Fresh homemade Strawberry Lemonade is a perfect easy summer drink! Make this for backyard BBQs, a picnic day, or just to enjoy at home. This is definitely my favorite homemade lemonade recipe. I hope it will be yours too!
Strawberry Lemonade
There is nothing more refreshing than a homemade glass of Strawberry Lemonade with cold ice and fresh strawberries. The absolute perfect way to kick off the summer for everyone who loves strawberries and lemon!
All my readers know that I love a fun but easy drink – try my Vodka Lemonade or Strawberry Lemonade Moscato Punch – and this homemade classic is just that. Easy to throw together with ingredients already in the fridge and so fun to drink! The colors just make you feel all kinds of summery.
For your outdoor BBQ, pair this lemonade with my Summer Charcuterie Board!
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!
How to serve Strawberry Lemonade
Homemade Lemonade can be served any way you want it! But I like to pour the cold lemonade over ice and garnish with slices of lemon and some ripe strawberries.
I liked mine in mason jars, but this lemonade looks gorgeous in any cup.
What Alcohol to Mix with Strawberry Lemonade
The most popular liquors to mix with strawberry lemonade are gin, vodka, and bourbon
Storage and Make Ahead
To make this recipe ahead of time, you can make the simple syrup up to 5 days in advance – just keep it stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
I prefer this Homemade Strawberry Lemonade to be served fresh, but it will keep for 7 days in the fridge, stored in its pitcher. It might be a bit watered down after the ice melts.
Tips and Tricks
- If you’re trying to cut back on sugar, the granulated sugar in this recipe can be replaced with honey.
- Add some vodka, rum, or triple sec to turn this into a fun summer cocktail!
- To make this recipe easier, you can skip the simple syrup altogether and simply crush the strawberries, pass them through a strainer, and mix the strawberry juice + all other ingredients in the pitcher.
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.