A Life in Food by real-life Chef Cheryl Bennett
As the temperatures climb, the need for a cold drink becomes a necessity. While a tall glass of iced tea is lovely, sometimes a boozy beverage is where it’s at. These 30 easy summer cocktails will have you sipping on a refreshing libation in no time.
You’ll find everything from wine cocktails to frozen bourbon here, so snag your spirit of choice and let’s toast to the summer!
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Strawberry sangria – rosé wine mixed with fresh strawberries, lemons and limes makes a refreshing and simple pitcher drink that is perfect for summer.
Summertime means pitcher drinks. Strawberry sangria uses perfectly ripe, plump strawberries with rosé wine to make a pretty cocktail that is great for entertaining. For a delicious and unique sangria cocktail, try this Rosé Summer Sangria with Elderflower.
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Memorial Day Food is all about fun and easy recipes to share with friends and family. It’s about being outside and enjoying a bit of time off from work and school. Warm weather, simple recipes, drink in hand and sunshine on your face – welcome to the unofficial kick-off to summer.
From burgers to side dishes, salads and appetizers, this is the kind of spread we put out on Memorial Day. Any summer holiday around here looks like this. We have the grill going all day long cooking up grilled vegetables, burgers and even grilled bread. The temps are high, so we do most of the cooking outside. This is the food of summer. Low key, easy recipes that don’t take much time or energy to make.
Fun and easy recipes for Memorial Day
The lamb burger patty is seasoned with middle eastern spices and it is topped with a tahini yogurt sauce. While the burger is not complicated, it is full of complex flavor.
Caprese eggplant stacks are irresistible. Roasted eggplant brushed with flavorful pesto, gooey, melted fresh mozzarella and perfectly ripe summer tomatoes. It’s a hit with vegetarians and meat eaters alike!
I wanted to create something that reminded me of pork tacos. It had to have some heat, a vinegary bite from pickles, and the creaminess of avocado that you find it good tacos. It has all that and mixed with the juicy pork burger, it is absolutely delicious.
Lamb loin chops on the grill are a quick and easy dinner. They cook in about 12 minutes, which makes this recipe a winner for weeknight dinners.
Grilled chicken with taco seasoning, grilled peppers, shredded cheese, avocado and salty, crunchy tortilla strips on a bed of crisp romaine lettuce make this salad completely satisfying.
Salty bacon, creamy goat cheese and sweet spicy pepper jam make this Bacon Goat Cheese Burger incredibly tasty. It is packed with flavor and is one of the best burgers I’ve ever made. We really love a good burger in our house and this one was a definite winner.
Potato salad gets a spicy makeover when it meets all the components for pimento or pimiento cheese. Paired with fried chicken tenders on a cheddar dill potato biscuit, it makes the perfect picnic lunch.
Stuffed tomatoes are a great way to use ripe, summer tomatoes. They are plentiful in most gardens this time of year and if you are fortunate enough to have them; odds are, you are looking for ways to use them up. Try stuffing them with a mixture of flavorful herbs and breadcrumb mixed with crab meat. For a Greek twist, try them stuffed with orzo, feta and Kalamata olives
This grain salad is full of summer vegetables. Whole grains provide a satisfying, chewy texture to this salad, while the vegetables give it great crunch. Herbs and red wine vinaigrette make this salad super flavorful.
Quinoa salad with fresh mango, avocado and black beans, dressed with a zesty lime vinaigrette
Sauteed poblano peppers and onions, a perfect topping for burgers or tacos. This version is dairy-free. To make traditional rajas, add Mexican cream.
Grilled Vegetables with Red Pepper Dip is a tasty summer twist on the traditional vegetable tray.
My family puts out just as many desserts as food offerings. Sometimes, the dessert table is even bigger than the food table. Everyone likes to nibble a cookie or a bite of this and a bite of that, so we usually have quite a few to choose from. The best part is the leftover treats that get packed up and sent home with everyone. Whether you prefer no bake desserts or portable treats that can fit into little hands, there is something for everyone on this list.
Sweet treats for celebrating Memorial Day or any of the red, white and blue summer holidays.
No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Bars have a chocolate crust with a thin layer of melted chocolate in between for that something extra. Super creamy, silky smooth filling swirled with fresh blueberry sauce make these bars as pretty as they are delicious
This Cherry Crisp recipe is made from scratch with only a handful of ingredients and is one of those obligatory summer desserts that I for one, happily make. Making a crisp couldn’t be easier. It’s nothing more than mixing a few things together and sliding it into the oven.
Fresh summer berries mixed with coconut yogurt for a delicious frozen summer treat
Blueberry Mini Pies are the epitome of summer. Ripe, juicy blueberries fill delicious buttery dough for the perfect hand-held pie. Perfect for lunch bags, afternoon treats or beach day picnics, these mini pies are small enough for little hands and great portion control for big hands
No bake strawberry cheesecake bars with a buttery cookie crust. Fresh strawberry sauce swirled through a fluffy cheesecake filling.
Simple vanilla cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting are the perfect cupcakes for any occasion. From birthday parties to summer backyard BBQ’s, these cupcakes will become your go-to recipe. Made from scratch, with zero artificial coloring, this strawberry cream cheese frosting is the perfect complement to this easy vanilla cupcake.
Low carb blueberry cheesecake parfaits are the perfect make ahead no bake dessert for summer gatherings.
Handheld cherry pies, these are the pie for crust lovers!
For times when dessert is necessary, but turning on the oven is not. It can be made with almost any fruit.
This recipe is more of an Eton mess, but if you leave out the meringue cookies, it is more “foolish”.
Either way, it’s delicious and easy.
What is a holiday weekend without a cocktail or two? There are a couple of non-alcoholic beverages on this list too, as well as ways to turn the cocktails into mocktails. Whether you want your drinks leaded or unleaded, there are nine drinks to choose from.
