Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, washed and hulled
- 4–6 fresh lemons (about 1 cup lemon juice)
- 4 cups cold water (still or sparkling)
- Ice cubes, as needed
Sweeteners
- 1/2 cup sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Strawberries: Wash and hull the fresh strawberries. Blend them until smooth for a pureed texture, or pulse slightly if you prefer some berry pieces for a chunkier mouthfeel.
- Juice the Lemons: Roll lemons firmly on a countertop to release juices, then cut and squeeze to extract fresh lemon juice. Make sure to remove any seeds.
- Mix and Sweeten: In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry puree, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and your chosen sweetener. Stir well until the sugar or honey is fully dissolved.
- Add Water and Ice: Pour in 4 cups of cold water, either still or sparkling, and add plenty of ice cubes. Stir gently to evenly combine all flavors.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the strawberry lemonade for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. Serve the lemonade over additional ice cubes, garnished with lemon slices, whole strawberries, or fresh mint if desired.
Notes
- Use ripe, juicy strawberries for the best natural sweetness and vibrant color.
- Adjust sweetness gradually by adding sugar or honey in small increments and tasting as you go.
- Chilling the water and lemons beforehand keeps the drink refreshingly cold longer.
- For a smoother texture, strain the strawberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp.
- Add fresh herbs like mint or basil just before serving for maximum aroma and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan (if honey replaced)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, summer drink, refreshing beverage, natural sweetener, homemade lemonade, healthy drinks, fruit drink