Homemade Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

This Strawberry Lemonade recipe is an all-time summer favorite. It’s fast to make and so refreshing to drink. Just a few simple ingredients make it come together in minutes, making it my go-to drink on a hot summer day.

As soon as the weather warms up, I crave something cold to drink. This homemade strawberry lemonade quenches my thirst like nothing else while sitting by the pool, working in the garden, or raking hay in the hayfield.  The pink lemonade color with ripe strawberries makes this a satisfying and easy drink recipe loaded with fruity freshness.

As strawberry season rolls around,  there’s nothing like indulging in a tall glass of homemade strawberry lemonade. This easy recipe combines fresh lemon juice’s tartness with fresh strawberries’ sweetness for a refreshing summertime drink.

strawberry lemonade in a glass with text overlay

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This easy strawberry lemonade recipe is a refreshing drink full of strawberry and lemon flavors.

Easy to Make: This drink is super easy to make and comes together fast for those lazy afternoons, barbecues, or cookouts. 

Kid-Friendly: Kids as well as adults love this tart and sweet drink. It’s the perfect balance and creates a balance that’s sure to please. You control the sweetness level by adjusting the sugar.

Refreshing: Not only is this strawberry lemonade delicious, but it is also refreshing and will satisfy your thirst.

Strawberry Picking: This is my personal favorite way to use fresh strawberries in a simple recipe. Add more strawberries for extra flavor.

What Is Fantastic About this Drink

Summers are made for family, swimming, picnics, gatherings, grilling, and enjoying low-key time. Sipping on this strawberry lemonade while family and friends gather is a great way to kick off a party or gathering. 

Where to Serve Strawberry Lemonade

Bridal Showers: Serve this beverage at showers to add a burst of flavor and freshness to the celebration.

Birthday Parties: Add this strawberry lemonade to the beverage table and give your guests a fresh option.

Weddings: Offer this drink as a non-alcoholic beverage at a wedding.

Backyard Barbecues: Offer this beverage to compliment grilled meats and summer sides.

Family Gatherings: Enhance family gatherings by serving this strawberry lemonade as a refreshing alternative to sodas.

This strawberry lemonade disappears fast, so you might as well make a double batch.

This strawberry lemonade disappears fast, so you might as well make a double batch.

How to Make Strawberry Lemonade

This fresh strawberry lemonade recipe is a great thing to keep on hand during the warmer months. I like to make this drink when I have extra strawberries. The fresh fruit makes a delicious and refreshing summer drink. For the full recipe, please see the recipe card below.

Puree the Strawberries—Use a blender or food processor to puree the strawberries. Combine strawberries and ½ cups of water in a blender and blend until strawberries are completely pureed. Pour strawberry puree through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl and use a spatula to press as much strawberry juice as possible. Discard the remaining pulp. 

Make the Simple Syrup– In a small saucepan, stir together 2 1/2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water over medium heat. Heat and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.

Juice the Lemons—Squeeze and juice the lemon, removing the seeds. Add the juice to a 1-gallon pitcher. Add simple syrup and pureed strawberries and give it a good stir to combine. Fill the pitcher with water and refrigerate until cold.

Serve– Add ice to a glass and pour strawberry lemonade over ice when ready to serve. 

Ingredients Needed for Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

picture of strawberry lemonade ingredients with text overlay

With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of this strawberry lemonade to serve on hot summer days. Please see the printable recipe card below for a complete list of amounts and fresh ingredients. This easy homemade strawberry lemonade recipe is a keeper and should be your go-to summertime recipe.

  • Fresh Strawberries – Use ripe, juicy strawberries for the best flavor. Fresh strawberries are the star of the show and pair perfectly with the tart lemons.
  • Lemons—Fresh-squeezed lemon juice provides the tartness for this lemonade, adding tanginess and zest to this classic lemonade. Use fresh lemons.
  • Sugar—Sugar is needed for sweetness. Creating a simple sugar helps to dissolve the sugar and mixes nicely with the strawberry mixture.
  • Water – The water is used to dilute the sugar and to fill the large pitcher.
  • Ice Cubes – Ice cubes are optional as long as the lemonade is cold but they add a nice touch in the hot summer heat.