Cocktails and Mocktails for celebrating Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day or any summer gathering.
Blueberry Spritzer is a light, refreshing, summery drink that you could sip on all afternoon. Spritzers are a great warm weather drink because they don’t leave you feeling weighed down and they are quick and easy to make. The other nice thing about a drink like this is the calorie count
This easy strawberry daiquiri recipe is made from fresh strawberries and has only five ingredients. This daiquiri recipe is made from scratch, it is the absolute best strawberry daiquiri and the only recipe you’ll ever need. No mixes, just a handful of ingredients, a blender and it’s an instant party.
Rosé sangria is my summer drink. It’s light, crisp and enjoyed chilled to combat the heat of summer. This is a great way to enjoy a less expensive bottle of rosé. Filled with berries, stone fruit and lemons, it is the ultimate summer sangria.
Looking for a really good spritzer recipe? This strawberry spritzer is light and as far as spritzer recipes go, it’s pretty straightforward. These types of drinks are not heavy on the alcohol, which makes them ideal for warmer days. Like a sangria, it is a great option when having a gathering. It is full of strawberry flavor and the lovely pink hue comes not only from the rosé wine, but also the berries themselves
A wine spritzer is a summertime staple. Light and refreshing, this strawberry cherry wine spritzer is a tasty way to brighten up a bit of wine and club soda. Meet your new deliciously easy summer drink.
This cherry rum slushie has quickly become my favorite summer sip for a few reasons. First and foremost, it is delicious! The fact that it is only 3 ingredients and it comes together in roughly five minutes flat is a close second. The best reason – you can make a big batch and serve everyone at once.
Summer berry smash made with fresh fruit and watermelon puree is like summer in a glass. It is similar to a spritzer, with the addition of vodka. Fresh mint adds a cooling note to the drink. This is a great recipe for easy entertaining. Invite a few friends over and make a pitcher.
Mint Lemonade has always been one of my summertime thirst-quenching beverages. Adding a sprig of lemon thyme to the mix really kicks up that herbaceous taste. This Lemon Thyme Mint Lemonade is great for sipping during the heat of summer while you are outside enjoying the sunshine.
This herbal iced tea recipe will help you beat the heat this summer. Made with fresh fruit juice and fruity tea, it’s the perfect thirst quencher for summertime. Make a big pitcher for the whole family to enjoy.
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious and safe holiday weekend <3
A wine spritzer is a summertime staple. Light and refreshing, this strawberry cherry wine spritzer is a tasty way to brighten up a bit of wine and club soda. Meet your new deliciously easy summer drink.
This is the time of year when we have backyard bbq’s, we host outdoor gatherings of all kinds and have summer parties just because we want to see our friends. Make a pitcher or two of these to serve at your next summer soirée.
This recipe is made with white wine, but you could easily swap it with rosé or vodka. Looking for a mocktail? I have a variation for an alcohol-free drink as well to make it kid-friendly.
Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of the links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
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Strawberry daiquiris are the quintessential summer cocktail. Fresh strawberries are in season, which makes them perfect for this drink. A splash of lime juice, a bit of simple syrup and some ice are added to a blender with ripe summer strawberries to make a delicious and refreshing beverage.
*This post has been recently updated from its original publication date of 8/15/12
Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the link, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
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Blueberry Spritzer is a light, refreshing, summery drink that you could sip on all afternoon. Spritzers are a great warm weather drink because they don’t leave you feeling weighed down and they are quick and easy to make.
The other nice thing about a spritzer like this is the calorie count. It’s on the lower end, so if you are watching your calories, you aren’t going to use up a third of them on one drink. And just look at that color. The blueberry syrup gives this cocktail the most beautiful color. Who doesn’t like a pretty drink?
Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the link, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.
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Looking for a really good spritzer recipe? This strawberry spritzer is light and as far as spritzer recipes go, it’s pretty straightforward. These types of drinks are not heavy on the alcohol, which makes them ideal for warmer days.
Like a sangria, it is a great option when having a gathering. It is full of strawberry flavor and the lovely pink hue comes not only from the rosé wine, but also the berries themselves. This is the perfect summer sipper. Summer is a great time to make a variety of spritzer recipes because there is so much fruit in season. Quick and easy to make, this drink only has a handful of ingredients. So, make a pitcher and invite a few friends over!
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please refer to my disclosure page.
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A white wine spritzer is the perfect party drink any time of the year. It’s light and refreshing, which makes it a great cocktail for holidays when you are enjoying parties, but don’t want to overindulge. Blood oranges are in season during the winter months, as is most citrus. If you can’t find blood oranges, regular oranges or cara cara oranges make a great substitute. Wine spritzers are a great choice if you are trying to watch your calorie intake while still being able to enjoy a wine cocktail.
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Apple cider bourbon cocktails are perfect for fall. Fresh apple cider is readily available and bourbon is its perfect match. With a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon, this apple cider and bourbon drink will be your new fall favorite.
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This Mint Julep Kombucha Cocktail recipe has 4 ingredients and takes 5 minutes to make. Try this twist on a classic mint julep while you’re watching the derby or when you just want to wear a big hat and feel a little fancy.
A kombucha cocktail? I already know what you’re thinking. Before you roll your eyes at me, let me plead my case. I’ve been on a bit of a kombucha kick for awhile now. So much so that I’ve started brewing my own at home, which lead me to wonder what else I could do with it. If you are unfamiliar with kombucha, let me explain what it is. It’s fermented tea. Does that mean it’s alcoholic on its own? Barely. The alcohol content is so low (we’re talking about a half of one percent), that it isn’t an issue for me. Clearly, since I just threw a shot of bourbon in it.
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