Fresh and Summery Strawberry Basil Lemonade

This strawberry basil lemonade is one of my FAVORITE summer drinks. Fresh strawberries, basil, and lemon juice make it the prettiest pink drink that tastes like summer in a glass.

This is perfect for backyard parties or just making a regular day feel special. Kids love it plain, grown-ups can add vodka.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Frozen strawberries work great here, and you don’t have to thaw them first. You can use bottled lemon juice, but fresh will always taste best.

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If you’d like to double or triple this recipe, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients

Strawberry Basil Syrup

• 1 cup strawberries, sliced (frozen is perfect!)
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup fresh basil leaves

To Make the Lemonade

• 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 7-10 lemons (bottled is also fine)
• 3 cups water for mixing

How to Make Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Step One: Make The Strawberry Syrup

In a small pot on medium heat, mix the strawberries, sugar, and water. Wait for it to boil, then lower the heat. Mash the strawberries with a fork or potato masher while they soften.

Step Two: Simmer

Let it simmer for 1-3 minutes until the strawberries are fully softened and the syrup has thickened a bit. Then, take it off the heat and let it cool down a bit.

Step Three: Steep The Basil

Put the basil leaves into the hot syrup and make sure they are fully covered. Leave the mixture for at least 15 minutes so that the basil flavor can become stronger. Take out the basil leaves and throw them away.

Step Four: Mix And Chill

Get a big pitcher and mix together the strawberry basil syrup (including the fruit bits), lemon juice, and water. Stir everything well. Put the pitcher in the fridge and let the lemonade chill for approximately 1 hour until it’s completely cool.

Step Five: Serve

Put some ice in glasses and pour the chilled lemonade. To make it look fancier, you can add a lemon wedge, a fresh basil leaf, and a slice of strawberry on top.

Storage Instructions

To store the lemonade, use a glass pitcher or a container with an airtight lid. Keep it in the fridge and drink it within 3-5 days to enjoy the best flavor. 

You can use any leftover syrup in other drinks or pour it over desserts like ice cream or yogurt to add more flavor.

More Lemonade Recipes

Rotate through, or pick your favorite, and serve these all summer long.

• You can’t go wrong with the classic old-fashioned lemonade.
• Strawberry lemonade is a great option if you don’t have, or don’t like, basil.
• This tart blackberry lemonade is a Southern favorite and is perfect with a splash of Bourbon.
• Serve this pretty blueberry lavender lemonade for a bridal or baby shower.

Printable Recipe