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We LOVE a glass of fresh lemonade in the summer, and especially a glass of this best strawberry lemonade. It’s one of our FAVORITE drinks!

It’s that perfect balance of tart and sweet that makes it utterly refreshing on a warm day. The vibrant pink hue alone is enough to make you smile, and that first sip? Pure bliss! It’s a simple drink that feels a little bit special, making it a go-to for everything from casual backyard barbecues to more festive gatherings.

We will probably triple the recipe next time we are having company over and will serve this because it’s too good not to. 😉

For another favorite cold drink, try Frozen Strawberry Lemonade!

Why we think you’ll love it:

  • A favorite twist. Strawberry lemonade is like sunshine in a glass, taking the bright, zesty tang of classic lemonade and swirling in the sweet, juicy flavor of ripe strawberries.
  • Naturally gorgeous color. That vibrant pink hue isn’t just tasty; it’s a feast for the eyes and instantly makes any drink feel special.
  • Just a few simple ingredients. Lemons, sugar, strawberries, cornstarch, and of course, water! That’s it for the most popular summer drink!
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Best strawberry lemonade ingredients on a kitchen counter.

Best Strawberry Lemonade Ingredients And Substitutions

Strawberry Sauce

  • 3 cups finely chopped strawberries – We used fresh berries, but frozen chopped strawberries can be used.
  • ¼-½ cup sugar – or use honey, or agave; adjust to taste
  • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ tablespoon corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons water

Lemonade

  • 2 large lemons – or use 3-4 limes to make homemade strawberry limeade
  • 4 cups cold water – Replace some of the cold water with sparkling water or club soda for a fizzy drink.
  • 1 cup sugar – or a sugar substitute like stevia, start with a small amount and add more until sweetened

How to Make the Best Strawberry Lemonade

  1. SAUCE. Add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice to a medium pot and stir well. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. While the mixture is heating, dissolve the corn starch in the water and whisk until smooth.
    • Add the corn starch mixture to the strawberry mixture and stir well. Let simmer 2-3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove and let cool completely. Refrigerate.
  2. LEMONADE. Cut the ends off the lemons, then cut each lemon into eighths. Stir the water and sugar, and mix until the sugar is dissolved.
    • Add the lemons and the sugar water to a blender and pulse 8-10 times, until the lemons are broken up slightly. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a large pitcher and add the ice.
  3. SERVE. Add two tablespoons of strawberry sauce to the bottom of a glass. Fill the glass with lemonade, then stir to mix well.
  • While we prefer fresh, frozen berries may be used. Add frozen chopped strawberries directly to the pot; they will thaw as they heat up. Simmer a little longer to evaporate the extra juices.
  • Strain the lemons with a fine-mesh sieve or a nut milk bag for an extra smooth result.
  • Taste the lemonade before adding the strawberry sauce and adjust the sugar or add a little more lemon juice to reach your preferred balance of flavors.
  • Sometimes we like to get fancy and garnish the glasses with fresh strawberry slices, lemon slices, mint sprigs, or add sugared rims.
Two glasses of best strawberry lemonade with slices of fresh lemonns.
5 from 5 votes

Best Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

This best strawberry lemonade is a perfectly balanced blend of sweet strawberries and tart lemons guaranteed to brighten your day!
Servings: 4
Prep: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

Strawberry Sauce

  • 3 cups finely chopped strawberries
  • ¼ – ½ cup sugar
  • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ tablespoon corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons water

Lemonade

  • 2 large lemons
  • 4 cups cold water
  • 1 cup sugar

Instructions 

Strawberry Sauce

  • Add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice to a medium pot and stir well. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. While the mixture is heating, dissolve the corn starch in the water and whisk until smooth.
  • Add the corn starch mixture to the strawberry mixture and stir well. Let simmer 2-3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Remove and let cool completely. Refrigerate.

Lemonade

  • Cut the ends off the lemons, then cut each lemon into eighths.
  • Stir the water and sugar, and mix until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Add the lemons and the sugar water to a blender and pulse 8-10 times, until the lemons are broken up slightly. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a large pitcher and add the ice.
  • Add two tablespoons of strawberry sauce to the bottom of a glass. Fill the glass with lemonade, then stir to mix well.

Notes

Recipe Tips:
  • While we prefer fresh, frozen berries may be used. Add frozen chopped strawberries directly to the pot; they will thaw as they heat up. Simmer a little longer to evaporate the extra juices.
  • Strain the lemons with a fine-mesh sieve or a nut milk bag for an extra smooth result.
  • Taste the lemonade before adding the strawberry sauce and adjust the sugar or add a little more lemon juice to reach your preferred balance of flavors.
  • Sometimes we like to get fancy and garnish the glasses with fresh strawberry slices, lemon slices, mint sprigs, or add sugared rims.
Storage. Store leftover homemade strawberry lemonade in an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. The strawberry sauce can be stored in a container for a total of 5 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal, Carbohydrates: 77g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.04g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 15mg, Potassium: 243mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 69g, Vitamin A: 25IU, Vitamin C: 93mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

How to sugar the rim of a glass?

To sugar the rim, lightly moisten the rim of the glass with lemon juice, then gently dip the sticky rim into a shallow dish of granulated sugar, rotating until evenly coated.

Prep ahead of time?

You can make the strawberry sauce up to 5 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Store freshly squeezed lemon juice in a separate container for up to 24 hours in the fridge.

How to store?

Store leftover homemade strawberry lemonade in an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. The strawberry sauce can be stored in a container for a total of 5 days in the fridge.

This recipe was originally published June 2016.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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12 Comments

  1. Stacey says:

    5 stars
    Love the ideas for all the summer drinks. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You’re welcome! Summer is such a fun time to try a bunch of fun, new drinks too!

  2. Lisa Williams says:

    5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe. CAn’t wait to try iT. Irma’s limeade was always one of my favorites.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You are so welcome!! I sure hope you like it!

  3. Ana Maria says:

    5 stars
    Thank you! I love strawberry lemonade!

  4. Lara says:

    I won’t mind making this strawberry lemonade especially in this summer.

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      I hope you like it! It sure is the perfect summer drink!

  5. My Mommy Style says:

    Very refreshing.
    Thanks a lot for sharing.

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      It is! Thanks so much for stopping by!! 🙂

  6. Angie says:

    Best Strawberry Lemonade is what I need right now in this triple digit summer heat!

    1. Lil' Luna says:

      Exactly!!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!