The Best Homemade Strawberry Lemonade (video)

a close up image of lemonade in tall glasses, on a tray

Nothing beats a glass of chilled, refreshing lemonade on a hot summer day and this recipe is simply the best! Homemade strawberry lemonade with freshly squeezed lemon juice and pureed strawberries. It’s the ultimate summertime drink! Keep it chilled in the fridge and enjoy all weekend long!

Watch My Lemonade Video Tutorial!

Watch my YouTube strawberry lemonade video tutorial for step-by-step instructions and see how I like to serve it. Plus, more recipe tips! Want to stay up to date on the newest recipes? Make sure to subscribe to my website email list and my YouTube channel and turn on notifications.

Ingredients for Strawberry Lemonade

Here are the main ingredients you’ll need to make the best homemade strawberry lemonade! Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

  • Strawberries – fresh strawberries will work best for this recipe; however, frozen berries will also work well if you can’t get your hands on fresh ones.
  • Lemons – nothing beats freshly squeezed lemon juice! You can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch, but it won’t be quite the same.
  • Sugar – adjust the sugar to taste and add more for a sweeter lemonade.

Supplies & Tools for the Recipe

Need some supplies or tools to make this strawberry lemonade recipe at home? Shop my Amazon Affiliate links for the items I use in my kitchen. Using these links won’t cost you extra and I’ll earn a small commission.

several glasses and a tall pitcher on a table with lemons and strawberries

Easy Lemon Syrup for Sweetness

The best lemonades are always sweetened with a sugar syrup, or simply dissolved sugar. This way, you don’t any granulated sugar in your drink.

  1. Add the sugar into a small sauce pot. Adjust the sugar to taste. Add ½ cup for mildly sweet lemonade; 1 cup for a sweet lemonade.
  2. Add the zest of 2 large lemons. Using your fingers, blend together the sugar and lemon zest to activate the lemon oils.
  3. Pour in water, then bring the syrup over to the stovetop. Heat on medium-high heat, until the sugar is completely dissolved. You do not have to boil it. Allow the syrup to cool in the fridge.

Fresh Lemon Juice is the Best!

Nothing beats freshly squeezed lemon juice when it comes to making strawberry lemonade. The freshness, tartness and flavor are unbeatable. If you’re not able to get fresh lemon juice, bottle juice will work in a pinch.

Slice 10 to 12 lemons in half, then squeeze out the juice into a large measuring cup. Strain the juice through a fine mesh strainer to get rid of any seeds or pulp.

a tall pitcher on a tall filled with juice

Pureeing the Strawberries

First wash the strawberries, then take off the stems. Place the strawberries into a food processor or a blender and pulse until you have a smooth puree.

Don’t have a blender or processor? Use two large forks or a potato masher to crush the berries. This method won’t give you the same smooth puree, but it will work in a pinch.

How to Make Strawberry Lemonade

You can make this strawberry lemonade in a large pitcher or a standing drink dispenser.

  1. Drop 1 cup of sliced strawberries and 2 sliced lemons into the bottom of the dispenser/pitcher.
  2. Add about 2 cups of ice, then pour in the chilled lemon sugar syrup, the lemon juice, and the pureed strawberries.
  3. Pour in 6 to 8 cups of water (start with 6) and stir with a large spoon to combine.
  4. For the best results, chill the lemonade for a few hours first, then serve with light ice. Try not to add too much ice as this will water down the lemonade.
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More Recipes!

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5 from 1 vote

The Best Homemade Strawberry Lemonade Recipe!

20 minutes prep + 3 minutes cook
12 cups
The best homemade strawberry lemonade recipe with pureed strawberries, lemon syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice!

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 to 1 cup white granulated sugar, adjust to taste
  • zest from 2 lemons
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 1/2 lbs fresh strawberries
  • 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
  • 2 cups ice cubes
  • 6 cups water

For Garnish:

  • 1 cup strawberries, sliced
  • 2 large lemons, sliced

Instructions

Making the Lemon Syrup:

  • First, prepare the lemon syrup. Add the sugar into a small sauce pot. Adjust the sugar to taste. Add ½ cup for mildly sweet lemonade; 1 cup for a sweet lemonade.
  • Add the zest of 2 large lemons. Using your fingers, blend together the sugar and lemon zest to activate the lemon oils.
  • Pour in water, then bring the syrup over to the stovetop. Heat on medium-high heat, until the sugar is completely dissolved. You do not have to boil it. Allow the syrup to cool in the fridge.

Squeeze the Lemons:

  • Next, juice the lemons. Slice 10 to 12 lemons in half, then squeeze out the juice into a large measuring cup. Strain the juice through a fine mesh strainer to get rid of any seeds or pulp.

Pureeing the Strawberries:

  • First wash the strawberries, then take off the stems. Place the strawberries into a food processor or a blender and pulse until you have a smooth puree.
  • Don’t have a blender or processor? Use two large forks or a potato masher to crush the berries. This method won’t give you the same smooth puree, but it will work in a pinch.

Making Lemonade:

  • Drop 1 cup of sliced strawberries and 2 sliced lemons into the bottom of the dispenser/pitcher.
  • Add about 2 cups of ice, then pour in the chilled lemon sugar syrup, the lemon juice, and the pureed strawberries.
  • Pour in 6 to 8 cups of water (start with 6) and stir with a large spoon to combine.
  • For the best results, chill the lemonade for a few hours first, then serve with light ice. Try not to add too much ice as this will water down the lemonade.

Notes:

  • Nutritional facts calculated for 1/2 cup sugar. Adjust accordingly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.4mg