I almost always have a pitcher of this strawberry lemonade for summer gatherings. I love how ripe strawberries and freshly squeezed lemon juice combine for the freshest, sweet-tart flavor!
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Lemonade
- The strawberries are blended directly into the lemonade. Instead of making a strawberry syrup, I simply blend the strawberries with the water and honey which keeps the flavor tasting fresher and more vibrant.
- It’s perfectly sweet-tart. I’ve made lemonade recipes that were either way too sour or overly sweet. This version has a balanced, bright lemon flavor with just enough sweetness.
- It’s made for hosting! I love that this can be prepped ahead and kept chilled in the fridge until serving. I’ll usually add lots of ice and lemon slices right before guests arrive.
I love how excited Downshifters get when I introduce a NEW refreshing drink. My strawberry banana smoothie and mango smoothie are perennial favorites. But for something a bit lighter (i.e less thick than a smoothie), you can’t go wrong with homemade lemonade. Especially this strawberry lemonade with a berry sweet twist!
Now, some recipes out there use strawberry syrup. But I’ve never liked the fake syrups added to restaurant drinks. So I’m applying the same concept of how I blend a fresh strawberry puree for chia pudding to this lemonade.
The strawberry puree gives the freshest flavor and the prettiest natural red color. And when mixed with lemon juice and water, it’s summer’s undeniable thirst quencher. It looks stunning in a pitcher (with a few lemon slices) and perfect for all the BBQs and pool days ahead—especially for 4th of July!
Strawberry Lemonade Ingredients
- Fresh strawberries: Fresh, ripe strawberries will give you the best flavor and color for this lemonade. If your strawberries are super sweet, you may not need quite as much honey.
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice makes all the difference. Bottled lemon juice tends to taste sharper and slightly muted compared to freshly squeezed lemons.
- Sweetener: I love using honey because it blends beautifully into the lemonade and adds a softer sweetness compared to plain sugar. You could also use maple syrup if preferred.
- Cold water: Cold water keeps the lemonade tasting extra refreshing right from the start. If I’m making this ahead for a party, I’ll sometimes use a mix of cold water and ice to chill it even faster.
- Lemon slices: Completely optional, but they make the pitcher look so pretty for serving!
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make Strawberry Lemonade
- Blend it up. Add the strawberries, honey, and 1 cup of water to a high-powered blender. Blend on high until very smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Stir together. Pour into a pitcher with the lemon juice and remaining 4 cups of water, and stir together. It will be a little frothy on top, which will settle over time, or you can skim the top froth off.
How I Prep & Store This For Parties
This is one of my favorite make-ahead summer drinks! I’ll usually make it a few hours ahead (or even the night before) and keep the pitcher chilled until serving. The lemonade will keep well in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. Just give it a good stir before serving,
Lisa’s Tip: If I’m hosting outdoors on a hot day, I’ll sometimes freeze a few strawberry slices or lemon slices ahead of time and use those instead of extra ice. It keeps the lemonade cold without diluting the flavor. I also recommend waiting to add ice until right before serving. If the ice sits in the pitcher too long, it can water down the lemonade pretty quickly.
More Summer Drinks
- Lavender Lemonade: Another delicious twist on lemonade.
- Strawberry Margarita: The best summertime margarita.
- Agua Fresca: Perfect for in-season fruits.
- Aperol Spritz: A classic daytime cocktail.
- Watermelon Smoothie: So easy and refreshing!
If you try this strawberry lemonade recipe, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re looking for more healthy food inspiration, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
- 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice, from about 6 large lemons
- ½ cup honey
- 5 cups cold water
- lemon slices, for garnish
Instructions
- Blend it up. Add the strawberries, honey, and 1 cup of water to a high-powered blender. Blend on high until very smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Stir together. Pour into a pitcher with the lemon juice and remaining 4 cups of water, and stir together. It will be a little frothy on top, that will settle over time, or you can skim the top froth off.
- Serve. Enjoy the strawberry lemonade in a glass with ice for a refreshing drink!
Lisa’s Tips
- Storage: This will stay good in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Nutrition
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How I Tested This Strawberry Lemonade
For me, the key was really nailing the right amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice (and let’s be honest, it’s really personal preference). I started with 1 cup of lemon juice, but it didn’t taste lemon-y enough for me, so I increased it to 1 ½ cups. But you may prefer even more!
