This Strawberry Lemonade is the perfect refreshing summer drink. It's made with fresh lemon juice and zest and sweetened with homemade strawberry lemon simple syrup.
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the lemon zest into strips. Set lemons aside.
Lemon simple syrup: In a medium pan over medium-high heat, bring 1 cup water, strawberries, sugar and lemon zest strips to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium and simmer until sugar is dissolved and liquid is syrupy, about 5-8 minutes. Mash berries gently before straining to release the juices. Strain and refrigerate syrup until needed.
Juice lemons and add 1 cup lemon juice to a large pitcher (reserve any extra so you can adjust the flavor to your tastes).
Add 1 cup ice cubes, remaining 3 cups water, and lemon simple syrup. Stir to combine and garnish with fresh lemon slices if desired. Refrigerate until chilled.
Notes
*I use 3 very large lemons and it is flavorful but mild. If you like extra zip, use 4 large or 5 small lemons, including all the zest and juice. You can also make it as is, and add extra fresh lemon slices to serve if you want a little more tang.Tips:
Use fresh lemon! The flavor of freshly squeezed lemon juice is just unmatched.
Lemon amount: I use 3 large lemons and the lemonade is flavorful but mild. If you like a little extra zip, use 4 large or 5 small lemons, including the zest and juice. You can also garnish with some fresh lemon slices for serving if you want a little extra tang.
If you're prepping ahead of time, wait to add the ice so it doesn't melt and dilute the lemonade.
Strain the syrup. Straining the syrup gets rid of any fruit pulp or strawberry seeds for a smooth drink.
Chill the syrup. Let the simple syrup cool off a bit before you add it to the lemonade. I don't know about you, but warm lemonade doesn't sound as good as ice cold lemonade does!
Storage:Once the ice is added, the lemonade is best right away. If it sits too long, the ice will melt and dilute the flavor. If you leave the ice out, you can combine everything and store the lemonade in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 5 months. When you're ready to serve, thaw in the fridge, add water if needed, and enjoy.