Description
A refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade made with fresh strawberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a simple sugar syrup. Perfect for a hot day, this lemonade is easy to prepare and customizable to taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberries
- 1/2 pound fresh strawberries, stems removed
Simple Syrup
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
Lemonade
- 1 1/2 cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 2 1/2 cups cold water
- Additional 1 1/2 - 2 cups water (for dissolving sugar and adjusting taste)
- Ice (for serving)
Instructions
- Puree Strawberries: Use a blender or food processor to puree the strawberries until smooth. Optionally, strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds for a smoother texture.
- Make Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine granulated sugar and 2 cups of water. Stir occasionally until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Cool Syrup: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the simple syrup cool down to room temperature before using it in the lemonade.
- Combine Ingredients: Strain the freshly squeezed lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher to remove pulp and seeds. Add the cooled simple syrup and the pureed strawberries. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Chill: Refrigerate the mixture until cold to allow flavors to meld and to chill the lemonade.
- Serve: When ready to serve, add 2 1/2 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir. Taste the lemonade and add more water if it is too sweet or strong for your preference. Serve over ice for a refreshing drink.
Notes
- If you prefer a smoother lemonade, strain the strawberry puree to remove seeds before mixing.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of sugar in the simple syrup or diluting the lemonade with more cold water.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice works best for vibrant flavor, but bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch.
- Store leftover lemonade in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days for best freshness.
- Add fresh mint leaves or lemon slices as garnish for a decorative touch and extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
