Buy Now → Strawberry Lemonade
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
1/2 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 to 5 cups water, divided
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
Prep
- Wash and hull the strawberries.
- Blend the strawberries until completely smooth.
- For a smoother lemonade, press the puree through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Set aside.
- Pour the fresh lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a large 2-quart pitcher to remove any pulp or seeds.
Cook
- In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar with 2 cups of the water.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches a gentle boil and the sugar has fully dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and let the simple syrup cool to room temperature.
Assemble
- Add the cooled simple syrup and the strawberry puree to the pitcher with the lemon juice.
- Stir until well combined.
- Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
- Just before serving, stir in 2 1/2 cups of cold water.
- Taste and add additional water, up to 1/2 cup more, if you prefer a lighter flavor.
- Serve over ice.
Notes
Substitutions
- Frozen strawberries can be used instead of fresh. Thaw before blending.
- Replace part of the granulated sugar with honey or a simple syrup made from your preferred sweetener, adjusting to taste.
- Add a few fresh mint leaves while chilling for extra flavor.
Serving Suggestions
- Garnish with sliced strawberries, lemon wheels, or fresh mint.
- Serve alongside grilled chicken, burgers, barbecue, sandwiches, or summer salads.
- For entertaining, top each glass with sparkling water just before serving for a lightly fizzy variation.
Storage
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir well before serving, as the fruit may naturally settle.
Freezing
- Freeze the lemonade in freezer-safe containers, leaving about 1 inch of headspace for expansion, for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and stir thoroughly before serving.
- You can also freeze it in ice cube trays and blend the cubes for a frozen strawberry lemonade.
