Homemade Strawberry Lemonade is a wonderfully refreshing drink made from just four simple ingredients! This easy lemonade recipe makes a pitcher and is the perfect way to cool down on a hot afternoon. Makes 6 servings.
Looking for more refreshing summertime drinks? Be sure to check out this Arnold Palmer, Sweet Sunrise Mocktail and Cherry Lemon Tea, too.
This Strawberry Lemonade recipe was originally shared on July 13, 2012. It was republished in May 2020.
This recipe takes me back to the hot, muggy summers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and when we were newly(ish)weds, paving our way in our college town after a few years hiatus.
Now, I didn’t purchase two FLATS of strawberries this spring like I did that fateful first spring in Baton Rouge, but we’ve been gobbling up all the strawberries we can find in all the forms we can make.
(Hello, Strawberry Melon Salad, Strawberry Lemonade Muffins and Strawberry Romaine Salad in a Jar, among others.)
Why I love this recipe:
Nothing is as refreshing on a hot summer’s day like homemade lemonade.
The real kind with freshly squeezed lemons, not the stuff from a jar.
As a mama, I totally get the jarred stuff. But as someone who loves fresh food, I love taking the time to make my own lemonade from scratch.
This strawberry lemonade recipe strikes the perfect balance of sweet and tart while celebrating the sweetness of the fruit! Our entire family LOVES this recipe because we love strawberries and their flavor.
Other lemonade recipes we adore during the summer: Fresh Squeezed Lemonade | Vodka Lemonade with Raspberry / Blueberry Lemonade / Mixed Berry Mint Lemonade / Homemade Mint Lemonade | Watermelon Lemonade
Looking for another refreshing summer drink? Be sure to check out my Nonalcoholic Drinks Recipe Index.
What you need to make Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
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- A citrus juicer or a citrus reamer for juicing the lemons
- This (or a similar) muddler to smash the strawberries
- A large pitcher, like this cute Kate Spade New York Raise a Glass Acrylic Pitcher
- Drinking glasses
In addition to these tools, you’re going to need four simple ingredients to make this homemade strawberry lemonade, too:
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice—the shelf-stable variety you can find at the grocery store won’t do. Juice the lemons yourself or find the cold pressed fresh lemon juice at the store. It normally hangs out by the pre-cut fruits in the refrigerated section.
- Water—to dilute the lemon juice
- Fresh strawberries—because this is strawberry lemonade, after all. If your fresh strawberries aren’t super sweet, consider adding a bit more sugar to your mix. This is something you’ll have to taste and see, then add more if necessary.
- Granulated sugar—for just a little bit of sweetness. Unlike my other lemonade recipes, we’re not using simple syrup because we use this to help the strawberries release their juices.
How to make Strawberry Lemonade
First off, juice the lemons and set that lemon juice aside. If you’re using a citrus reamer, make sure there are no lemon seeds in the juice. (I like to juice my lemons over a fine mesh strainer to catch excess pulp and seeds, but you do you.)
Next, muddle the strawberries in a jar or a glass and measure in the sugar. (You could blend until smooth in the blender if you don’t want strawberry chunks, though that does not bother me.) Let them hang out for a bit and release those awesome juices.
Combine strawberries and lemon juice in a pitcher. Then add water and chill the lemonade for about 30 minutes.
And then pour the lemonade a few ice cubes, garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy.
It’s the perfect summertime drink, if I do say so myself.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
This recipe is an easy one to pull off because it requires very little time and skill, making it perfect for entertaining. In fact, the most time you’ll spend on this recipe is juicing the lemons.
Because of this, I think Strawberry Lemonade is the perfect summertime entertaining drink. (Think backyard barbecues and at-home tailgates.) It’s beloved by adults and children, and it’s so easy to sip.
Here are a few tips and tricks for making entertaining with homemade lemonade a little easier.
- Squeeze the lemons in advance… or purchase a jar of freshly squeezed lemon juice in the refrigerated fruit section of your grocery. This’ll make it easier to put the lemonade together before guests arrive.
- Make the lemonade 30 minutes to 2 hours before guests arrive so that it has time to chill out in the fridge. That way, it’ll be ice cold!
