How to Make Strawberry Basil Lemonade: Your New Favorite Drink
Our Strawberry Basil Lemonade Recipe is a summer drink with fresh basil, sweet strawberries, and tangy lemon juice. It tastes really good and is very refreshing.
It’s perfect to serve at summer events like picnics and parties because of its unique flavor and lovely pink color. You can even enjoy it as a non-alcoholic drink during the day or add some vodka to create a fancy cocktail for evening parties.
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
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
- 3 cups water for mixing
Instructions
- 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.
- Finishing the syrup. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Notes
More Tips:
Before juicing lemons, roll them on the counter or microwave them for 15 seconds to break down some of the fibers and make it easier to squeeze out more juice.
You can use the strawberry basil syrup in other drinks or pour it over desserts like ice cream or yogurt to add more flavor.
To prevent any sticky residue, clean your saucepan and utensils with hot, soapy water immediately after use.
About the Ingredients
Here are some ingredient substitutions you can try :
- Strawberries: You can use frozen ones without thawing them. For a different fruity twist, use raspberry or peach slices.
- Sugar: Instead of granulated sugar, use honey or maple syrup. Just use ⅔ of the amount since they are sweeter.
- Basil: Mint or thyme is a great alternative for a different herbal note.
- Lemon Juice: You can use lime juice instead for a slightly different citrus flavor.
Remember that substituting ingredients may change the taste of the lemonade, but experimenting with different ingredients can lead to delightful new variations.
This Strawberry Basil Lemonade recipe offers a refreshing twist on a classic drink. It’s perfect for summer gatherings or a relaxing day at home, so give it a try!
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.