Looking for a drink that’s fresh, fun, and fit for everyone? This Strawberry Refresher is packed with real strawberry flavor, easy to make, and perfect for any gathering—no alcohol required (unless you want it)!
This recipe was born out of one of my favorite cocktail recipes. I had just made a batch of Strawberry Gin Cocktails and I wanted the younger crowd to have something just as fun, without the booze. So I grabbed the same homemade strawberry syrup, swapped the gin for bubbles and voila: a super simple strawberry mocktail.
It’s become one of my go-to’s when we’re entertaining. Light, fruity and totally booze free, though I usually set out a little vodka or gin and a jigger for guests who want to spike theirs.
The best part? You can make the syrup ahead of time so it’s ready when you are. I’ve served it at showers, BBQs and casual brunches, it never disappoints. Simple, flavorful and fancy without the fuss.
Strawberry Refresher Ingredients
- Fresh Simple Strawberry Syrup: Make this simple syrup ahead of time and keep in the fridge for fabulous drinks all week long! For the strawberry puree syrup you will need fresh strawberries (though frozen will also work), sugar, lime juice and a little water).
- Favorite Mixer | I’m only giving suggestions here; feel free to use your favorite flavors! A traditional spritzer is made with a light-flavored seltzer or mineral water. My son enjoyed this with Ginger Ale. I think it would be fabulous as a Strawberry Lemonade with San Pellegrino’s Limonata, with a Lemon Lime drink, ginger beer, grapefruit soda, or club soda, splashed into limeade. You get the idea!
- Ice: use your favorite here, whole ice cubes or crushed ice.
- Garnish | Fresh strawberries and lime slices.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Strawberry Refresher
This Strawberry Refresher is more than simple, once you make the syrup, it is simply at your beck and call.
To make the syrup, blend the fresh or frozen strawberries, sugar, lime juice, and water in a blender until the sugars are dissolved and the mixture is syrupy.
Pour 2 oz of Strawberry syrup into a tall glass (16 oz) filled with ice.
Top with your favorite mixer, stir and serve with a straw, top with a fresh strawberry, wheel of lime and/or sprig of mint.
Strawberry Mocktail Variations
- Basil Fizz: Muddle a few basil leaves in the glass, then add syrup and top with sparkling water or club soda—fresh and herby.
- Coconut Splash: Pour in a splash of coconut water with syrup, then finish with lemon-lime soda or plain seltzer for a tropical twist.
- Cucumber Cooler: Add a few cucumber slices and a squeeze of lemon, then top with unflavored or cucumber-flavored seltzer—crisp and clean.
- Lemonade Spritz: Mix in a bit of lemonade before topping with club soda or sparkling lemon water for a tangy, bubbly drink.
- Limeade Sparkler: Stir in a little lime juice with syrup, then add lemon-lime soda or lime-flavored seltzer for a zesty kick.
- Mint Cooler: Drop in a few mint leaves, give them a gentle muddle, then top with club soda or mint-infused sparkling water—cool and refreshing.
- Orange Bliss: Pour in a splash of orange juice, then top with sparkling water or blood orange soda—light and citrusy.
- Rose Refresher: Add a few drops of rose water and top with tonic or berry-flavored sparkling water for a subtle floral note.
- Chia Fizz: Spoon in soaked chia seeds, then add syrup and finish with lemon seltzer or citrus soda—fun texture and lightly sweet.
- Açaí Refresher: Stir ½ teaspoon of acai powder into the strawberry syrup, add a splash of white grape juice and cold water or green tea, plus a little passion fruit juice if you have it. Shake with ice and serve over fresh or freeze-dried strawberries—your own Starbucks-style refresher aka “pink drink.”
More Easy Drink Recipes (non-alcoholic)
If you like this strawberry refresher, here are other non-alcoholic, kid-friendly drink recipes you might love, or try the same drink substituting this Blueberry Simple Syrup or Hibiscus Simple Syrup!
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade
- Blueberry Limeade (or Lemonade)
- Cranberry Spritzer
- Starbucks Copycat Passion Tea Lemonade
- Texas Tea (reduced sugar)
- Easy Chai Latte
- Best Hot Chocolate
More Like This Strawberry Refresher Recipe
Fresh strawberries are so versatile and add such a bright pop of sunshine to any recipe!
