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On hot summer days I always crave a classic cherry limeade. However, as I’ve gotten older, my tastes for the overly sweet syrups has declined. Which is how this simple and tasty recipe was created… with a desire for real fruit syrup, a good squeeze of lime, and lots of bubbles. Read on for a recipe for three fruit limeades that you can really mix it up and do several different ways!

This post is not sponsored by the companies with products featured. There are some affiliate links in this post, affiliate links give a small portion of products purchased to this blog. Thank you for supporting this blog!

I work from home and this week was a lull between camps for my oldest. So, on a break from work we walked together to the local coffee shop. On the way I was trying to explain why I work and what I do to him so he could understand it a bit more… I also really wanted to impress so I shared a bit more:

example of three limeade flavors

Me: “My first job out of school was at a newspaper. Well, not my first job ever, that was Sonic [Drive-in Restaurant], but my first job out of college was at a newspaper. I’ve written for newspapers and for magazines!”

Him: “Yeah, but, I love Sonic.”

So, while I may not impress him or anyone else with my writing skills, those skills I learned at Sonic Drive-In have totally translated into making a ton of drink recipes. One of my drink recipes that seems to be directly related to my experience as a car hop is this recipe, a good ole classic, Limeade!

Homemade Fruit Syrup (Better Than Store Bought!)

Way back when I could fit into a size medium I loved the Cherry Limeades from Sonic, but these days the taste of that cherry syrup gives me heartburn rather than good feels. These three limeade versions are made with a homemade fruit syrup that doesn’t take too long to make and can sit in your fridge for about 2 weeks to make a lot of fun drink combinations.

I chose to make 3 different limeade versions so I created a fruit syrup out of blueberries, cherries, and strawberries. You can mix it up to any fruit really… though, if you prefer a citrus then skip making the syrup and just squeeze fresh fruit into your drink and add in a simple syrup.

Note: You can do the same with fresh fruit rather than frozen. You may need to increase the water a bit if so.

Ingredients for Fruit Syrup:

  • 12 oz frozen fruit of choice
  • 1 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

Directions for Fruit Syrup:

  1. Pour all three ingredients into a sauce pan (heavy bottom is best when working with sugar) and put over medium heat on stove top.
  2. Stir frequently so that sugar does not sit on the bottom of the pan and it dissolves completely.
  3. Cook for about 6-10 minutes or until the fruit has softened and sugar has fully dissolved.
  4. Strain through fine mesh sieve (squash the fruit to get all the good stuff!) reserving the liquid.
  5. Chill!

Note: Thinking ahead to the garnish… I chose to garnish my Strawberry Limeade and Blueberry Limeade with fresh fruit. But, I didn’t want fresh cherries as a garnish for the Cherry Limeade and I didn’t want Maraschino Cherries either, so instead I chose to pull out a few of the frozen cherries after they had soaked in the sugar and water mixture but before they got totally soft. I reserved a few of those cherries and put covered in the fridge to use as garnish later.

Limeade Times Three

You can make a variety of flavors of limeades! I made a Cherry Limeade, Blueberry Limeade, and a Strawberry Limeade. The directions for all three are the same!

Limeade Ingredients:

I’m not going to give exact proportions below because it’ll all depend on the size of your glass and your tastes.

  • Fruit Syrup
  • Limes
  • 7-UP
  • Garnish (fruit of choice)
  • Glass filled with ice
  • Straw/stirring spoon

Limeade Directions:

  1. Fill a glass with ice.
  2. Pour fruit syrup into the glass until it is about 1/4 the way full.
  3. Squeeze in 1/2 lime (you can add more to taste later if needed)
  4. Top with 7-UP
  5. Add garnish
  6. Stir and Serve!

Make it a cocktail!

Now, as delicious as this drink is without the addition of alcohol….it also makes a great base for some fun, easy adult-only drinks. Try one of the below variations (and drink responsibly!)

  1. Add in a shot of vodka. A great flavored vodka (no added sugar! Wild Roots makes delicious ones.) would be fantastic in this. Or,
  2. Add in a shot of rum. I’d go with a silver rum or if you’re feeling it, coconut or pineapple rum. Or,
  3. Substitute the lemon-lime soda with a sweet sparkling wine.

Do you have any drinks that hit you with some full-force nostalgia? Share in the comments below!

This drink was originally shared in a #nightcapwithjenni session on Instagram. Like beverage recipes as much as I do? Don’t forget to follow-along this upcoming Sunday around 6 PM PST on Instagram stories for my next installment of #nightcapwithjenni!

My love of beverages does not begin and end at cocktails. Many areas of my home are dedicated to my love of any and all beverages. So, when I had some requests for some non-alcoholic beverages to be shared in my #NightcapwithJenni series I happily obliged! This Mango and Pineapple Punch is such a fun NA punch recipe. We served it at an impromptu lunch party and it was a hit with kids and adults alike.

This post is not sponsored by the companies with products featured. There are some affiliate links in this post, affiliate links give a small portion of products purchased to this blog. Thank you for supporting this blog!

Ingredients for non-alcoholic mango and pineapple punch include Mango Nectar, Mango Sorbet, Pineapple Juice, Pineapple slices, and Sparkling Orange Mineral Water.

Is anyone else out there obsessed with Trader Joe’s? Like… OBSESSED. I seriously stumble onto so many great finds while shopping the aisles at my local TJs. This drink is no exception. I stopped in to pick up some items for a lunch of charcuterie boards, salad, and dessert. But, as I was walking down the juice aisle I became quickly inspired.

All the the items below can be found at Trader Joes! However, you can likely find good ingredient substitutes at any local grocery store. I served the punch from a pitcher just because that was what was available. This would look SO good in a punch bowl however!

When I created this drink for my #NightcapwithJenni I did a half-batch as it was serving fewer people. The full batch is included below, but it can easily be halved for smaller groups.

Mango and Pineapple Non-Alcoholic Punch served in a pitcher with prepped glasses filled with mango sorbet and garnished with pineapple.

Mango & Pineapple Punch – Non-Alcoholic Punch

Serves approximately 12-14 glasses

Ingredients:

  • 1 container of mango sorbet (approximately 33 oz)
  • 1 bottle of Mango Nectar (64 oz)
  • 2 cans of Pineapple Juice (16 oz)
  • 1 bottle of Orange Sparkling Mineral Water (approximately 33 oz)
  • Pineapple slices for garnish

Directions:

You will want to make this pretty much directly before serving. It comes together super quickly. If you need to prep some of it then go ahead and prep the pineapple slices and perhaps even scoop the sorbet into scoops and freeze them so you can simply drop the scoops before serving. Do not add the sparkling mineral water or sorbet until ready to serve.

  1. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out balls of the sorbet and put into a punch bowl. If you are using a pitcher as I did then you’ll likely want to do half of the sorbet in the pitcher and then use the other half directly into the serving glasses. It makes it easier to pour.
  2. Add in the bottle of mango nectar, cans of pineapple juice, and orange sparkling mineral water.
  3. Add in pineapple slices if using a punch bowl. Or, you can pre-garnish glasses for serving.
Mango and Pineapple Punch in glass

Want to give this punch a little more punch?

The below addition is intended for those of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.

This punch lends itself well to becoming a delicious rum based cocktail. Add in approximately 2 cups of silver rum and 1/2 cup of orange liquor to create a mango, pineapple, and rum punch sure to please a crowd.

Do you have any favorite Non-Alcoholic go-to beverages? Share in the comments below or @ me @JenniBost.

Don’t forget to follow-along this upcoming Sunday around 6 PM PST on Instagram stories for my next installment of #nightcapwithjenni!