Nothing beats a pitcher of something icy cold and fruity on a hot Summer day, and this homemade strawberry lemonade recipe is exactly that.
Fresh strawberries, lemons, and mint come together for a refreshing Summer drinks idea that tastes like it took way more effort than it actually did. It’s sweet, a little tart, and endlessly easy to make your own.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard party or just want a homemade fresh lemonade to sip on your own porch, this one hits the spot.
It’s the kind of strawberry lemonade punch you’d want sitting on the counter all summer long, ready to pour whenever the mood strikes.
If you love strawberry drinks, you may also like this strawberry matcha smoothie, or this strawberry coffee drink.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Made with fresh ingredients: No shortcuts or artificial flavorings, just realy fruit doing the hard work.
Endlessly customizable: Sparkling or flat water, lemon or lime garnish, with or without the mint – make this easy lemonade your own with little tweaks to the recipe.
Make ahead friendly: The components of this summer lemonade can be stored in the fridge for days, so it’s easy to prep ahead of time for a party.
Ingredient Notes
To make homemade strawberry mint lemonade you’ll need the following ingredients. I cover a few of the key ingredients here, you can find the specific quantities and steps in the recipe card below.
- Strawberries: I prefer to use fresh strawberries, but you can also use frozen – just thaw them first.
- Lemon juice: Again, I think fresh lemons are ideal for homemade lemonade.
- Sugar: Used to make a simple syrup, which is the best way to sweeten fresh lemonade. By heating the sugar with water, it completely dissolves and you won’t have any grainy bits in your drink.
- Vanilla extract: Optional, but recommended, to add a little more depth of flavor to the strawberry puree.
- Mint: The perfect herb to pair with strawberries for a zesty summer flavor.
How To Make Strawberry Lemonade With Mint
Here’s a quick overview of how to make strawberry lemonade at home. For the full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements needed, scroll down to the printable recipe card below.
You will need a blender, small saucepan, and large pitcher to get started.
Prepare the simple syrup. Bring the water, sugar, and mint to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer until slightly thickened. Stir occasionally, and don’t have the heat too high! Leave to cool completely.
Blend the strawberries. Puree the strawberries with a little sugar and vanilla. If you don’t mind the puree being a little thick you can use as is. Otherwise strain the puree through a fine sieve to remove the seeds and pulp!
Juice the lemons: Cut the lemons in half and use a juicer or your hands to extract all the juice.
Keep one lemon aside to slice later to add to the pitcher as garnish.
Combine: Add the simple syrup, strawberry puree and lemon juice to a large pitcher. Stir to combine then add water to taste.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Add garnishes (like sliced lemon, sliced lime, fresh mint leaves, and chopped strawberries), and serve.
Tip: Don’t add ice to the pitcher until ready to serve as it will further dilute the lemonade.
Recipe Tips For Success
- Make the simple syrup ahead and let it cool completely before combining.
- Straining the lemon juice and strawberry puree gives you a smoother drink without pulpy bits.
- Dilute gradually and taste as you go until you hit your preferred sweetness and intensity.
- Only add ice when ready to serve, as it will further dilute the lemonade as it melts.
Recipe Variations
Skip the mint: If you don’t like mint, simply omit the mint leaves when making the simple syrup for a classic strawberry lemonade.
Add fizz: Use all sparkling mineral water for a fully bubbly drink, or go with a 50/50 mix of flat and sparkling water for something more subtle.
Play with sweetness and strength: Dilute more or less with water depending on whether you want it lighter and more subtle or bold and concentrated.
How To Store Homemade Lemonade
Store: If made with flat water, store lemonade in the fridge for 3-4 days. When using sparkling water it is best enjoyed on the day it is made.
Freeze: Each of the lemonade components (simple syrup, strawberry puree, and lemon juice) can be made and frozen ahead of time.
Then simply defrost overnight in the fridge before combining and adding water.
More Refreshing Drinks To Try
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Fresh Strawberry Lemonade With Mint
Equipment
Ingredients
FOR THE SIMPLE SYRUP
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 mint leaves
FOR THE STRAWBERRY PUREE
- 2½ cups strawberries washed and hulled
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FOR THE LEMONADE
- 2 cups lemon juice freshly squeezed, 8-12 lemons
- 5-7 cups water
FOR GARNISH (OPTIONAL)
- 1 lime sliced
- 1 lemon sliced
- 1 cup mint leaves
- ¼ cup strawberries washed, hulled, halved
Instructions
FOR THE SIMPLE SYRUP
- Add the water, sugar, and mint leaves to a small saucepan. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Set aside to cool completely.
FOR THE STRAWBERRY PUREE
- Add the strawberries, sugar, and vanilla extract to a blender. Blend on high until pureed and well combined. Strain the puree through a fine sieve and set aside (see notes).
FOR THE LEMONADE
- In a large pitcher add the cooled simple syrup, strawberry puree, and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Dilute with water to reach your desired flavor (see notes).
- Chill in the fridge until needed. When ready to serve, add ice and garnishes of choice to the pitcher.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
