Refreshing Drinks for July 4th

July 4th is shaping up to be enjoyable and simple, especially when it comes to family-friendly beverages. Anastasiia Plaksii, a mom from Tampa, Florida, has shared a creative drink idea that uses just Gatorade and Sprite to add some festive flair. Her TikTok recipe has taken off, garnering an impressive 3.3 million views this week.

In the video, Plaksii demonstrates filling an ice cube tray halfway with a red fruit punch Gatorade, while the other half gets filled with the blue “cool blue” flavor. She then pours a 28-fluid ounce bottle of “Lightning Blast” Gatorade into a ziplock bag and flattens it before freezing both the bag and tray.

Once frozen, she removes the bag of white Gatorade and crushes it, using a plate to help. She places some of the crushed goodness into a wine glass, adding three blue and three red ice cubes before topping it off with lemon-lime soda.

After adding straws and giving it a swirl, her colorful drink is ready to share. Plaksii playfully invites viewers to make their own viral drink for the holiday, suggesting it might keep guests lingering longer at your gathering.

She plans to whip up these festive drinks for friends and family, especially knowing her 2.5-year-old son will be thrilled (and slightly bouncing off the walls) from the sugar rush after a few naps. This July 4th celebration promises to be a fun way to beat the heat, especially with many Americans looking for cool refreshments.

Plaksii noted that the response to her recipe has been enthusiastic, with plenty of viewers tagging friends and expressing eagerness to try it at their own parties. Comments like “Let’s make it!” and “What a great idea!” show a buzz of excitement. One commenter even remarked, “That’s so clever! I might have to try it!”

Interestingly, some viewers were hoping for a twist on the mocktail, asking, “Where’s the vodka?” Plaksii thoughtfully recommends that adults consider adding vodka or sparkling wine for an extra kick.