This Sonic Ocean Water recipe is a must have for summer! Sprite or 7Up mixed with coconut extract for the perfect tropical mocktail! A little bit of food dye and some fish gummies really make it look like ocean water!
Originally posted August 8, 2013. Updated April 21, 2021.
What’s your go-to Sonic drink?
I’m a vanilla Diet Coke girl most days but every once in awhile I crave an Ocean Water. Especially during summer because it just tastes like something you should be drinking on a beach.
💧 What Is Sonic’s Ocean Water?
If you’ve never had Ocean Water, it’s a bubbly coconut lime drink that you can order at the fast-food chain Sonic. It is delicious and tastes like summer in a cup!
There’s no caffeine in it and you can even get a diet version if you ask for Sprite Zero instead of regular Sprite!
For this at home version, you can also use Sprite Zero or Diet 7Up to make it lower calorie.
🌊 Ingredients
- 3 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Coconut Flavoring
- 3 drops blue food coloring
- 2 12-ounce cans lemon lime soda – 7Up, Sprite, something like that
- Swedish Fish – not required but aren’t they cute?!
👩🏼🍳 Instructions
- Make simple syrup. Combine water and sugar in a small microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave for about 1 minute. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Make Ocean Water. Pour the sugar mixture into a pitcher. Add coconut extract, foot coloring, and soda. Stir to combine.
- Serve. Pour over ice with Swedish fish gummy candies!
⏲ How Long Is Ocean Water Good For?
This drink is best as soon as it’s made. Because it’s made with carbonated soda, the bubbles will start to go away as soon as you make it.
If you need to make it ahead, you can make the sugar water syrup and store it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.
More Kid Friendly Drink Recipes
- Homemade Shamrock Shake
- Homemade Sports Drink
- Sparkling Cranberry Sweet Tea
- Homemade Strawberry Milkshakes
- Reese’s Pieces Milkshake
- Cantaloupe Agua Fresca
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Ocean Water
This Sonic copycat Ocean Water recipe is a must have for summer! Sprite or 7Up mixed with coconut extract for the perfect tropical mocktail! A little bit of food dye to make and some fish gummies really make it look like ocean water!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 3 drops blue food coloring
- 2 12 ounce cans lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine water and sugar. Heat in microwave for about 1 minutes. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Pour the sugar mixture into a pitcher. Add coconut extract, food coloring, and soda. Stir to combine. Enjoy over ice.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 114Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 20mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 0gSugar: 29gProtein: 0g
nicole @ I am a honey bee says
OMG yes, you need to add some ‘bu to it! ha!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
Ahhhh I want it! And Swedish Fish are my son’s favorite candy. Loving this idea to make before school starts next week.
Food, Faith, and Other Fabulous Finds says
I would love to make this for my hubby, but I’ve had a problem finding coconut extract. All my stores only carry imitation coconut extract. Where do you find the real stuff? (I’m in San Antonio, by the way.)
amanda says
I really didn’t even know pure coconut extract was a thing! I just assumed imitation was the only thing out there. I found some on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Flavorganics-Extract-Pure-Coconut-2-Ounce/dp/B004M8BGI6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376003368&sr=8-2&keywords=pure+coconut+extract) but it’s pretty expensive. I assume a Whole Foods or something similar would also have it. Thanks for reading and commenting! :)
Food, Faith, and Other Fabulous Finds says
Well, I feel a little better then. I figured I just didn’t live in a nice enough are to warrant the real thing. If the imitation is what you use, then it must be good enough. I know what’s going on my shopping list this week!
betty says
I just saw this in pinterest, what a fun looking drink, for those of you still looking for coconut extract look in a local health food store, or as mentioned on Amazon. Amazon often has items you can’t find anywhere else ( my “store” away from home!). If you do use Amazon, please find someone you like(follow) who is an affiliate (aka, they make a lil’ off of each person they refer who purchases something with their affilaiate link, kinda nice and as we all know every lil’ bit helps :-)
Tracey says
Would you believe I’ve never been to Sonic?? We don’t have them up here. But luckily I don’t have to because now I can make my own Ocean Water at home! I’m so in love with the color, and anything coconut is good by me.
Brandon says
This looks delicious, love the bright blue color and that you put Swedish Fish in it for the photo! :)
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! for sharing this. I’ve seen this every time I’ve gone to Sonic in the past few weeks and have been too afraid to try it. I’m so jazzed to try it at home!
Andi @ The Weary Chef says
This is so pretty and sounds yum. Is it wrong if I make it with coconut rum? (That wasn’t supposed to be a poem.)
Nutmeg Nanny says
Aw this is so fun! Sounds tasty :)
Sandy says
This sounds so good, but was curious if there was something I could substitute in place of the lemon-lime soda? We do not drink carbonated beverages so was just wondering if something else would work and come close to the same taste? Thanks! =)
amanda says
I bet lemonade would be good in place of the soda. Thanks for reading and commenting! :)
Sue says
Has anyone tried this with lemonade?
