Easy Strawberry Lemonade
Cool, refreshing, and bursting with real fruit flavor, this strawberry lemonade is the perfect summer drink! Easy to make, better-for-you sweeteners, and customizable for any occasion.
If summer had a signature drink, this would be it. This strawberry lemonade is everything you want on a hot day – cool, fruity, tangy, and made with real ingredients. It’s like a sip of sunshine, and once you taste it, you’ll never go back to store-bought.
If you’re more of a classic lemonade kind of person, don’t miss my Homemade Lemonade Recipe, simple, bright, and just as refreshing.
How to Make Fresh Strawberry Lemonade
Watch the full video recipe to learn how to make this fresh strawberry lemonade. This step-by-step tutorial simplifies the process, offering tips and tricks to guarantee perfect results every time.
Prefer the written recipe? Scroll down to the recipe box 👇
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Lemonade
If you’re craving something cold, fruity, and vibrant, this strawberry lemonade with real fruit is the summer drink you need in your life. It’s more than just a thirst-quencher—it’s a feel-good, sunshine-in-a-glass kind of drink that’s guaranteed to impress. Here’s why it’s a must-make:
- Made with fresh strawberries and lemons – no concentrates or artificial flavors here. Just real, whole ingredients you can feel good about.
- Lower in sugar than most recipes – most lemonades call for 1–2 cups of sugar (crazy, right?). This version is much lighter, and still absolutely delicious.
- Naturally sweetened option – use honey, maple syrup, or your favorite low-carb alternative for a healthier spin.
- Perfect balance of tart and sweet – that just-right flavor that keeps you coming back for more.
- Endlessly customizable – turn it into a fizzy drink with sparkling water, or serve it as a mocktail or cocktail. It’s picnic, party, and pool-day ready.
- Ready in 10 minutes – no fancy tools, no complicated steps, and zero stress. Blend, stir, pour. Done.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Here’s what you need to make the best strawberry lemonade with fresh lemons:
- Strawberries – Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the sweetest flavor. Frozen works too, just thaw before blending.
- Sugar (or honey/maple syrup) – Classic sugar makes a great simple syrup, but I often swap in honey for a richer taste.
- Water – Used for the simple syrup and to dilute the lemonade. Want to make a strawberry lemonade with sparkling water? Just swap still water with sparkling water.
- Fresh lemon juice – This is key. Always go for freshly squeezed lemons for brightness and flavor.
- Ice – Don’t skip it! It helps keep everything perfectly chilled.
Prefer the written recipe? Scroll down to the recipe box 👇
What to Do With Leftover Strawberries
If you’ve got more strawberries to use up, here are a few of my favorite recipes:
- Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- Strawberry Tiramisu
- Strawberry Quinoa Salad
- Strawberry Chia Seed Jam
- 3-Ingredient Strawberry Ice Cream
Substitutes and Variations
One of the best things about this strawberry drink recipe is how easy it is to make your own:
- Sweetener swaps: Use honey, maple syrup, agave, stevia, or monk fruit instead of sugar.
- Lemonade fizz: Use club soda or sparkling water for a fizzy twist.
- Herbal upgrade: Add fresh mint, basil, or rosemary for extra depth.
- Make it a cocktail: Add vodka, gin, or prosecco for an easy non-alcoholic-to-cocktail transformation.
- Vegan and allergen-friendly: Naturally gluten-free and vegan as long as you use a plant-based sweetener like maple syrup.
- Low-sugar version: Use a sugar alternative or reduce the sweetener to taste.
Pro Tips
After making this homemade strawberry lemonade more times than I can count (and after thousands of readers tried my drink recipes), I’ve nailed down some foolproof tips:
- Strain the puree for a silky smooth texture—especially if you’re serving guests.
- Taste and adjust: Don’t be afraid to tweak the lemon juice or sweetener.
- Chill your water beforehand so your lemonade is instantly cold.
- Make a batch in advance and let it chill in the fridge for even better flavor.
- Double the recipe for parties or summer BBQs. It disappears fast!
How to Store Strawberry Lemonade
Store leftover strawberry lemonade in a sealed pitcher or container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Shake or stir before serving, as natural separation can occur.
- For best flavor, serve over fresh ice.
- Want to freeze it? Make lemonade ice cubes to drop into sparkling water or future drinks.
Easy Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1- pound (450 g) Strawberries hulled
- ¼ cup (50 g) Sugar or honey/maple syrup if you prefer *read notes
- ¼ cup (60 ml) Water For simple syrup
- ⅔ cup (160 ml) fresh-squeezed lemon juice about 4-5 lemons
- 3 cups (720 ml) Cold water (or sparkling water)
- Ice
Instructions
- Wash and prep: Thoroughly wash the strawberries under cold water. Hull them (remove the green tops) and set them aside.
- Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1/4 cup water. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely (1-2 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
- Blend the strawberries: Place the washed strawberries in a blender, add the syrup and blend until smooth.
- Strain (optional): For a smoother lemonade, strain the strawberry puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds.
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry puree (with the simple syrup), the lemon juice, cold water (or sparkling water) and stir to combine.
- Taste & adjust: Taste your lemonade and adjust to your liking by adding more lemon juice, water, or sweetener if needed.
- Serve: Fill glasses with ice, pour the lemonade, and garnish with mint or lemon slices.
Video
Notes
- Sugar amount: Feel free to increase or decrease the sugar depending on how tart or sweet you like your drinks. You can start with 1/4 cup and add more if needed.
- Other sweeteners: You can swap granulated sugar for honey, maple syrup, agave, or even low-carb options like erythritol, monk fruit, or stevia. Just be mindful of their sweetness levels—start small and adjust to taste.
- Water alternatives: Instead of still water, you can use sparkling water or club soda for a fizzy version.
- Lemon juice control: Adjust the tartness by adding more or less lemon juice depending on how zesty you want your lemonade.
- Mix-ins: Get creative! Add fresh mint, basil, or rosemary for an herby twist. You can also muddle cucumber slices or ginger for extra complexity.
- Storage: Store the lemonade in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Stir before serving as natural separation may occur.
- Adding alcohol: Turn this into a refreshing cocktail by adding vodka, white rum, gin, tequila, or even sparkling wine. Just stir in your choice of alcohol after mixing the lemonade—start with about 1.5 oz (45 ml) per serving or adjust to your liking.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Yes! You can make strawberry lemonade with honey by replacing the sugar in the simple syrup with honey. Start with the same amount, then adjust to taste.
Absolutely. To make strawberry lemonade with sparkling water, just swap out the cold still water with club soda or your favorite sparkling water for a fizzy twist.
Yes, this makes a great base for a non-alcoholic strawberry cocktail or an alcoholic one. Add vodka, gin, tequila, or sparkling wine for a grown-up version.
Use honey, maple syrup, agave, or monk fruit for a naturally sweetened lemonade. Always start small and adjust to taste.
Yes! Frozen strawberries work perfectly for this recipe. Just let them thaw slightly before blending so they puree smoothly. They’re a great option when fresh berries aren’t in season.
I am so going to make this! I already tried your regular lemonade and sangria, both were so good and delicious. No doubt this strawberry lemonade will be just as good. I’m making it this weekend!