This non-alcoholic cucumber punch is the perfect party drink for baby showers, backyard BBQs, and cooling down when your AC just isn’t cutting it. It’s super fast and only includes a few ingredients so you can mix this mocktail up any time. Originally published May 26, 2024.
Table of Contents
I walked into our bedroom yesterday to find Eric going through the drawer of his nightstand. He had already dumped everything out and was starting to refill it with “keeper” items:
- a giant rusty screw
- a company directory for his old job
- a giant cord that he admittedly has no idea what its for
- broken watch
- a giant ziplock bag containing a catch-all dish (grape-bunch-shaped), a Mexican peso, and a decade-old cough drop.
- 10,000 pens
“Eric why do you need your old company directory, you don’t even work there anymore.” Fine, throw it out. “Seriously? That’s all it takes to persuade you? How about this giant rusty screw?” No I need that.
A few minutes of heckling later (“really, you need Star Wars playing cards accessible from your bedside?”), he finally bursts out, “Karen, I don’t think you understand the purpose of this drawer.”
CLEARLY NOT.
What about you? Do you have any Weird Stuff in your nightstand? I honestly don’t, but that’s only because my nightstand is not a nightstand, it’s a yellow barstool. I guess the fact that I have a completely irrational piece of furniture in lieu of a nightstand makes up for my lack of awkward nightstand paraphernalia.
Okay, update. I wrote this before I actually looked on my night-barstool. Here’s what’s on it right now:
That’s right. I’m rockin’ the Rod cassette tapes. My dad was throwing these out a while back and I wanted to keep them for white elephant gifts. I guess I’ll add it to the collection.
Sweet, tart cucumber lime mocktails
So are these photos giving you guys flashbacks to just a couple weeks ago when I posted this Basil Lemonade? Who’s ready for summer, grilling, and tart drinks? This girl.
I was at a baby shower a few years ago and this cucumber lime punch was served. I think I drank about half of it single-handedly. Soooo good, with a perfectly light cucumber aftertaste. Plus, you can’t get much easier than this, only 4 ingredients:
You can make it a few hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to serve. I like it even better that way because the cucumber flavor has some time to come through. This is always a hit at parties!
Key ingredients that pack a punch
- In my tests, I liked the taste of diet lemon-lime soda better than full-sugar. Plus, you know, fewer calories when you’re mainlining this like I do. You can use name brand (7up) or whatever hilarious name your local store brand is called.
- Frozen limeade gives this even more amazing tart lime flavor.
- Don’t skip the sliced cucumber! If you’ve never had it in a drink let me tell you what, you’re about to go straight into full relaxation mode. Cucumbers must be relaxing, otherwise why would people put them on their eyes at spas??
How to make cucumber lime mocktails
Grab your ingredients. Technically there are 5 if you include ice and the optional lime slices, but worst case scenario you really only need three.
Don’t hate me because this is not diet soda. I tried both and liked diet better, but only got a picture of this one. Diet all the way dude!
Add ingredients to your pitcher (or crystal punch bowl, if you’re fancy like that) in this order:
- Ice
- Soda
- Frozen limeade (just shloonk it on in there)
- Sliced cucumbers
- Lime wedges
Stir. Serve. That’s it!
What to do with leftover punch
Since this mocktail has carbonation from the lemon lime soda, it’s best to store leftovers in the same 2 liter bottles the soda came in. Closing the cap tightly will help the bubbles last longer. Even if it’s less bubbly after a day or two, it’s still delicious and perfectly fine to drink. You could add some fresh soda or seltzer water if you wanted to up the fizz. Store the cucumber slices separately if you like them crisp.
You can also freeze leftovers! Make sure that if you’re storing the punch in a bottle or container that you leave extra space, since the soda will expand as it freezes and you don’t want it to explode (and it literally will if there’s no room for the carbon dioxide to go). Another great option is pouring it into ice cube trays. Then you have delicious lime ice cubes for your summer drinks! Either way, leave the cucumber and lime wedges out.
More refreshing drinks
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
Easy Cucumber Lime Punch
Ingredients
- 1 tray ice
- 2 liters DIET lemon-lime soda
- 12 ounces limeade, 1 can, frozen
- 1 cucumber, sliced thin
- fresh lime wedges , optional for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher or bowl, add as much ice as you want. (The more ice you add, the more watered down the drink will be as it melts, of course.)
- Add the soda and the frozen limeade.
- Add all of the sliced cucumbers and lime wedges (or reserve some to garnish individual glasses).
- Stir together until the limeade melts.
- If you serve it right away, the cucumber flavor will be light. I like to let it sit for an hour or two in the fridge because I like a stronger cucumber flavor. This drink is nice for parties because you can make it ahead and pull it out right when the party starts.
