Description
A refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade recipe combining the natural sweetness of fresh strawberries with tangy lemon juice, balanced perfectly with a homemade sugar syrup. Ideal for quenching your thirst on warm days, this vibrant beverage can be enjoyed still or sparkling with club soda.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 8 cups water (divided use)
- 1 cup lemon juice (from 5-6 large lemons)
- Optional: Club soda (to replace water for sparkling lemonade)
Produce
- 3 cups strawberries (hulled)
Sweetener
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Optional
- Crushed ice (to serve)
Instructions
- Make sugar syrup: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring 1 cup of water and the granulated sugar to a boil. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely and the liquid becomes clear. Remove from heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Blend strawberries: Place the hulled strawberries and lemon juice into a blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Then combine this strawberry-lemon mixture with the cooled sugar syrup.
- Strain the mixture: Using a fine mesh sieve, strain the combined strawberry and sugar syrup mixture into a 2-quart jug to catch the juices, separating out the pulp. Return the pulp to the sieve and rinse it with 2 cups of water to extract any remaining flavors and sugars. Collect the rinsed juices in the jug as well, and discard the pulp afterwards.
- Assemble the lemonade: Stir in 5 to 7 cups of water into the strained strawberry mixture depending on your desired strength. For a sparkling version, substitute water with club soda. Serve chilled over crushed ice if desired.
Notes
- Adjust water quantity to make your lemonade stronger or milder.
- Use club soda instead of water to create a sparkling lemonade.
- Make sure to fully cool the sugar syrup before blending with strawberries to avoid cooking the fruit.
- Straining twice ensures a smooth beverage without pulp.
- Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
