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A refreshing summer cooler, this Homemade Strawberry Lemonade, made from fresh lemons and strawberries, and sweetened with your choice of honey, maple syrup or sugar! This is a delicious way to hydrate on a hot summer day.
Make this really quickly, and keep for when you need it. I keep a BIG pitcher of this in my fridge. A quick stir and a glass of ice is all you need!
![A pitcher of homemade strawberry lemonade with lemon slices and strawberries.](https://www.kyleecooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Strawberry-Lemonade-18.jpg)
I LOVE this easy strawberry lemonade recipe, it’s the most refreshing summer drink! The perfect balance of tart and sweet, you’ll make this all year round!
It’s also really easy to make: we begin with fresh lemons and squeeze the juice out of them. We then make a strawberry juice, by pureeing fresh strawberries. Then we make a simple syrup, and mix it all up with fresh, cold water. Grab a glass of ice, pour it over and ta-da!
We drink a LOT of water year-round. Living in the Arizona desert means dehydration is a huge issue, and it can sneak up on you. Sometimes, it’s hard to get in enough fluids to keep our bodies functioning well, so sweetening the deal a little is a clear winner. It’s always a hot day, there are lots of activities to do, and we have to stay hydrated.
Here in Phoenix we are in the thick of outdoor parties, barbecues, camping trips and running around. Why not make it easy and enjoy a long cool glass of homemade lemonade?
Try my raspberry limeade for another yummy summer drink!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but fresh is always going to taste better and more natural.
Oooh, got some sour lemons? Add more simple syrup, or less lemon juice to balance the flavors.
Absolutely! You can add herbs like fresh mint or basil, or fruits like blueberries or raspberries to add a different flavor profile. See the notes section for more info.
You can add soda water or club soda instead of regular water just before serving to make it fizzy.
Oh that’s easy. Just add vodka or coconut rum to your lemonade. You are SO welcome.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Easy to make ahead. Whenever I have a bunch of lemons in season, I squeeze them and freeze the juice. I do the same with strawberries, during strawberry season – make the puree and freeze until needed. It’s super quick to make when you have all that done!
Fresh and tasty, with real simple ingredients found in grocery stores. Enough said!
Ingredients in Strawberry Lemonade:
The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Strawberries. Fresh strawberries, remove the green parts and chop them up.
- Lemons. Fresh lemons, juiced.
- Water. Cold water is going to make your lemonade drinkable more quickly!
- Sugar (or honey, maple, or agave)
How to make Fresh Strawberry Lemonade:
Scroll for Recipe
The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Juice the lemons, make the strawberry puree
Juice the lemons, and add to a large pitcher.
In a blender or food processor, add the strawberries and 1 cup of water and blend until smooth.
Strain strawberry mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove the pulp, add to the pitcher.
Make a sugar syrup
Heat the cup of sugar and 1 cup of water over medium heat in a small saucepan until it boils, and the sugar dissolves. Cool to room temperature.
Make lemonade
Add the remaining 6 cups of water to the pitcher, then add the cooled sugar syrup.
Stir until well blended, serve over ice cubes.
Add lemon slices and extra strawberries as a garnish if you want to be fancy.
I keep a BIG pitcher of this in my fridge. A quick stir, and a glass of ice is all you need!
Kylee’s Notes
Change out the lemon juice for lime juice, and you’ve got strawberry limeade.
Switch out the ripe strawberries for fresh raspberries, and bam – raspberry lemonade.
Maple syrup, honey, and agave nectar are all great alternatives to white sugar
Switch up the ratios of lemons, strawberries, and water to get your perfect blend.
Make this and FREEZE it – always be ready for some hydration!
You can do this with frozen strawberries if you have a hankering during the offseason for strawberries – but always, ALWAYS use fresh lemon juice. Frozen berries are often less sweet than fresh, so make sure you test it and adjust the sugar if needed.
Add vodka and make it a super refreshing adult beverage, add salt and it’s a sports drink!
Want more summer recipes?
- Summery White Bean Salad
- Summery Tuscan Chicken Orzo
- Fresh Tomato Tart
- Pineapple Punch (from Simple and Seasonal)
- Strawberry Mojito Sparkling Water (from Home Made Interest)
- Brazilian Lemonade (from Jonesin’ for a Taste)
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Home Made Fresh Strawberry Lemonade
Ingredients
- 2 cups lemon juice (about 6 large lemons)
- 1 lb fresh strawberries (cleaned and hulled)
- 8 cups water (divided)
- 1 cup granulated white sugar (or maple syrup, agave or honey)
Directions
- Juice the lemons, and add to a large pitcher.
- In a blender, add the strawberries and 1 cup of water.
- Blend until pureed.
- Strain strawberry mixture to remove pulp, add to the pitcher.
- Heat the sugar and 1 cup of water in a large saucepan until it boils, and the sugar dissolves. Cool.
- Add remaining 6 cups of water to the pitcher, then add the cooled sugar syrup.
- Stir until well blended.
- Serve over ice.
- Devour.
Notes
Kylee’s Notes
- Maple syrup, honey, and agave syrup are all great alternatives to white sugar. You will use much less – it’s not a cup for cup exchange if you are using liquid sweeteners.
- Switch up the ratios of lemons, strawberries, and water to get your perfect blend.
- Make this and FREEZE it – always be ready for some hydration!
- You can do this with frozen strawberries if you have a hankering during the offseason for strawberries – but always, ALWAYS use fresh lemon juice. Frozen berries are often less sweet than fresh, so make sure you test it and adjust the sugar if needed.
- Add vodka and make it a super refreshing adult beverage, add salt and it’s a sports drink!
Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Update: This recipe was originally posted in 2018, and has been updated to improve reader experience. The recipe remains the same!
Theresa says
This is SO good!! I was looking for homemade sport drink…I added a little salt and voila..sport drink!! Thank you for sharing!!
Danielle says
Lemonade is totally one of my summer weaknesses. And strawberries. Oh, and cake. Anyways, this lemonade is awesome. I put it in the ice cream machine and made slushies with it!
MR says
We loved this so much! I made it as written and put it in the fridge for the grandkids. They were so excited!
Kate says
My kids love lemonade!