This cucumber limeade recipe is going on my menu for my Brunch on the deck with my girl friends – right beside the Mimosas! Thanks!
If using regular lemon lime soda, would you suggest adjusting the lime or limeade ratio so it won’t be too sweet? If so, any advice? Diet soda makes me sick and does strange things to my system. Thanks!
If using these measurements, approximately how many people does this serve?
Hi Clair! I’ve never measured it out, but I would say one batch of this serves about 10.
This sounds so good! I’d like to make it for my birthday BBQ. How many does one batch serve?
Great question Whitney! I would say this serves between 9-12, depending on how thirsty your guests are!
Can you make it without the ice to chill in the fridge , then add ice while serving it ? Anyone . how much vodka per batch ? Thank you
Hi Kit, yes absolutely make it without the ice first if you are making it ahead! Can’t say for the amount of vodka, sorry! I’m really not qualified since I don’t drink! Enjoy Kit!
How important is it that you use DIET soda?
Thank you!
Hey Jennifer! It will be quite sweet if you don’t use diet. It will still be good, the lime just won’t have as much punch.
I can’t say enough about the, Cucumber, Lime, VODKA punch! I made a test batch the night before our Summer Party. The 1/2 batch passed the test…my test group drained the pitcher! I used Diet 7up as you suggested and it was perfect…. not too sweet at all! I ended up making 4 batches that night. The cucumber made it so refreshing! I’m so glad I found your blog!!!
Ooh good idea Lisa! I don’t drink but an adult version of this punch is genius! I’m glad you liked it :) Thanks for coming back tot comment!!
Did you add vodka to the existing recipe, or did you replace some of the diet soda?
i’m wondering the same? any tips?
Hey Keri, I’m so sorry, I don’t drink alcohol and never have, so I have literally no input :(
how much vodka did you use for one batch?
I was linked to this site suggesting this drink as a vodka drink but without actual quantities. I’ve made a few trial runs and this is what I’ve landed on. Thought I’d share.
1 can of limeade
2 cups (16oz) of vodka
1 english cucumber
1 liter of diet lemon-lime soda
You can cut the cucumbers the day before and store in a zip lock bag. I used a 2mm slicing disk last time and I wouldn’t go thinner than that. But I think the 2mm worked great, but you could go thicker. You can mix the vodka and limeade at anytime in a container and store in the freezer.
About 3-4 hours before you are ready to serve add the cucumbers to the vodka/limeade mixture. Combine and put the mixture back in the freezer. I have not tested doing this more 6 hours. I don’t know if the cucumbers would get weird. It is important that the cucumbers have a few hours to soak in the mixture, otherwise you won’t get that great cucumber taste.
When I’m ready to serve I add 1 liter of soda to the cucumber/limeade/vodka mixture and stir. I don’t add ice to the pitcher because I’d rather control how much ice goes in each cup.
I then serve in 9oz cups. This serves around 12. And you could stretch even further by adding a bit more soda to the mixture. (I need to get an actual count next time. If I do I’ll update that here.)
I fill each cup 80% full of sonic/cruncy/pellet/crushed ice. The mixture will be quite boozy so the small ice helps to dilute a bit. I also make sure each cup gets a generous amount of cucumbers. I serve this with an umbrella, so they have a little toothpick to pickup the cucumbers with to eat, instead of using their fingers.
Here is the bonus. Those cucumbers are going to have a bite! They’ve been soaking in vodka/limeade for hours! The amount of cucumber slices I put in this drink seems insane. But I’ve never had a slice leftover. People reach inside the pitcher to get the last few slices that stuck to the wall.
If your group is not used to drinking boozy drinks, you might want to add the full 2 liters of soda (or cut the amount of vodka…but adding more soda to taste is easier). But I’ve made this for several large groups and pretty much everyone said it was their new favorite of all the drinks i’ve made. Which is great because it’s by far the easiest to whip up of all the drinks I’ve made.
Thanks for all the feedback Donna, this is awesome! So glad you’re enjoying it!
I made this today for a PEO lunch meeting. It was a big hit! Very light and refreshing and not too sweet.
As far as bedside tables go, your husband comes by it naturally. Chips nightstand (just on top now – we’re not talking about what’s in the drawers): 3 flashlights, some sort of mini blowtorch (yes, I’m serious), 3 pocketknives, multiple old credit cards and gift cards, headphones, assorted cords (lots of assorted cords), Consumer Reports magazines from the last couple years, a Garmin GPS, a picture frame Jessie gave him about 10 years ago and still has the original picture that was sold with it, x-rays of his finger before and after surgery, another pocket knife(!), a book about bears attacking people in Yellowstone park, two books about fishing in Montana and his good watch. Sounds like he might have Eric beat.