Southern Sweet Tea is another summer beverage that will quench your thirst. It’s fast, easy, and southern.

Tips For The Best Strawberry Lemonade

These tips will help you create a fresh strawberry lemonade recipe that’s bursting with flavors and perfect for sipping during warmer months.

  • Use Fresh Strawberries for the best strawberry flavor.
  • Squeeze lemons for the best and freshest juice and flavor.
  • Make the simple syrup. Don’t just dump the sugar into the pitcher. All of the sugar will sink to the bottom and not get dissolved as it should. 
  • Puree the strawberries and strain the juice. Discard the seeds and pulp. This step does take a few extra minutes, but it is so worth it.


Recipe Variations

If you like to make various drink variations during the summer months, try experimenting with several options to create a classic summer beverage to suit your taste preference.

  • Make a sparkling strawberry lemonade by adding sparkling water in place of tap water.
  • Make a minty strawberry lemonade by adding fresh mint to the large pitcher.
  • Make a berry blast lemonade by adding a mix of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

Tools Needed for Easy Strawberry Lemonade

Blender/Strainer – A blender is needed for pureeing the fresh strawberries and a fine-mesh strainer is needed to remove any seeds or pulp.

Lemon Juicer – Choose a sturdy hand held juicer for squeezing out all of the juice from the lemons.

Saucepan – A saucepan is needed for preparing the simple syrup.

Large Pitcher – This is needed for mixing and storing the lemonade.

Large Spoon – A large spoon for stirring the strawberry lemonade.

Recipe FAQs

It is best to make a simple syrup with water and sugar. It’s simple to make. Add water and sugar to a pot on the stovetop and heat until the sugar dissolves. Turn off the heat. The simple syrup will keep the sugar from sinking to the bottom of the pitcher when mixed.

Yes. In a pinch, bottled lemon juice will work for this recipe. Find a good brand, and substitute the fresh lemons for the bottled lemon juice. However, fresh lemons are the best.


More Great Summer Recipes

Southern Tomato Cracker Salad

Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches

Macaroni Salad

Easy Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

strawberry lemonade in glasses with text overlay
strawberry lemonade picture with text overlay

Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Gina Abernathy
This Strawberry Lemonade recipe is an all-time summer favorite. It's fast to make and so refreshing to drink. Made with just a few simple ingredients and comes together in minutes.
5 from 17 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups fresh strawberries quartered
  • cups sugar
  • 2 cups water plus more to fill the pitcher about 10 cups
  • cups lemon juice freshly squeezed

Instructions
 

  •  Puree the Strawberries– Use a blender or food processor to puree the strawberries. Combine strawberries, and ½ cup of water, in a blender and blend until strawberries are completely pureed. Pour strawberry puree through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl and use a spatula to press as much strawberry juice as possible. Discard remaining pulp. 
  • Make the Simple Syrup– In a small saucepan, stir together 2 1/2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water over medium heat. Heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
  • Juice the Lemons– Squeeze and juice the lemon removing seeds. Add juice to a 1-gallon pitcher. Add simple syrup and pureed strawberries and stir to combine. Fill the pitcher with water and refrigerate until cold.
  • Serve– Add ice to a glass and pour strawberry lemonade over ice when ready to serve.
Keyword Fresh Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

18 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Best lemonade ever Gina! All of my friends keep asking me why do I go through all the trouble of making homemade drinks. But the answer is simple… It’s healthy and delicious, thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    I have so many strawberries from my garden this is a great recipe for all summer long.. I might try to make popsicles with it too! Thank you

  3. 5 stars
    Gina I absolutely loved this lemonade. It was so refreshing and had the perfect balance of sweetness.

  4. 5 stars
    This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!

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