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!
My kid started school today.
Like, all day school.
Last year he did half day kindergarten so he was only there for 3 hours which was annoying because I had to accomplish all that needed to be done within those 3 hours but nice because I am a bit of a control freak and like to know what’s going on with my people at all times.
But like I said, he’s gone all day this year. I’m not really sure what I’m going to do with myself.
We celebrated his last day of freedom with this copycat Sonic Ocean Water.
Have you ever had Ocean Water? I avoided it for so long at Sonic (and y’all know that I’m at Sonic’s Happy Hour frequently!) because the name just turned me off.
But once I finally did try it, I fell in love. It’s my go to non-diet Happy Hour choice.
How to Make Sonic Ocean Water
I didn’t realize it as so simple but it’s basically a lemon-lime soda with coconut flavoring and blue coloring. That’s it! And it’s so good!
And I’m thinking it would be extra delicious with a splash or two of Malibu in place of the coconut extract if you’re serving adults! Try it, let me know!
Swedish fish aren’t required but aren’t they cute?!
Nicole made Watermelon Agua Fresca! I wish I’d had this recipe weeks ago when we bought a ginormous watermelon. I guess I’ll have to buy another!
More Kid Friendly Drink Recipes
Sparkling Cranberry Sweet Tea – delicious combination of sweet tea, cranberry juice, and sparking water. Top it with fresh cranberries for a great holiday drink.
Homemade Strawberry Milkshakes – a classic shake made with fresh summer strawberries.
- 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 3 drops blue food coloring
- 2 12 ounce cans lemon-lime soda
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In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine water and sugar. Heat in microwave for about 1 minutes. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
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Pour the sugar mixture into a pitcher. Add coconut extract, food coloring, and soda. Stir to combine. Enjoy over ice.
OMG yes, you need to add some ‘bu to it! ha!
Ahhhh I want it! And Swedish Fish are my son’s favorite candy. Loving this idea to make before school starts next week.
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.)
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! :)
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!
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 :-)
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.
This looks delicious, love the bright blue color and that you put Swedish Fish in it for the photo! :)
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!
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.)
Aw this is so fun! Sounds tasty :)
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! =)
I bet lemonade would be good in place of the soda. Thanks for reading and commenting! :)
Has anyone tried this with lemonade?
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.
There is a HiC that is blue. Not sure if it would work
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 :)
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!!!!
This is so cute! Going to try it today!
http://www.aznannies.com
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.
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.
How did you get the fish to float in the drink?
They didn’t, really. I just took quick photos before they sunk. :)
Just a quick note: The swedish fish can be frozen into ice cubes that will float. ;)
Awesome idea!
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?
Nooooo the coconut FLAVOR adds no FLAVOR at all. Geesh some peoples children’s
Sonics Ocean Water is blue coconut syrup (like the one used for sno cones) & sprite.
How fun! I’ll be making this for sure!
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!
Diced strawberries would go great with this drink. Yummy, my hubby is going to love you ocean water.
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.
Awesome, so glad you enjoyed it! I’m totally craving it now!
They use sprite as the base soda just FYI. My husband runs 2 sonics and is hoping to open another soon
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!
IKEA had them…not sure if they still do.
I love this drink because i love the ocean and the taste
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!
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!
My little siblings will love this! Thanks for the idea!
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 :)
It was pretty good, although the sugar water did nothing