Strawberry Lemonade – Barefeet in the Kitchen

There aren’t many things that top a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, but this strawberry lemonade is one of them. And if you’re like me and prefer your drinks a bit less sweet, homemade is the way to go.

You can control the sweetness, and if it’s a lazy summer night, no one is going to judge you for adding a splash of vodka to your glass. Spiked strawberry lemonade? That’s a happy recipe for porch-sitting with friends and family on a Friday night.

I love mixing drinks, both with and without alcohol, in the summertime. There’s something extra refreshing about holding a homemade soda, iced coffee, or a frozen chocolate milk.

Pineapple, mint, and lime combine deliciously to make these irresistible Pineapple Mojitos. These are the cocktails I have made the most frequently for several years now. While I will forever love Classic Mojitos, Blueberry Mojitos, and Basil Mojitos too, the pineapple version is a guaranteed crowd favorite.

Have you heard of a Dirty Banana? I hadn’t until I sailed with Princess Cruises and I have to admit that the name alone made me laugh. Hard. However, the milkshake-like cocktail proved irresistible.

Want something a little unexpected? Sandia en Fuego (a.k.a. the best Watermelon Margaritas of your life!) are a little bit spicy and a little bit sweet. Watermelon meets serrano peppers along with a splash of tequila to make this unforgettable drink. Spicy heat with sweet watermelon? Yes, PLEASE!

Strawberry Lemonade

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• strawberries
• fresh lemon juice
• simple syrup
• water
• fresh mint OPTIONAL

How to Make Strawberry Lemonade

To make simple syrup for drinks, combine ½ cup water and ½ cup white sugar in a jar and shake until the sugar is dissolved. This will keep nicely in the refrigerator until you need it again. It will be thinner than traditional simple syrup and will mix smoothly into the drinks.

If you’d like to make a sugar-free simple syrup, Stevia in the Raw works nicely in place of the white sugar in this recipe. I used it to make sugar free lemonade for years.

Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Start by removing the stems from the strawberries and placing the berries in the blender. Add the lemon juice, ½ cup simple syrup, and water to the blender. Pulse to combine.

Taste, and add more syrup, if desired for a sweeter lemonade. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate until cold.

When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice and add the lemonade. Garnish with fresh mint and additional berries, if desired.

How to Make Sparkling Lemonade

To make a sparkling lemonade, combine the strawberries, simple syrup, and lemon juice in the blender and puree. Pour into a jar and refrigerate until ready to serve.

When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice and then fill them halfway with sparkling water. Top with about ¼ cup of the lemonade mixture. Stir each glass, taste, and add more lemonade mixture, as desired. Garnish with fresh mint and additional berries, if desired.

If you’re lucky enough to have leftover strawberries, you can churn a batch of fresh strawberry ice cream with very little effort.

Sweet berries, spicy jalapenos, onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime combine to make this strawberry salsa. Between this salsa and my pineapple salsa, I just can’t stop making fruit salsas this summer.

Strawberries Romanoff is a dressed-up version of strawberries with whipped cream – it tastes so much fancier than it actually is! The Romanoff sauce is made with a sweet and slightly tangy combination of whipped heavy cream, sour cream, and a bit of sugar. It takes less than ten minutes to assemble this easy no-bake dessert, making it a favorite all summer long.