Fresh Strawberry Lemonade Recipe Easy Homemade Zesty Twist Drink
A refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade with a zesty twist of lemon zest and fresh mint, perfect for summer gatherings and easy to make in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 4–5 large fresh lemons (for about 1/2 cup lemon juice and zest from 2 lemons)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste, can substitute with honey or agave syrup)
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice cubes, for serving
- A handful of fresh mint leaves (optional)
- Lemon zest from 2 lemons
Instructions
- Rinse, hull, and halve about 2 cups of fresh strawberries. Place them in a blender or food processor.
- Blend strawberries until smooth but still slightly pulpy. Pour the puree through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl or pitcher to remove seeds and pulp, pressing gently to extract juice.
- Roll lemons on the counter to loosen juice. Zest two lemons carefully, avoiding the white pith. Squeeze about 1/2 cup (120 ml) lemon juice from 4-5 lemons and strain to remove seeds.
- In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry puree, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves completely.
- Add 4 cups (960 ml) cold water to the pitcher and mix well. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness by adding more sugar or lemon juice if needed.
- Optionally, bruise a handful of fresh mint leaves to release aroma and add to the pitcher. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Serve over ice cubes, garnished with a lemon wheel or strawberry on the rim if desired.
Notes
Use ripe strawberries for natural sweetness. Strain the puree to remove seeds for a smooth texture. Adjust sugar gradually to avoid overly sweet lemonade. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. For a sparkling version, replace 1-2 cups of water with soda water just before serving. Avoid over-blending lemon zest or mint to prevent bitterness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (8 oz or 240 m
- Calories: 105
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0.3
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, homemade lemonade, fresh strawberry drink, summer beverage, zesty lemonade, fresh mint lemonade