Sweet strawberry simple syrup is stirred into fresh lemon juice for a sweet-tart pitcher of homemade strawberry lemonade. This is the perfect summer sip - serve it over ice, add to a cocktail or mocktail, and enjoy all season.
Deliciously tart-sweet homemade strawberry lemonade is as simple as stirring strawberry simple syrup into freshly squeezed lemon juice and adding a generous splash of water - and it's best served over ice on a hot afternoon! It's basically homemade lemonade turned up a notch, and is so lovely served with a batch of gluten free lemon cookies or slices of gluten free lemon curd cake.
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What You'll Love
- Simple ingredients. I love making lemonade at home because I'm assured that there will never be any artificial sweeteners or preservatives added.
- Easy to adjust. Want it sweeter? Add more sugar. Like a more tart lemonade? No problem. And, see some variations to try lower down (hint: add fresh mint!).
- So easy. There aren't many recipes that take less than a minute, literally, to put together! Even if you're making the strawberry simple syrup from scratch right before you assemble the lemonade, you'll just need a few extra minutes.
- It's so pretty! I love the pretty pop of pink in this drink! It's so lovely just to sip on, and it also makes a nice cocktail base with a splash of bourbon.
Ingredients Needed
Make sure to scroll down to my recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full ingredient amounts and instructions!
- Lemon juice - FRESH LEMON JUICE PLEASE! This makes a big difference. Use any variety of lemons.
- Strawberry simple syrup - Use my homemade recipe or use a purchased syrup.
- Water
Lemonade Variations
- Mint lemonade - Add fresh mint to the pitcher of lemonade, or crush it into the lemon juice a bit first to release the flavor.
- Herby lemonade - Or try another fresh herb, like rosemary or basil.
- Limeade - Use this recipe with lime juice instead of lemon!
- Add fruit - Add a handful of raspberries or chopped strawberries to make this into a sort of lemonade punch.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here's an overview in photos of how to make easy strawberry lemonade.
1. Add lemon juice: Place the lemon juice in a pitcher.
2. Add syrup and water: Pour in the strawberry simple syrup, top with water, stir well to combine, then chill.
Tips & Recipe Notes
- How to choose lemons. Not all lemons are created equal. The best lemons for lemonade feel heavy because they are full of juice. I especially like Meyer lemon juice for lemonade because their juice is milder and sweeter. Any type of lemon will work.
- Roll the lemons before juicing. Give each lemon a firm roll on the countertop before juicing it to help break down the membranes inside. This will give you more juice!
- Adjust to taste. I used 1 cup of simple syrup in this recipe and found it plenty sweet. Definitely add more or less to your taste. You can start with ½ cup of strawberry simple syrup and go from there.
- Chill. I like to chill my homemade lemonade in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. Or, serve it over ice if you can't wait.
- Make a cocktail. Use strawberry lemonade as the mixer in a summery cocktail. Pair it with bourbon, vodka, or gin.
- Or a mocktail. Add a splash of sparkling water (flavored or unflavored) to turn this into a fizzy strawberry lemonade mocktail. Garnish each glass with a strawberry slice and a sprig of mint.
- Double up. You can easily double or triple this recipe to make a lot of strawberry lemonade!
Proper Storage
- Fridge - Place strawberry lemonade in an airtight container (like a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid) and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer - To make strawberry lemonade ice cubes, portion out the lemonade into an ice cube tray and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to freeze the ice cubes overnight, then transfer them to a freezer-safe storage container or bag. Use them in drinks!
More Sweet Strawberry Recipes
Happy baking! If you make this homemade strawberry lemonade recipe, I'd love to know. Please leave a comment below, reach out with any questions, and tag me on Instagram @Cucina Nicolina ❤️
Recipe
Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
Sweet strawberry simple syrup is stirred into fresh lemon juice for a sweet-tart pitcher of homemade strawberry lemonade.
Ingredients
- 1 cup lemon juice , freshly squeezed, please!
- 1 cup strawberry simple syrup
- 4 cups water , divided
Instructions
- Squeeze enough lemons to equal 1 cup lemon juice. Place the lemon juice and 1 cup strawberry simple syrup in a pitcher, then add 4 cups water(or more to taste). Stir to combine. Adjust the amount of syrup as needed.
- Store leftover lemonade in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- How to choose lemons. Not all lemons are created equal. The best lemons for lemonade feel heavy because they are full of juice. I especially like Meyer lemon juice for lemonade because their juice is milder and sweeter. Any type of lemon will work.
- Roll the lemons before juicing. Give each lemon a firm roll on the countertop before juicing it to help break down the membranes inside. This will give you more juice!
- Adjust to taste. I used 1 cup of simple syrup in this recipe and found it plenty sweet. Definitely add more or less to your taste. You can start with ½ cup of strawberry simple syrup and go from there.
- Chill. I like to chill my homemade lemonade in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. Or, serve it over ice if you can't wait.
- Make a cocktail. Use strawberry lemonade as the mixer in a summery cocktail. Pair it with bourbon, vodka, or gin.
- Or a mocktail. Add a splash of sparkling water (flavored or unflavored) to turn this into a fizzy strawberry lemonade mocktail. Garnish each glass with a strawberry slice and a sprig of mint.
- Double up. You can easily double or triple this recipe to make a lot of strawberry lemonade!
Nutrition
Calories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.002gSodium: 41mgPotassium: 77mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know in the comments how it went!
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