Lemonade is a summer staple in my home. Some of my fondest childhood summer memories involve lemonade, from just escaping the heat with a cold glass of lemonade to having lemonade stands in front of our house. It’s the perfect summer beverage. But everything tastes better homemade, so here is a recipe you will love! You get to control how sweet or tart you want it, and it doesn’t taste as sugary as store lemonade mixes.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 pint fresh strawberries
1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 8 lemons)
4-6 cups cold water (this will vary depending on your taste)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Make a simple syrup by combining the sugar with 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Place over medium heat and heat until the sugar in completely dissolved; swirl the pan occasionally. Let cool.
2. Once the simple syrup has cooled, puree strawberries in a blender with 1/2 cup water.
3. Squeeze lemons into a measuring cup. I put the juice through a sieve to separate the pulp and any seeds that were in the juice.
4. In a large pitcher, combine strawberry puree, simple syrup and lemon juice.
5. Add 4-6 cups of cold water. The amount of water you use will depend on your taste, so add as little or as much as you want to achieve your perfect sweet/tart balance.
6. Serve over ice. If desired, garnish with fresh strawberries and lemon slices.
Recipe Credit: My Baking Addiction