The Best Homemade Strawberry Lemonade You’ll Ever Taste
Nothing screams summer more than a big, icy glass of homemade strawberry lemonade! It’s sweet, tangy, and bursting with real strawberry flavor. Once you taste how fresh and delicious this easy recipe is, you’ll never want to buy store-bought lemonade again. Plus, it’s made with simple ingredients you probably already have at home.
Strawberry Lemonade
This strawberry lemonade is a total crowd-pleaser and perfect for backyard BBQs, baby showers, picnics, or just a sunny afternoon pick-me-up. If you love easy, refreshing drinks like this, you’ll definitely want to check out my [raspberry iced tea], [homemade peach lemonade], and [classic sweet tea] recipes too. They’re perfect for rounding out your summer drink lineup!
The best part? You can make this lemonade ahead of time, so it’s ready whenever you are. Whether you’re hosting a party or just craving something fruity and refreshing, this strawberry lemonade will hit the spot every single time.
What You Will Love About This Recipe
Fresh and fruity: Real strawberries and fresh-squeezed lemons make all the difference.
Super easy: A simple homemade syrup takes this lemonade to the next level.
Make ahead friendly: Prep it a few hours or even a day before your gathering.
Adjustable sweetness: You can easily tweak it to be more tart or more sweet depending on your taste.
Crowd-pleaser: Everyone from kids to adults loves a glass of this pretty pink lemonade!
Strawberry Lemonade Ingredients
- 7 total cups of water. Just any tap or spring water will do.
- Strawberries. I always use fresh, but you can use frozen strawberries too.
- Granulated sugar.
- Lemon juice. Always use freshly squeezed lemons, not the bottled stuff. Freshly squeezed lemon juice always brings the best flavor!
- Ice. Both for making the lemonade and for serving, so be sure to keep some extra on hand!
How to make Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
The best Homemade Strawberry Lemonade recipes always start with simple syrup. This way you can infuse all the ingredients together and dissolve the sugar for a drink that is nice and smooth and not at all grainy, without having to go through the hassle of blending the strawberries.
Start by heating the strawberries, water, and sugar together over medium heat until the sugar is totally dissolved and the liquid is hot but not quite boiling. Remove from the heat and mash the strawberries with a potato masher. Blend until smooth and transfer to a mesh strainer, straining the seeds. Move the simple syrup to a heat-safe container and let it cool in the fridge.
Next is juicing the lemons. I like to use an electric juicer for ease, but you can use a normal juicer or even your hands. Juice 8-10 lemons into a measuring cup until you reach 1 cup of lemon juice. I usually pass it through a strainer to make sure all pulp and seeds are out.
Add the lemon juice to a large pitcher, along with the cooled simple syrup, ice, and cold water. Add sliced lemon and strawberry if you wish. Stir with a wooden spoon and it is ready to serve!
Tips & Tricks
- Use ripe strawberries: The sweeter the strawberries, the better the flavor of your syrup.
- Fresh lemon juice is key: Bottled lemon juice just doesn’t taste the same—fresh is best!
- Chill the syrup before mixing: This helps keep the lemonade cold and refreshing.
- Add extra flair: Garnish with sliced lemons, whole strawberries, or even a sprig of fresh mint for a pretty presentation.
- Want it fizzy? Mix the lemonade with a little sparkling water just before serving for a bubbly twist!
FAQs
Strawberry Lemonade
Fresh homemade Strawberry Lemonade is a perfect easy summer drink! Make this for backyard BBQ’s, a picnic day, or just to enjoy at home.
Ingredients
- For the Simple Syrup:
- 2 Cups water
- 1 Cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 Cup granulated sugar
- For the lemonade:
- 1 Cup lemon juice, about 8-10 lemons
- 5 Cups water
- Ice, 2-4 cups
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the 2 cups of water, 1 cup of strawberries, and 1 cup of sugar and heat over medium until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid becomes hot but not boiling. Mash the fruit in the saucepan with a potato masher. Strain the simple syrup using a mesh strainer and transfer to a heat-safe container such as a mason jar and cool in the refrigerator.
- Squeeze the juice from the lemons until you have one cup of juice.
- In a pitcher, combine the lemon juice, simple syrup, water, and ice. Stir with a wooden spoon and serve.
Notes
Yields: ½ Gallon
You can adjust the sweetness to your liking or even replace the sugar with honey.
The lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for 7-8 days. Stir it up before each use.
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