Ute says
I think it would be good with lemonade also, but remember that you will get a green drink if you put blue food color in yellow lemonade.
Nancy Norman says
There is a HiC that is blue. Not sure if it would work
Corey @ Family Fresh Meals says
Amanda, I found this fun drink on Pinterest and CANNOT wait to try it with my girls. They are going to LOVE it! The fish gummy is such a cool touch :)
Stephanie says
OMG!!!! I can’t wait to try this! I would drive an hour to the closest sonic just for ocean water! It is my fave!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this!!!!
Daniela says
This is so cute! Going to try it today!
http://www.aznannies.com
Brenda HJ says
Just a FYI… Sonic uses blue coconut snow cone syrup. That’s a simple sugar blue flavored mix. A few squirts in a cup and and the soda… Boom! Easy peasy. You can pick up the syrup anywhere they sell snow cone supplies but I’ve see it at Walmart and Target.
Amanda says
I made a similar copy cat ocean water for my daughters joint birthday party. I made a syrup using coconut water, sugar, coconut flavoring and blue food coloring. Then used 2 two liters of sprite in a large punch bowl. The coconut water helped to keep the drink refreshing instead of overly sugary.
Theresa says
How did you get the fish to float in the drink?
amanda says
They didn’t, really. I just took quick photos before they sunk. :)
Fran says
Just a quick note: The swedish fish can be frozen into ice cubes that will float. ;)
amanda says
Awesome idea!
Jenny says
Hi, I love this idea. Do you think it could work with just food coloring and seltzer? Does the coconut extract and sugar add taste or something color wise?
dj says
Nooooo the coconut FLAVOR adds no FLAVOR at all. Geesh some peoples children’s
Joy says
Sonics Ocean Water is blue coconut syrup (like the one used for sno cones) & sprite.
Renee says
How fun! I’ll be making this for sure!
Kate @ Diethood says
This was the first year for mandatory all day Kindergarten out here and of course my daughter just had to start it. Yeeesh… it’s taken me all year to get over it. :)
I am putting this Ocean Water on my summer-drinks list. I’m pretty sure the lil’ ones will be so excited!
sonia says
Diced strawberries would go great with this drink. Yummy, my hubby is going to love you ocean water.
Tammy king says
I made this tonight and it tastes just like Sonics ocean water. It is easy too make. You just need to quad dripple the recipe if making for a party.
amanda says
Awesome, so glad you enjoyed it! I’m totally craving it now!
Lisa says
They use sprite as the base soda just FYI. My husband runs 2 sonics and is hoping to open another soon
Donna says
I love this idea! Going to make it for my little guests next week! Wondering – how about finding ice cube trays in the shape of fish, then adding orange food coloring to the water. Voila! Goldfish!
Sharona says
IKEA had them…not sure if they still do.
Sarah says
I love this drink because i love the ocean and the taste
Jessica says
I absolutely LOVE Sonic’s ocean water, so I was very happy when i found this. I made a large batch for our Talk Like a Pirate Day at work. Although it ended up being a bit on the sweeter side. So in the Second batch I made I used 1 TBS of sugar 2 TBS of water and it was AMAZING!
Di says
Silly question… but can you just add blue food coloring to the Sprite?? Does the sugar/water/extract do anything other than make it a little sweeter?
V. says
Perfect refreshing summer drink to toast the start of Shark Week — tomorrow! I recently featured it in my collection of kid-friendly ways to celebrate Shark Week on my blog. Please stop by to see at http://www.createdbyv.com/shark-week-with-kids. Thanks for sharing such an easy and delicious drink!
Amy says
What would the measurements be for a 3.5 gallon dispenser? I want to make this for my daughters bday party
Amanda says
How much does this recipe make?
Ariel says
My little siblings will love this! Thanks for the idea!
Smith says
Wow! I like the color of the drink and idea of fish inside. I am gonna make this for my partner right now. Thanks in advance:-)
Maddycake says
If you really want to celebrate shark week next time or just a super fun gross out..take a shot of red raspberry syrup and pour it in your drink with the blue and white gummy sharks in it they sell and Swedish fish for a bloody fantastic shark attack that’s easy on the palate and very cool to watch!! Once you stir in the “blood” completely it will turn your drink a dark purple just an FYI. Happy fishing :)
margaux says
It was pretty good, although the sugar water did nothing
Olga says
Amanda, this ocean water looks amazing! I can’t wait to make it!
Alina says
It looks so yummy! I love the step-by-step instructions, making it an easy recipe to follow!
mali says
Planning to make for my daughter’s birthday. For the kids allergic to nuts & cocount, is the coconut flavoring just synthetic and won’t be an allergen? thanks