Are you guys ready for summer? Blah, I'm not. Here in Phoenix, summer is our indoor season, because it's just too darn hot to go outside most of the time. But no matter how hot it gets, here's a refreshing and delicious drink to help cool you down, a Watermelon Sparkler. Make as a refreshing non-alcoholic drink or follow the variation to make it an amazing sparkling summer cocktail.
I love having watermelon in the house as often as possible. When I buy one, I chunk it up, and keep a big bowl of bite-sized pieces in the fridge, ready for easy, healthy snacking.
I don't even like to let that juice that pools on the cutting board go to waste. That's what lead to the invention of a summertime favorite in our house, a refreshing drink we call a Watermelon Sparkler.
Simply save some of that fabulously pink fruit juice the next time you carve a watermelon. (If you want to make these for a crowd, use a blender to liquify the watermelon, then run the juice through a fine mesh strainer.)
Pour a few inches of the watermelon juice in the bottom of a glass. Fill the rest of the glass with either sparkling water or diet lemon-lime soda. If you're very careful as you pour the sugar-free clear beverage in the glass, you'll get this gorgeous ombre effect thanks to the different densities of the liquids.
Top with a fun umbrella (like these adorable watermelon themed ones from Wilton).
Or make some star-shaped watermelon ice cubes (check out my guest post on Catch my Party for details) for Memorial day or the 4th of July!
I'm making these for our culdesac's block party this Memorial day.
For the grown-ups, these are absolutely amazing spiked with vodka. Or made with proseco instead of the sparkling water. I speak from experience. Yummy, fun experience.
Have a safe, special, and fun Memorial day weekend, everyone!