Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Strawberry Lemonade

The Spruce Eats / Morgan Baker

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Cool: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 5 servings
Yield: 5 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
193 Calories
0g Fat
50g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5
Amount per serving
Calories 193
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 21mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 50g 18%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 45g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 61mg 303%
Calcium 30mg 2%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 203mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This is a quick and simple recipe for summertime you'll keep returning to again and again. It takes the best early summer produce—strawberries—and turns them into a sweet and sippable beverage that you can easily use as the base of your favorite cocktails by adding a splash of tonic along with your favorite gin or vodka.

There is a great debate over whether to strain or not to strain out the strawberry seeds. We recommend straining the seeds for a smoother texture. Otherwise, the experience of drinking unstrained strawberry lemonade is somewhat gritty. Deciding one way or the other won't affect the flavor.

Be sure to choose peak season strawberries to ensure sweetness versus tartness. If you've got a craving for this drink during the off-season, you may try adding about 1/4 cup more sugar or a touch of strawberry extract to up the strawberry flavor found in summer berries.

Serve garnished with fresh mint, sliced strawberries, and even a few lemon slices if you like. This drink will keep you refreshed all year long.

"This is a delicious, summery drink that adults and kids would love. For the adults, a little gin and sparkling wine to top off this drink would make it extra special. I love that this pink drink is all natural, using fresh ingredients." —Tracy Wilk

strawberry lemonade tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 pound strawberries, hulled, more for garnish

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 4 cups water (1 cup hot, 3 cups cold), divided

  • 1 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice

  • Mint leaves, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Put the strawberries in a blender with the sugar and 1 cup hot water. Blend on high until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.

  3. Strain the mixture into a large pitcher and let cool to room temperature.

  4. Add the remaining 3 cups of cold water and the lemon juice. Stir well.

  5. Serve over ice, garnished with fresh mint and sliced strawberries.

Tip

To yield a good amount of juice from your lemons:

  • If you refrigerate your lemons, set them out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
  • Pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds for a quick warm-up.
  • Before cutting the lemons, roll them under the palm of your hand while pressing firmly down on the countertop. 

Recipe Variations

  • If you don't have access to fresh, peak-season strawberries, you can easily use frozen strawberries instead. Use them in equal measure but instead of using 1 cup of hot water, use 3/4 cup hot water. Frozen berries retain much more moisture than fresh ones, so using less water is ideal. However, if your puree still feels too thick, you may end up using the full 1 cup.
  • Try adding other fruits to the mix. There are so many delicious flavor combinations when using strawberries. Try adding lime juice, mixing in some blackberries or blueberries, or adding a bit of diced mango to your puree to bring a tropical taste.
  • If using berries out of season, you can add about 1/4 cup more sugar or a touch of strawberry extract for a sweeter flavor similar to summer strawberries.

Is there a difference between pink lemonade and strawberry lemonade?

Pink lemonade is traditional lemonade with added cranberry juice, while strawberry lemonade is made by pureeing strawberries and combining them with sugar, water, and lemon juice.