Strawberry Lemonade

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… you know, 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 easy 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.

I love this recipe because it doesn’t even require you to turn on the stovetop or boil water to make a simple syrup… it can all be done without heat.

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 | Lavender Lemonade | The BEST Lemonade Recipes for Kids

Want to host a lemonade stand? We’re sharing all our tips and tricks at How to Host a Lemonade Stand for Kids.

What you need to make this recipe:

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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

Here are the four simple ingredients you need to make this homemade strawberry lemonade:

• Freshly squeezed lemon juice — the shelf-stable variety you can find at the grocery store won’t do because it does not have the best lemon flavor. 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 — this is our sweetener for the recipe. Unlike my other lemonade recipes, we’re not using simple syrup because we use this to help the strawberries release their juices.

Please note that you could make this a spiked strawberry lemonade by adding a shot of vodka, gin or tequila to your individual glass. I have not tried this but am sure it would be delicious if that’s something you’re interested in.

I do not advise adding alcohol to the whole pitcher in case you are sharing it with a variety of people.

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.)

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR

Juicing Lemons at Home

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks about juicing lemons. They 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. This will bring the juices to the surface.
• Slice the lemon at the equator, not from the stem to the tip.
• Don’t just squeeze it with your hands… use a lemon reamer or a juicer to get that good juice out of it.
• Run the juice through a fine mesh strainer if there is pulp and seeds in it before pouring into the glass.

Next, muddle the strawberries in a jar or a glass and measure in the sugar. (You could blend until smooth in the blender or food processor if you don’t want strawberry chunks. You can strain the strawberries through a fine mesh sieve, though I do not mind them being added to the pitcher itself.)

Let the strawberries and sugar 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.

It’s just got the BEST strawberry flavor!

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

What are some dishes I can pair with this fresh strawberry lemonade?

Looking for an appetizer to pair with this refreshing drink? Check out Roasted Tomato Salsa, Grilled Mexican Street Corn Dip and Chopped BLT Salad with Corn.

Fire up the grill to make Juicy Lucy Burgers or Hot Dogs with Caramelized Onions, two summertime staples.

Or pair it with a dessert of Strawberry Bruschetta.

Here’s how you can make it…

Strawberry Lemonade

Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate

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.

5 from 4 votes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings 10 servings

Calories 61 kcal

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Chilling Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice freshly squeezed
• 5 cups water
• 1 cup strawberries roughly chopped
• ½ cup granulated sugar

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Equipment

• Pitcher
• Liquid measuring cup
• Muddler
• Citrus juicer

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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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 16gSodium: 25mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14g

Keyword drinks, lemonade, lemons, strawberries

Course Mocktails & Nonalcoholic Drinks

Cuisine American

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