While much of the country is slipping into the 40s or 50s and expecting snow, Louisiana is enjoying an extra week of summer — the perfect excuse to recreate a spritzer I’ve been craving.
This spritzer was inspired by a grapefruit soda I discovered at a vendor inside H-Mart, a Korean supermarket, in Virginia.
It was so good that one sip made me a grapefruit believer.
To make this refreshing spritzer at home, follow these simple steps:
- Make simple syrup. Combine equal parts granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir constantly until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and let cool. Simple syrup is handy to have on hand for sweetening beverages or moistening cakes and will keep up to a month refrigerated in a sterilized container.
- Variation: For a mint-infused syrup, combine 1.5 oz fresh mint (packed), 1.5 cups sugar, and 1.5 cups water. Heat and strain as you would a normal simple syrup.
- Juice the grapefruits. I recommend using a citrus juicer and straining the juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds and excess pulp. I tested blending versus juicing and prefer juicing — blending can add extra bitterness and requires straining the pulp, which takes more time. Note that grapefruit juice becomes slightly more bitter if stored for a day or two, so refrigerate accordingly based on your taste preference.
- Sweeten the juice. Add the cooled simple syrup to the grapefruit juice to your desired sweetness and stir to combine.
- Add ice and sparkling water. I like a neutral sparkling water with a softer fizz; San Pellegrino works well if you prefer gentler carbonation. Equal parts juice and sparkling water is a good starting point — adjust to taste if you like a lighter or stronger flavor.
- Serve and enjoy. Pour into chilled glasses over ice. Garnish with fresh mint leaves, rosemary, and/or grapefruit slices if desired.
📖 Recipe
Grapefruit Spritzer (non-alcoholic)
This recipe is easy and refreshing, balancing tart grapefruit and gentle bitterness with sweetness and fizz.
Prep Time
10
10
Cook Time
5
5
Total Time
15
15
Yield:
6 (16) fl.oz servings
6 (16) fl.oz servings
Ingredients
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1½ cups water
- 6–7 grapefruits (juiced)
- 48 fl. oz neutral sparkling water
Optional:
- Mint, rosemary, or grapefruit slices for garnish
Instructions
-
Make the simple syrup. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the sugar and water. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool.
-
Juice the grapefruits. Use a citrus juicer and strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds and excess pulp.
-
Sweeten the juice. Add cooled simple syrup to the grapefruit juice, adjusting to taste, and stir to combine.
-
Serve with ice and sparkling water. Combine equal parts grapefruit juice and sparkling water, pour over ice, stir gently, and enjoy.
-
Optional: Garnish with fresh mint, rosemary, and/or grapefruit slices.
Notes
Simple syrup can be stored in a sterilized container in the refrigerator for up to one month. Grapefruit juice tends to become more bitter the longer it sits; if you prefer that flavor, allow the juice to chill in the fridge for a day or two before combining with sparkling water.
Equipments Recommended
- Juicer
- Fine mesh strainer
- Wine glass or serving glass
Nutrition
Serving: 16fl oz
|
Calories: 50kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 13g
|
Calories: 50kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 13g
Keywords: grapefruit, refreshing, spritzer, summer
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