Make bright, refreshing strawberry lemonade at home using a handful of simple ingredients: fresh strawberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a honey simple syrup. For a subtle herbal twist, muddle fresh basil into the mix. This drink is easy to prepare, easy to scale for a crowd, and can be served nonalcoholic or spiked with vodka.
The BEST Strawberry Lemonade
This strawberry lemonade comes together in about 30 minutes and delivers a balanced sweet-tart flavor with bright strawberry aroma and a hint of basil. Using freshly squeezed lemon juice and a strained strawberry puree keeps the texture silky and removes seeds, while a honey-based simple syrup lends a mellow, natural sweetness that complements the fruit.
Serve it chilled over ice for a family-friendly beverage, or add an ounce of vodka per cup to make a refreshing summer cocktail.
How to Make Strawberry Lemonade
1. Make Honey Simple Syrup
Combine equal parts honey and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent the honey from scorching. The syrup will thicken slightly as it reduces. Remove from heat, transfer to a jar, and chill until ready to use. If you prefer a neutral sweetness, substitute with a standard simple syrup made from granulated sugar and water.
2. Puree and Strain the Strawberries
Place hulled strawberries and a splash of water into a high-speed blender and puree until smooth. Pour the puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and press with the back of a spoon to remove seeds. Straining yields a smoother lemonade and a more elegant mouthfeel. Set the seed-free strawberry puree aside.
3. Muddle Fresh Basil
For the basil infusion, place roughly 1/4 cup of fresh basil leaves in a glass, add 2 tablespoons of water, and gently muddle with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon. Muddling releases the basil’s essential oils without shredding the leaves, giving the lemonade a bright, herbal lift. Reserve a few basil leaves for garnish if desired.
4. Squeeze the Lemons
Squeeze enough lemons to yield the required lemon juice (about 4 large lemons per cup of juice). A handheld juicer works well and saves time. Combine the fresh lemon juice with the chilled honey simple syrup, the strained strawberry puree, the muddled basil and additional water in a large pitcher. Stir well to integrate the flavors.
5. Chill and Serve
Refrigerate the pitcher for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld and the drink becomes thoroughly chilled. Serve over ice and garnish with basil leaves or a slice of lemon. To turn this into a cocktail, pour in vodka to taste—about 1 ounce per cup of lemonade is a good starting point.
How do I make this lemonade sweeter?
If you prefer a sweeter lemonade, gradually add more honey simple syrup to taste. Because the recipe uses fresh fruit and lemon juice, sweetness can be adjusted easily at the end before chilling.
How to Make a Large Batch
This recipe scales well for parties and gatherings. Multiply the ingredients proportionally and follow the same steps. Serve from a beverage dispenser or large pitcher with plenty of ice and fresh basil sprigs for a casual backyard barbecue or picnic.
Ingredients (serves 12)
Simple Syrup
- 1.5 cups water
- 1.5 cups honey
Strawberry Puree
- 3 lb fresh strawberries, hulled
- 3/4 cup water
Other
- 3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1.5 cups water (to dilute)
- Fresh basil (about 1/4 cup leaves to muddle, plus more for garnish)
How to Store Strawberry Lemonade
Store the lemonade in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Because it uses fresh strawberry puree and freshly squeezed lemon juice, the flavor and texture are best when consumed within a few days. If you want longer storage, freeze some of the lemonade in ice cube trays and transfer the cubes to a sealed bag for future use.
Freezer Tip
Freeze leftover lemonade in ice cube trays, then move the frozen cubes to a resealable bag. Thaw as needed or drop a few frozen lemonade cubes into plain lemonade for an extra burst of flavor without diluting the drink.
Recipe Summary
Prep time: 30 minutes. Servings: 4 (adjustable). This strawberry basil lemonade combines fresh strawberry puree, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a honey simple syrup for balanced sweetness. Muddled basil adds a subtle herbal note. Serve chilled over ice and optionally spike with vodka for an adult version.
Tips & Notes
- Strain the strawberry puree to remove seeds for a silky texture.
- Adjust sweetness with more or less simple syrup to suit your taste.
- Use very ripe strawberries for the best natural sweetness and color.
- To make a neutral simple syrup instead of honey, use equal parts water and granulated sugar.
- For a boozy variation, add 1 ounce vodka per cup of lemonade.
Nutrition
Approximate per serving: 167 kcal; Carbs 44 g; Protein 1 g; Fat 1 g; Fiber 1 g; Sugar 40 g. Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on ingredient brands and serving sizes.