Description
Berry Lemonade is the ultimate refreshing summer drink combining a flavorful homemade berry syrup with freshly squeezed lemon juice and cool water. This vibrant beverage blends the natural sweetness of mixed berries with the tangy zest of lemons, sweetened with just the right amount of sugar. Perfect for hot days, parties, or anytime you need a cool, fruity pick-me-up.
Ingredients
Scale
Berry Syrup
- 2 cups mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries), fresh or frozen
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Lemonade
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 6–8 lemons)
- 6 cups cold water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
Garnish
- Fresh berries
- Lemon slices
- Mint sprigs
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Prepare the berry syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine the mixed berries, 1 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
- Simmer the berries: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries break down and the mixture thickens slightly.
- Mash the berries: Use a potato masher or a spoon to gently mash the berries, releasing more juice and enhancing flavor.
- Strain the syrup: Place a fine-mesh sieve over a heat-proof bowl. Pour the berry mixture through the sieve, pressing down on the solids to extract as much syrup as possible. Discard the solid berry pulp.
- Add lemon juice to syrup: Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to the strained berry syrup for added brightness.
- Cool the syrup: Let the berry syrup cool completely before use. You can refrigerate it to speed up the cooling process.
- Make fresh lemon juice: Squeeze lemons to yield 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, ensuring to remove any seeds.
- Create simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup cold water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves completely. Allow the simple syrup to cool.
- Mix lemonade base: In a large pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, the remaining 5 1/2 cups of cold water, and the cooled simple syrup or 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Stir thoroughly until sugar is fully dissolved. Adjust sweetness to taste.
- Chill the lemonade: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and chill well.
- Prepare serving glasses: Fill glasses with ice cubes to keep the drink refreshingly cold.
- Add berry syrup: Pour about 2-3 tablespoons of the prepared berry syrup into each glass, adjusting quantity based on your preferred berry flavor intensity.
- Pour lemonade over syrup: Slowly pour the chilled lemonade over the berry syrup and ice in each glass.
- Mix the drink: Gently stir the mixture of lemonade and berry syrup to combine flavors without disrupting the ice too much.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish each glass with fresh berries, lemon slices, and mint sprigs for a beautiful presentation and fresh aroma.
- Enjoy your Berry Lemonade: Serve immediately as a delicious and revitalizing summer drink.
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen mixed berries depending on availability; frozen berries should be thawed slightly before cooking.
- Adjust the amount of sugar in the lemonade and syrup to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs.
- For a sparkling version, replace some or all of the water with sparkling water just before serving.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved to suit the number of servings required.
- To make the berry syrup thicker, simmer slightly longer but keep stirring to prevent burning.
- Use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to ensure the syrup is smooth and free of berry seeds.
- Store any leftover berry syrup and lemonade separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