- Strawberry Quick Bread! Sooo delicious and moist!
- How about an Old-fashioned strawberry shortcake recipe, or try this chocolate lovers shortcake with fresh strawberries.
- Slice up a few pieces and add to a pitcher or infuser of water with mint and a few lemon slices.
- Strawberries are not just for eating either, they are great for natural skin care! Try my Strawberry Sugar Scrub or my DIY Strawberry Lip Scrub — so delicious you will want to eat them!
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Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 oz fresh strawberry syrup
- 6-8 oz Ginger ale lemon or limeade, dry sodas, grapefruit soda, club soda, tonic water, sparkling water, seltzer water (flavored or not), Ginger beer, get the idea?
- Ice & 16 oz glass
- Garnish with fresh strawberry wheel of lime or a little mint
Strawberry Syrup
- 1 cup fresh strawberries washed and rough chopped (up to 2 cups if desired)
- 1 cup all-natural cane sugar see notes – may use white sugar too
- 2 teaspoons lime juice* or up to ½ cup; about 3 large limes
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
Strawberry Syrup
- Place strawberries, sugar, lime juice and water in a blender and process until smooth and sugar has dissolved.It'll take about 2 minutes using all-natural cane sugar, could take a little less time using white sugar. Mixture should be smooth and syrup like.1 cup fresh strawberries, 1 cup all-natural cane sugar, 2 teaspoons lime juice*, 2 tablespoons water
- Refrigerate until ready to use in airtight container. Store in fridge up to 3 weeks.
Strawberry Refresher
- Pour 2 oz Strawberry syrup into a tall glass filled with ice.2 oz fresh strawberry syrup
- Top with your favorite mixer, stir and serve with a straw, top with a fresh strawberry, sprig of mint, and/or wheel of lime.6-8 oz Ginger ale, Ice & 16 oz glass, Garnish with fresh strawberry
Notes
- Basil Fizz: Muddle a few basil leaves in the glass, then add syrup and top with sparkling water or club soda—fresh and herby.
- Coconut Splash: Pour in a splash of coconut water with syrup, then finish with lemon-lime soda or plain seltzer for a tropical twist.
- Cucumber Cooler: Add a few cucumber slices and a squeeze of lemon, then top with unflavored or cucumber-flavored seltzer—crisp and clean.
- Lemonade Spritz: Mix in a bit of lemonade before topping with club soda or sparkling lemon water for a tangy, bubbly drink.
- Limeade Sparkler: Stir in a little lime juice with syrup, then add lemon-lime soda or lime-flavored seltzer for a zesty kick.
- Mint Cooler: Drop in a few mint leaves, give them a gentle muddle, then top with club soda or mint-infused sparkling water—cool and refreshing.
- Orange Bliss: Pour in a splash of orange juice, then top with sparkling water or blood orange soda—light and citrusy.
- Rose Refresher: Add a few drops of rose water and top with tonic or berry-flavored sparkling water for a subtle floral note.
- Chia Fizz: Spoon in soaked chia seeds, then add syrup and finish with lemon seltzer or citrus soda—fun texture and lightly sweet.
- Açaí Refresher: Stir ½ teaspoon of acai powder into the strawberry syrup, add a splash of white grape juice and cold water or green tea, plus a little passion fruit juice if you have it. Shake with ice and serve over fresh or freeze-dried strawberries—your own Starbucks-style refresher!
Nutrition
Toni
This is such an amazing refresher! My family loved it!
Yay!
Kelley
This was so good and just like Starbucks! This will be my new go to drink this Summer!
So glad you loved it, Kelley!
Shadi Hasanzade
Love how easy this recipe is. Can’t wait to try it this weekend.thank you for the recipe!
Thank you!
Tara
Such a refreshing drink and definitely perfect for summer! You had me at the fresh strawberry syrup.
Right! It’s so bright and tasty!
Tavo
This sounds fantastic. Love that you used ginger ale; I love it.
Thanks