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When life hands you 22 pounds of fresh strawberries and a heatwave at the same time, there’s really only one answer: homemade fresh strawberry lemonade.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

I made this during a full-on heatwave when I desperately needed to use up a mountain of freshly picked strawberries, and it will now be my go-to summer drink. The fresh basil garnish is more than just pretty. It adds a gorgeous pop of green color in the glass, but you can also muddle a few leaves right into the ice for a strawberry basil lemonade that feels a little more special. It makes this seemingly simple drink easy to elevate.

The syrup keeps well in the fridge, so I’d suggest making a big batch while you’re at it. Your kids will appreciate it for those last minute summer sips between bouts of running through the spirnkler. 

The strawberry puree comes together with just three basic ingredients. A quick simmer on the stove, and it creates a rich, vibrant syrup that transforms ordinary lemonade into something truly special.

The result is bright, refreshing, and tastes like peak strawberry season in a glass. And honestly? Store-bought strawberry lemonade tastes like it’s trying way too hard compared to this fresh homemade version.

What You’ll Need To Make Strawberry Lemonade

If you are being ambitious, you can make your own lemonade. It’s a bit more intensive, or you can use a high quality store bought version. Consider it semi-homemade, and just as delicious! 

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • 2 cups Strawberries, topped and quartered
  • 1/2 cup Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • Lemonade of choice, store bought or homemade

Homemade Lemonade

  • 1 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1 1/2 cup Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 7 cups of Water for Lemonade
  • Ice

While this is thicker than a traditional simple syrup, this ramps up the strawberry flavor and gives the finished drink some heft. If you notice your strawberries starting to soften, they are perfect for this application. The more juicy strawberries you can use the better. 

How To Make Strawberry Lemonade (Step-by-Step)

For Strawberry Puree Syrup

  1. Into a small saucepan you will combine the strawberries and sugar. Muddle these with a stiff silicone spatula or a potato masher. Bring them to a simmer and allow them to break down and the juice to fully release. Once mashed down, allow them to cool off the heat. Stir in lemon juice as it cools to ensure the color retains. 
  2. Once cooled, you can use them as-is. Or you can put them into a food processor or blend to create a puree. 
  3. An optional step if you make a puree, is to strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. This is totally optional. 
  4. In a glass full of ice, add in the lemonade, and pour over a healthy spoonful of strawberry puree. Stir to combine and serve. 

For Homemade Lemonade

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1 cup of water to create a simple syrup. Bring to a simmer and allow the sugar to dissolve. Set aside to cool, similarly to the strawberry syrup.
  2. When cooled, stir in the lemon juice.
  3. Into a large pitcher add in 6-7 cups of water, then the lemon syrup. Stir. Adjust water to taste. Start with 6 cups of water and add up to 7 cups total. Chill.
  4. Pour over ice when ready to serve.

If you want to make a big batch of these, you can make them in a pitcher, and scale the recipe accordingly! Be sure to mix the batch before serving in case any of the strawberry puree settles. 

Make it Boozy!!

If you’re in the mood for an adult version of this strawberry lemonade, you can add in a few different alcohols!

  • Silver Tequila
  • Vodka
  • or Rum! 

Add lemon slices lime or more fresh strawberry slices to the mix. And don’t forget the herbs to make them a really fancy refreshing summer cocktail! 

Make Ahead & Store

You can make this ahead of time, or make a big batch strawberry lemonade by adding it into a pitcher. 

For big batch fresh strawberry lemonade,

  • Stir together 6 cups of lemonade, with 1 cup of strawberry puree. 
  • Do not add ice until ready to serve, to ensure that the lemonade does not get watered down. 
  • Add ice to glasses at service, then pour over stirred strawberry lemonade over the ice. Be sure to stir the mixture before pouring, as any solids will settle into the lemonade. 

If you want to prep the strawberry pulp and strawberry sauce ahead of time, you can make the syrup three days in advance and chill in the fridge until needed. 

Equipment Needed

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Fresh Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

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  • Author: Megan Keno
  • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 Minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 Servings 1x
  • Category: Beverage, Drinks
  • Method: Stove Top
Print Recipe

Description

Strawberry Puree

  • 2 cups Strawberries, topped and quartered

  • 1/2 cup Sugar

  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

  • Lemonade of choice, store bought or homemade

Homemade Lemonade

  • 1 3/4 cup Sugar

  • 1 cup Water

  • 1 1/2 cup Fresh Lemon Juice

  • 7 cups of Water for Lemonade

  • Ice

Ingredients

For Strawberry Puree Syrup

  1. Into a small saucepan you will combine the strawberries and sugar. Muddle these with a stiff silicone spatula or a potato masher. Bring them to a simmer and allow them to break down and the juice to fully release. Once mashed down, allow them to cool off the heat. Stir in lemon juice as it cools to ensure the color retains.
  2. Once cooled, you can use them as-is. Or you can put them into a food processor or blend to create a puree.
  3. An optional step if you make a puree, is to strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds. This is totally optional.
  4. In a glass full of ice, add in the lemonade, and pour over a healthy spoonful of strawberry puree. Stir to combine and serve.

For Homemade Lemonade

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1 cup of water to create a simple syrup. Bring to a simmer and allow the sugar to dissolve. Set aside to cool, similarly to the strawberry syrup.
  2. When cooled, stir in the lemon juice.
  3. Into a large pitcher add in 6-7 cups of water, then the lemon syrup. Stir. Adjust water to taste. Start with 6 cups of water and add up to 7 cups total. Chill.
  4. Pour over ice when ready to serve.