Ingredients
For the Base:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries (about 1 pound), hulled and halved
- 6-8 medium lemons (yielding 1 cup fresh lemon juice)
- ¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 3 cups water (divided: 1 cup for simple syrup, 2 cups for base)
- 2-3 cups sparkling water or club soda, chilled
Optional Additions:
- Zest of 2 lemons
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- 6-8 fresh basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
For Serving:
- Ice cubes
- Fresh strawberry slices
- Lemon wheels or wedges
- Fresh mint or basil sprigs
Instructions
- Prepare Strawberries: Rinse and hull strawberries. Cut in half or quarters. Blend until completely smooth (about 45 seconds). Strain through fine-mesh sieve if you want seed-free lemonade. Set aside.
- Make Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water with ¾ cup sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves completely (3-5 minutes). Don’t boil. Cool to room temperature.
- Juice Lemons: Roll lemons on counter to soften. Cut in half and juice until you have 1 cup of fresh juice. Strain to remove seeds and pulp.
- Combine Base: In a large pitcher, mix strawberry puree, lemon juice, cooled simple syrup, and 2 cups cold water. Stir well. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Chill: Refrigerate base mixture for at least 1 hour (2-4 hours ideal) to let flavors meld.
- Add Sparkle: Just before serving, add 2-3 cups chilled sparkling water. Stir gently to avoid releasing carbonation.
- Serve: Fill glasses with ice, pour Strawberry Lemonade Splash over ice, and garnish with fresh strawberry slices, lemon wheels, and herb sprigs.
Notes
- Adjust sugar based on strawberry sweetness and personal preference
- Add sparkling water just before serving to maintain fizz
- Base mixture keeps refrigerated for 3 days; add sparkling water fresh each time
- For smoother texture, strain strawberry puree before mixing
- Make it a cocktail: add 1-2 oz vodka, rum, or prosecco per glass
- Freeze leftover base in ice cube trays to use in future batches
- Peak-season strawberries (late spring/early summer) have best flavor
- Can substitute frozen strawberries (thaw completely first)
- Scale recipe up for parties—make base ahead, add sparkling water in batches
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (for simple syrup)
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Mixing, Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian