Are you a fan of classic lemonade but looking to switch things up? Our pink lemonade is the answer! With just the right sweetness and a burst of berry flavor, it's a refreshing twist on a classic. It's fun and colorful, uses a few fresh ingredients, is customizable (use your favorite berries), and comes together in minutes.
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Quick and easy
This twist on homemade lemonade is sweet and refreshing, perfect for any occasion and especially popular as a Summer drink for barbecues, picnics and potlucks.
If stored correctly, it can also be taken on camping trips, hiking, and similar activities.
- Quick and easy.
- Healthier: You control the ingredients that go into it. Use fresh, natural ingredients and avoid artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives in store-bought lemonade.
- Cost-effective: it can be much cheaper than buying pre-made drinks.
- Customizable: You can adjust the sweetness and tartness to your liking and the type of berries you use.
The berries give it a gorgeous pink hue and a unique flavor. It is a close cousin to this blueberry vodka lemonade recipe and a distant relative to the popular blueberry margarita.
FAQ
It has a fruity, sweet lemon flavor with a berry tone, depending on the type of berry or berries you use. To make one fruit flavor stand out more, add a larger quantity of it.
Regular lemonade is made by mixing freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar, and water. To make it pink, you add berries, whole and crushed. Their juices tint the lemonade immediately, giving it that lovely pink color, and also add flavor. It's typically chilled and served over ice.
While you can use bottled lemon juice, it won't have the same fresh flavor as freshly squeezed lemon juice. If you do, read the label to ensure it doesn't contain added sugar or preservatives.
Testing Notes
- Simple sugar syrup: I like it much better than sugar because it sometimes doesn't dissolve completely or requires frequent stirring. The syrup takes about 5 minutes and can be stored in the fridge almost indefinitely. It is always in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Don't add all the lemon juice and syrup from the start in case your pitcher is not large enough, or if it's your first time and you don't know how tart or sweet you want it. That way, you can adjust.
- Stir before serving: The ingredients can settle at the bottom of the jar or pitcher over time. Give it a good stir before serving to distribute the ingredients evenly.
- Freezing lemonade is a great option and lasts for a month. I store it in ice cube trays, like the concentrated frozen lemonade.
Ingredient Notes
Quantities are listed on the recipe card towards the end of this post. The Ingredients page has more details and lists the brands we use.
- Lemon juice: freshly squeezed. I don't recommend bottled juice.
- Berries: whole and crushed. I use a mix of raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries, but choose your favorites.
- Cold water: Use regular water with ice cubes or make the lemonade ahead so it has time to chill in the fridge before serving.
Variations & substitutions
Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors to create your unique homemade lemonade recipe.
- Herbs: Add chopped fresh mint leaves for a refreshing and cooling flavor, or use hibiscus tea instead of some of the water for a floral and slightly tart flavor.
- Fresh ginger: It adds a spicy and zesty kick.
- Honey, maple syrup, or agave: substitute the simple syrup or sugar in your lemonade with another syrup for a more natural and healthier sweetener.
- Just one berry: Use fresh raspberries, strawberries or even cranberries to make their namesake lemonade. Also, a splash of cranberry juice can add a very different flavor to this pink drink.
- Fizzy drink: substitute some of the water for club soda.
How to make pink lemonade
- Cut lemon slices to place in the pitcher and the glasses as garnishes before serving.
- Add lemon juice to the pitcher with lemon slices, ice cubes, and sugar syrup.
- Add whole and crushed berries and stir until the lemonade turns pink. Taste and adjust for sweetness or tartness.
- Serve in glasses with ice cubes and lemon slices.
Storage
Pink lemonade can last 5-7 days if stored properly in the refrigerator. However, its freshness and flavor will gradually decline over time.
- Store it in an airtight container: transfer your lemonade from the pitcher to a clean container with a tight-fitting lid or cover.
- Keep it refrigerated: it should be in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. This will help prevent bacterial growth and keep it fresh.
- Check for signs of spoilage: If your lemonade or fruit looks cloudy, has an off odor or taste, or shows signs of mold, discard it immediately.
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Pink Lemonade
Ingredients
For the sugar syrup:
- ¾ cup sugar, see Notes below if you like very sweet lemonade
- ¾ cup water
For the lemonade:
- 1 cup fresh berries
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 6 to 8 lemons
- 2 to 3 cups cold water
- ice cubes
- lemon slices and mint leaves, for serving
Instructions
For the simple syrup:
- For the syrup combine ¾ cup sugar and ¾ cup water in a medium saucepan.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat when it starts to boil, and let the syrup cool to room temperature. The sugar will have dissolved, and you'll have a clear, simple syrup. You can store it in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and keep it in the fridge almost indefinitely.
To make the lemonade:
- Process ⅓ cup of the berries in a small blender or mash in a bowl with a fork (it will be chunky).
- Juice lemons to make 1 cup fresh berries. You might find an electric citrus juicer handy for this task.
- Combine ¾ cup of lemon juice, ½ cup of cold syrup, 2 cups of cold water, and about 1 cup of ice cubes in a large pitcher (about 6 cup capacity).
- Add the fresh and mashed berries and stir until you get a pink hue.
- Taste and adjust to your palate. I use the whole amount of lemon juice and syrup, but the first time, it's better if you mix less of each and then adjust.
- If not using ice cubes, chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and adjust the amount of water to fill the pitcher.
- Pour into glasses with a few ice cubes, lemon slices and mint leaves.
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