Fast Easy Tropical Cooler Recipes

TROPICAL COOLER

Steps:

• Just before serving, combine the first 4 ingredients in a punch bowl. If desired, garnish with fruit or edible flowers.

MELON-CUCUMBER COOLERS

Steps:

• Combine the melon, cucumber, sugar, lemon juice and 1 cup water in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, using a ladle to push the mixture through.
• Add the vodka and liqueur to the pitcher and stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. Divide among ice-filled glasses; garnish with cucumber spears.

TIKI COOLER

Steps:

• Place a few ice cubes in a pitcher; add pineapple juice, coconut milk, lime juice, and almond-flavored syrup and stir until chilled. Strain mixture and pour into 4 glasses.
• Top each glass with club soda; mocktail will foam up.
• Dust each mocktail with nutmeg. Garnish with a lime wheel, sprig of mint, and umbrella.

WATERMELON WINE COOLERS

Steps:

• Stir together 16 ounces chilled dry rosé, 8 ounces each blood orange soda and watermelon juice and 1 ounce lime juice in a pitcher with ice.

BOURBON COOLERS

Steps:

• Combine 6 ounces each bourbon and fresh orange juice in a large cocktail shaker. Add 5 to 6 tablespoons pure maple syrup and fill with ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 1 minute, then strain into 6 chilled champagne flutes. Top with your favorite dry sparkling white wine and garnish each drink with an orange peel twist.

SPICY TROPICAL COOLERS

Steps:

• Make the jalapeno syrup: Bring the sugar, 2/3 cup water and half of the jalapeno slices to a simmer in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, muddle the remaining jalapeno slices in a large liquid measuring cup with a wooden spoon. Add the pineapple juice; let sit while the syrup cools.
• Strain the jalapeno syrup and pineapple juice mixture into a pitcher. Stir in the vodka, mango nectar and lime juice and refrigerate until ready to serve. Pour into ice-filled glasses; garnish with skewers of pineapple, jalapeno and mango.

PRICKLY PEAR COOLERS

Steps:

• Halve 2 pounds prickly pears (about 8) lengthwise, scoop out the flesh and chop. Mix with 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan; let sit until juicy, 5 minutes. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat. Mash the fruit and let sit 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and refrigerate the syrup until cool, 1 hour. Combine the cooled syrup, 1 1/2 cups tequila, 1 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 cups cold seltzer. Serve over ice.

FAST & EASY TROPICAL COOLER

Steps:

• Add ginger ale to drink mix in 1-qt. plastic or glass pitcher; stir until mix is dissolved.
• Pour into 3 glasses.
• Serve immediately.