Fitness / March 8, 2024

Strawberry Lemonade

What could be more refreshing on a hot summer’s day than Strawberry Lemonade— luscious berries blended with agave syrup and lemon juice?

Table of Contents

Toggle

There’s so much to love about summer. Playing softball with the neighbors. Going down to the lake for a midday swim. Barbecues and picnics with mouth-watering hamburgers and corn on the cob. But one thing I associate with summer and ONLY summer is this strawberry lemonade.

For whatever reason, sipping on a glass on, say, October 19 just doesn’t taste the same. You need the sun’s rays piercing the glass and making that orange-red color radiate for it to have the same effect. For this reason, the second the temperature climbs above 65°F, I am hulling ALL the strawberries, juicing ALL the lemons, and, er… syruping ALL the agave?

OK, so I’m not doing that last one, but I am stocking up on it. This is all to say you should check up on your fruit stocks now… summer is just around the corner.

Is Strawberry Lemonade Healthy?

The strawberry and lemon are good for you, injecting vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants into your diet. Agave syrup is a natural sweetener that is considered healthier than granulated sugar; however, it does have a lot of fructose (i.e., fruit-based sugar) so don’t drink this stuff by the bucket load. It’s suitable or vegan & vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo (replace the agave syrup with honey or maple syrup), and keto (replace the agave syrup with erythritol or stevia) diets.

Can I Make This An ‘Adult’ Cocktail?

Ha, I like the way you think. Yes, you can do so easily. Vodka, white rum, gin, tequila (which comes from agave), sparkling wine, rose… they’ll all do nicely. Depending on where you live (and how expansive the selection is at your local liquor store), you may be able to find a strawberry– or lemon–flavored vodka to add to your lemonade. The only caveat is that I find many flavored vodkas to taste a bit synthetic, which may not jive with the freshness currently in your glass. My advice is to stick with premium, simple spirits that let the strawberries, lemon, and agave do the talking.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sliced ripe strawberries, hulled and halved
3 cups filtered water
1/2 to 3/4 cup agave syrup
1 cup fresh lemon juice (6-8 large lemons)

INSTRUCTIONS

Blend

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

Adjust

Taste and tweak the lemonade to your liking with additional agave, lemon juice, or strawberries.

Strain

Optionally strain the mixture for a seedless, silky texture.

Chill

Refrigerate the lemonade to enhance the flavors or serve over ice for immediate refreshment.

DEVOUR!

FAQs & Tips

How do you store this lemonade?

Once you’ve blended everything together, pour it into a pitcher and store it in the fridge for up to 7 days. While a lidless, glass pitcher looks the part, I would think about putting it an airtight vessel to keep it fresh and prevent odors from contaminating it.

What does ‘hulling’ mean?

Hulling is the process by which you remove the green stem and leaves and the white core at the top of the berry. A small, sharp knife will suffice, but if you plan on going through a lot of strawberries, you may want to invest in an actual hulling tool (yes, such a thing exists). To execute a kitchen lifehack, use a straw and push right down the berry’s core to remove it.

How long does it need to chill before I can drink it?

Wait at least five hours so the flavors can meld; one sip and you’ll be glad you invested the time.

Can I use frozen lemonade?

The pros of using frozen lemonade concentrate are the cost, convenience, and ease. The cons are the taste and the nutrition. Real lemon juice won’t taste synthetic nor will it contain additives and sugar. In short, it is better for you. So yes, you can use frozen lemonade but there is a trade-off.

Can I make these into popsicles?

Great idea! Just pour the juice into freezer-safe molds and let them chill under hardened. You can also get those plastic popsicle sticks you stick into the mix before putting them in the freezer, making them easier to handle and eat.

Variations To Try

The most obvious way to vary the lemonade is to use different fruits or add them to the strawberries for a sweet cornucopia of flavors. I would stick to berries, though: raspberries, blueberries, etc. If your diet prohibits agave syrup or you just want a change, go for honey or maple syrup instead. The taste will obviously change, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Last, if you want to make this into a spritz, save some room at the top of your glass for club soda. I don’t recommend adding it to the pitcher (assuming you scaled the recipe to accommodate more people) as the fizz will settle quickly and you’ll only end up having to add some more.

Strawberry Lemonade

What could be more refreshing on a hot summer’s day than Strawberry Lemonade— luscious berries blended with agave syrup and lemon juice?

Course Beverage

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 88kcal

Author FoodFaithFitness

Ingredients

1 cup sliced ripe strawberries hulled and halved
3 cups filtered water
1/2 to 3/4 cup agave syrup
1 cup fresh lemon juice approximately 6-8 large lemons

Instructions

Combine strawberries, water, agave syrup (starting with 1/2 cup), and lemon juice in a blender. Blend on medium-high speed until completely smooth, about 30 seconds.
Taste the lemonade and adjust the flavor as needed (more agave syrup for sweetness, more lemon juice for tartness or more strawberries for a stronger berry flavor).
For a smoother texture, strain the lemonade through a fine mesh strainer. This step is optional but I recommend it.
Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or overnight, for best flavor. You can also serve immediately over ice.
Store any leftover lemonade in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For a frozen treat, pour into popsicle molds or ice cube trays.