Spring and summer are ideal times to serve and celebrate with fresh fruit…even in your cocktails! Backyard get-togethers and festive summer soirées like tropical luaus or beach-themed dinner parties are perfect occasions for offering guests a fabulously fruity cocktail. Need some inspiration? Here are a few fun suggestions:

Watermelon Crush (this one’s a crowd-pleaser!)

Ingredients:
8 cups seeded, cubed watermelon (about 4 pounds)
1 1/3 cups light rum
1½ cups freshly squeezed orange juice, or more to taste
½ cup orange liqueur
¼ cup powdered sugar, or more to taste
2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice

Directions:
Put the watermelon cubes in a plastic freezer bag; freeze for at least 8 hours Puree the watermelon and the remaining ingredients in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth, scraping down the sides occasionally. Combine the processed mixture well. Serve in a large old pickle jar or punch bowl and scoop the mixture into Mason jars, tin cups, or other festive glasses

{recipe from Southern Cocktails}

More fabulously fruity ideas from around the web:

Pictured above:

Raspberry Collins {via Hostess with the Mostess™}
*featuring raspberry puree, créme de framboise, lemon juice, club soda, and gin

Lime Daiquiries by Erika Lenkert {via Everyday with Rachael Ray}
*featuring run and limeade concentrate

Kiwi Melon Sangria {via Cocktail Times}
*featuring wine, kiwi, watermelon, and Midori

Island Blossom {via Cocktail Times}
*featuring fresh fruit, Malibu rum, OJ, lychee liqueur and Tezon Blanco tequila

Which recipes look particularly tasty to you? I just got back from Hawaii and am feeling especially drawn to the Island Blossom for some reason.

– Jennifer Sbranti, hostesswiththemostess.com

Technorati Tags: summer cocktails, fruity cocktails, summer entertaining, daiquri, sangria, watermelon crush

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