Sparkling Cantaloupe Lemonade

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If you’re looking for a drink that not only tastes but looks like summer in a glass, then look no further.

Sparkling Cantaloupe Lemonade
Photo: Greg DuPree
Hands On Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs 20 mins
Yield:
8 serves

This spicy melon sparkler combines a peppercorn-spiked simple syrup with puréed cantaloupe and sparkling water for a delicious, bright twist on your average lemonade. If you want to tote this along for a picnic or barbecue, make the cantaloupe-lemon-syrup mixture and wait to add the sparkling water until you’re ready to drink up. Shopping tip: look for pink peppercorns near the spices at your grocery store.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 3 tablespoons pink peppercorns, plus more for garnish

  • 3 cups chopped cantaloupe

  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from 4 to 5 lemons), chilled

  • 5 cups cold sparkling water or club soda

  • Lemon slices, for garnish

  • Boozy Sparkling Cantaloupe Lemonade (Serves 8 to 10): Prepare recipe as directed, stirring in 1½ cups vodka or gin just before serving.

Directions

  1. Combine sugar, peppercorns, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves; let cool completely. Strain mixture and discard peppercorns. Chill until very cold, about 2 hours.

  2. Place cantaloupe in a blender and process until very smooth, about 1 minute. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing on solids to remove juice (you should have 1 cup juice). Discard solids.

  3. Stir together chilled syrup, cantaloupe juice, and lemon juice in a large pitcher and chill until ready to serve.

  4. Just before serving, add sparkling water to chilled juice mixture. Serve over ice, garnished with lemon slices and pink peppercorns.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

124 Calories
0g Fat
32g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Calories 124
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g 0%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 1g

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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