- Make two pitchers if you’re hosting more than 6 people or keep extra ingredients in the fridge at the ready in case you run out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks about juicing lemons. They truly come in handy when you’re making a pitcher of homemade lemonade.
Don’t juice a cold lemon. A cold lemon won’t give as much juice as a room temperature one. If you keep your lemons in the fridge, let it come to room temperature, or pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds to get it to warm up.
Roll the lemon on the countertop because this will bring the juices to the surface.
Slice the lemon down the equator, not from the stem to the tip.
Don’t just squeeze it with your hands… use a citrus reamer or a juicer to get that good juice out of it. Personally, I like a lemon reamer better.
Sure! If you use frozen strawberries, just make sure that you’ve let them defrost in the fridge so that you can muddle them with the sugar!
As an added bonus, you can garnish this pitcher of homemade lemonade with frozen strawberries to keep it cool, too!
If it’s from the refrigerated produce shelves, yes, that should work. If it’s shelf stable, probably not.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice really makes a difference in homemade lemonade, so you want to make sure your lemon juice is as fresh as possible.
What are some dishes I can pair with this homemade strawberry lemonade?
- Roasted Tomato Salsa
- Chopped BLT Salad with Corn
- Juicy Lucy Burgers or Hot Dogs with Caramelized Onions
- Grilled Mexican Street Corn Dip
- Strawberry Bruschetta
Strawberry Lemonade
Instead of making regular lemonade this summer, let's whip up some sweet Strawberry Lemonade! Lemons are squeezed for their juice and mixed with water in a pitcher. Fresh strawberries are mulled, then mixed with granulated sugar, and poured into the lemonade mixture. Stir until the sugar dissolves into the liquid, then refrigerate before pouring a glass! This refreshing lemonade is the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer afternoon.
Ingredients
- 1 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 5 cups water
- 1 cup strawberries, roughly chopped
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a drinking glass, measure out the strawberries and mull them, smashing them with a muddler. Sprinkle in the sugar, and let them macerate.
- Juice several lemons into a liquid measuring cup until you have a cup of fresh juice. (It'll take around 4, depending on their size and the amount of juice in each one.)
- In a pitcher, mix the strawberries and their juices with the sugar and lemon juice. Stir until combined.
- Pour the water into the pitcher, stirring until the ingredients have mixed.
- Cool for 30 minutes, then enjoy!
Notes
Tips and Tricks for Juicing Lemons for Homemade Lemonade
- Don’t juice a cold lemon. A cold lemon won’t give as much juice as a room temperature one. If you keep your lemons in the fridge, let it come to room temperature, or pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds to get it to warm up.
- Roll the lemon on the countertop because this will bring the juices to the surface.
- Slice the lemon down the equator, not from the stem to the tip.
- Don’t just squeeze it with your hands… use a citrus reamer or a juicer to get that good juice out of it. Personally, I like a lemon reamer better.
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?
Sure! If you use frozen strawberries, just make sure that you’ve let them defrost in the fridge so that you can muddle them with the sugar!
You can garnish this pitcher of homemade lemonade with frozen strawberries to keep it cool, too!
Could I Use The Pre-Packaged Lemon Juice That’s On The Shelf At The Grocery Store?
If it’s from the refrigerated produce shelves, yes, that should work. If it’s shelf stable, probably not.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice really makes a difference in homemade lemonade, so you want to make sure your lemon juice is as fresh as possible.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 61Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 25mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 0g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen says
Erin – your strawberry lemonade recipe looks so good. I always wanted to try and make my own from scratch! Maybe one of these days I will remember to try it!! I wish I could have some of yours right now 🙂 Yummm
Erin says
Thanks so much, Kristi! It’s super easy to whip up, so I definitely recommend giving it a try! Do y’all have lots of strawberries and lemons for sale/on display in San Fran these days?
Jessica says
Looks delish and refreshing! I love lemonade in summer. I just had strawberry rhubarb lemonade, amazing!
Erin says
It definitely is, and it hits the spot after being outside in the heat for a while. And I concur — lemonade in the summertime is the BEST!
And that strawberry rhubarb lemonade sounds incredible! I’ve never had the opportunity to get my hands on rhubarb, so if I see it anytime soon, I’ll be experimenting!