Shark Infested Water Recipe (Similar to Sonic's Ocean Water)

Shark Infested Water

Well, we are celebrating Shark Week at our house of boys' and this year I decided to kick it up a notch with "shark" themed foods all week long. Sunday, on our kick off day we had a few treats and did some of our own "shark swimming" in the pool. With the 109 degree weather, we were in need of some beverages and this Shark Infested Water was perfection!

Sonic is one of my favorite places to buy drinks in the Summertime. But, it is about 20 minutes from my house and even at happy hour it can get pricey for the 6 of us. Their Ocean Water is one of their most popular drinks and so delish. If you've never had it before, it is a blue fizzy coconut refreshing beverage. So, I was inspired to create my own version and kick it up a notch for Shark Week.
There are a few ways to make "Ocean Water" and we will share all of them...

Ways to Make Ocean Water Drink (Sonic Copycat):

1) The best is the "Sonic way" - which is adding blue coconut syrup directly to lemon-lime soda (Sprite typically). You just add a pump in each glass and viola! But, this syrup isn't the easiest to find. I have purchased mine in the past from SnoWizard. I love all their flavors for my shaved ice, the best in the business in my opinion.

2) The next option is to purchase some coconut syrup...Torani brand has a coconut syrup and you can find this all over the place. Here on Amazon, Cost Plus and even possibly at your local grocery. Add a pump to each 12oz glass of sprite and ice and add in a drop or two of blue food coloring, to your color preference. Viola!

3) Last, but the most inexpensive (or likely to have in your pantry items) is to grab coconut flavoring, blue food coloring, sugar and water.

First, make some simple syrup. This is easy, it is just equal parts water to sugar. You want to heat the water to dissolve the sugar. This can be done on the stove or microwave. Take 4 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of water and heat for about 1 minute in the microwave. You want to stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. This will yield enough simple syrup for about 2-3 drinks.

Once the syrup has cooled, add about 1 1/2 teaspoons of coconut flavoring (imitation is fine) to the simple syrup and stir to combine. In a pitcher pour in 2 cans of lemon-lime soda (or 24 oz) and add ice. Sonic ice would be even better and they do sell it. But, not required. Add the coconut flavored syrup to the pitcher and drop in a few drops of blue food coloring until you reach your desired color. Stir to combine. This makes enough for about 2-3 drinks.

Personally, I make a large batch of simple syrup and store it in the fridge because it will last about 3-4 weeks or 1-2 weeks for flavored. I take 2 cups of sugar to 2 cups of water. I microwave it for about 3 minutes, that is enough to dissolve the sugar once stirred a few times. You'll need to let it cool a bit before moving on to making the drinks. You can also store this at this point in a container in the fridge. Or make it flavored by adding in the coconut flavoring...you'd add 2 oz of coconut flavoring for about this much simple syrup. You could also add the coloring here too and just store in the fridge and make drinks as you go throughout the weeks.

I prefer to just store the syrup unflavored, so I can use it for other drinks too like margaritas! This is also a perfect amount of syrup to make a large batch of drinks for a party.

Ocean Water Party Batch Recipe:
2 Cups of Water
2 Cups of Sugar
2 2 liters of Lemon-Lime Soda (Sprite)
1/2 bottle or so of Blue Food Coloring
2 oz bottle of Coconut Flavoring

Shark Infested Water Drink

Now, lastly to turn this Ocean Water into Shark Infested Water is simple...just add in shark gummies.
Shark gummies can be found at most supermarkets, Walgreens or candy stores. I add about 2-3 to the bottom of the glass with ice and fill it with Ocean Water. Reserve 1 shark gummy and make a small cut (not all the way) halfway through the gummy. Place the slit on the rim of the glass.

Tip: The gummies will get really wet and slimy from the drink and even a little tough to chew. So, don't add them early, especially in a punch bowl.

If you are using this for a party, I love this Wilton Shark Ice Mold to add even more effects. I had one and it is cheapy plastic and it cracked. I looked online and I couldn't find a replacement as they are no longer sold. But, if you happen to have one this would be awesome!!!