Description
A budget-friendly, kid-approved summer drink made with just a few fresh ingredients. This refreshing lemonade combines sweet strawberries, tart lemon juice, and cooling mint for a homemade treat that costs pennies per serving.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1 cup (240ml) water (for blending)
- 1 large bunch fresh mint leaves (about 1 cup loosely packed)
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120ml) water (for simple syrup)
- 6–8 medium fresh lemons (yields 1 to 1.5 cups juice)
- 4–6 cups cold water or sparkling water (for dilution)
- Ice (for serving)
Instructions
- Make the strawberry-mint puree: Add strawberries, half of the mint leaves (torn), and 1 cup of water to a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Strain if a smooth texture is desired, or leave pulp for texture.
- Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water. Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely dissolved. Do not boil. Let cool completely.
- Squeeze the lemons: Cut lemons in half and squeeze to yield 1 to 1.5 cups of fresh juice. Roll lemons on the counter before cutting to maximize juice extraction.
- Combine ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix the strawberry puree, cooled simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice. Stir well.
- Add remaining mint: Tear the remaining mint leaves gently with your hands and add them to the pitcher to release flavor.
- Dilute and chill: Add 4 to 6 cups of cold water (or sparkling water) depending on desired strength. Taste and adjust. Stir in a large handful of ice before serving.
- Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator (without ice) for up to 3 days.
Notes
Use frozen strawberries for a thicker, slushier texture. Do not skip the simple syrup step as granulated sugar does not dissolve well in cold liquid. If making ahead, store puree and syrup separately in the fridge and mix with lemon juice and water on the day of serving. Add mint leaves right before serving if making more than a few hours in advance to prevent bitterness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, mint lemonade, summer drinks, budget recipes, kid-friendly drinks, homemade lemonade, gluten-free, vegan