About this recipe

A bright, refreshing homemade strawberry lemonade made with real strawberries and freshly squeezed lemons. A simple strawberry simple syrup is the secret — it gives the drink a gorgeous pink color and deep, natural berry flavor that store-bought versions can never match. Perfect for summer gatherings, backyard BBQs, or any time you need something cool and crowd-pleasing.

Instructions

1. 1

   Combine the hulled strawberries, granulated sugar, and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan over ^[medium heat]. Stir gently to combine.

2. 2

   Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to ^[low] and simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries have completely softened and broken down and the liquid is a deep red color.

3. 3

   Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Pour the mixture through a sieve into a mixing bowl or jar, pressing the solids firmly with the back of a wooden spoon to extract all the syrup. Discard the solids. Let the syrup cool completely — you can speed this up by placing it in the fridge.

4. 4

   Juice your lemon until you have 1½ cups of fresh lemon juice. Strain out any seeds.

5. 5

   In a large pitcher (Large), combine the fresh lemon juice, 4 cups of cold water, and 1 cup of the cooled strawberry syrup. Stir well to combine.

6. 6

   Taste and adjust: add more strawberry syrup for sweetness and berry flavor, more lemon juice for tartness, or more water to dilute. The balance is entirely to your preference.

7. 7

   Fill glasses with plenty of ice. Pour the strawberry lemonade over the ice and garnish each glass with a lemon slice, a halved strawberry on the rim, and a sprig of fresh mint if desired. Serve immediately.