people always ask about. It sounds fussy, but it genuinely works. It rounds out the sweetness of the strawberries without tasting like a garden, especially once the lemon juice and sparkling water come in. My older kids request this at every summer cookout, and I end up making a loose pitcher-style batch by muddling everything in a large measuring cup and dividing it into glasses.
There is no cooking involved, and the whole thing comes together faster than it takes to find a clean glass in my cabinet. One serving is the base, but it scales up in a straight line, so doubling or tripling is just simple math.
How this one ended up in the rotation
I made this for the first time at a baby shower I was co-hosting at my house last spring. I had promised to bring a non-alcoholic option and completely forgot until the morning of. I had a carton of strawberries that needed to be used and a bunch of basil from a pot on my back steps, so I started muddling and hoping for the best. It went faster than I expected and looked nice enough that people assumed I had planned it all along.
The one thing I got wrong that first time: I poured the sparkling water straight down into the center of the glass and it foamed over onto my counter. Now I always pour it slowly down the inside edge of the glass. It takes an extra three seconds and actually keeps the bubbles where they belong.
Why you will love this
- Ready in five minutes with zero cooking and minimal cleanup
- Fresh muddled fruit tastes noticeably better than a flavored mix or syrup packet
- Scales up easily into a batch, just multiply the base and add sparkling water per glass right before serving
- Works for guests who do not drink alcohol without feeling like an afterthought
- You probably already have club soda and a lemon on hand if strawberries are in season
Tips for success
- Muddle firmly for the full 20 to 30 seconds. A light press leaves the strawberries mostly whole and the basil barely bruised, which means less flavor in the final drink.
- Pour the sparkling water slowly down the inside edge of the glass, not straight down the center. Pouring down the center knocks out the bubbles and can cause foam to overflow.
- Add the sparkling water last and serve immediately. Even waiting five minutes after mixing will noticeably flatten the drink.
- Use well-chilled sparkling water. Room-temperature club soda goes flat faster once it hits the ice, and the drink tastes less crisp.
Making a batch for a crowd
- Multiply the muddled base (strawberries, basil, simple syrup, lemon juice) by however many servings you need and combine it in a pitcher or large measuring cup.
- Keep the base refrigerated and the sparkling water separate until guests are ready. Mix each glass individually so the carbonation stays intact.
- If you want a true pitcher drink, add the sparkling water right before you carry the pitcher to the table and stir once, gently.
- The muddled base settles as it sits, so give it a quick stir before pouring each glass.
Substitutions
Frozen strawberries work if you let them thaw slightly first, about 10 minutes on the counter. They muddle just as easily and taste close to fresh. Raspberries are a good swap if that is what you have, though the flavor is a little more tart. Fresh mint fills in for basil if your kids are skeptical of the herb angle, and it is a more familiar combination for most people.
For the sweetener, honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water, stirred until dissolved) or agave nectar both work in the same amount as simple syrup. Club soda and sparkling water are completely interchangeable here. If you want a slightly more complex flavor without alcohol, a splash of white grape juice in place of part of the sparkling water is a quiet addition that works well.
Make-ahead and storage
You can muddle the strawberries and basil, stir in the simple syrup and lemon juice, and refrigerate the base in a sealed jar for up to two days. It will settle and look a little separated, but a quick stir brings it back together. Do not add the sparkling water until you are ready to serve.
There is no good way to store a fully mixed drink. Once the sparkling water goes in, serve it right away. Leftovers go flat within minutes and the texture of the muddled fruit gets waterlogged, so the base is really the only part worth saving ahead.
Strawberry Basil Sparkling Mocktail
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Drop the sliced strawberries and basil leaves into the bottom of a tall glass. Using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, press and twist firmly until the strawberries break down into a rough, juicy pulp and the basil releases its fragrance. This takes about 20 to 30 seconds of steady pressure.
- Add the simple syrup and lemon juice directly to the muddled fruit. Stir everything together with a spoon so the syrup coats the fruit evenly and the flavors start to blend.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes, packing them in so the drink stays cold all the way to the bottom.
- Pour the chilled sparkling water slowly down the inside edge of the glass rather than straight down the center. This keeps the bubbles alive and prevents foam from overflowing.
- Give the drink one gentle stir to bring the muddled base up from the bottom without knocking out all the carbonation. Garnish with a fresh basil sprig and serve immediately.
Notes
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