Fresh Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Nothing hits the spot on a hot day quite like a glass of cold strawberry lemonade. It’s sweet, tangy, vibrant, and incredibly refreshing, especially when served ice cold with fresh lemon slices and strawberries.

This homemade strawberry lemonade recipe is made with just four ingredients: fresh strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and water. Instead of using syrup, the strawberries are blended into a simple puree, which gives the lemonade a bold, real strawberry flavor and a beautiful pink color.

It’s easy to make in about 10 minutes and perfect for summer afternoons, backyard barbecues, and warm weather gatherings.

Every June I go strawberry picking at a farm not too far from me, and this lemonade is one of the first things I make with my berry haul. I love being able to pick the ripest, juiciest strawberries right off the plants.

When strawberries are in season and inexpensive, this refreshing lemonade becomes a regular in my fridge all summer long.

If you’re looking for a fun single-serve version, try my State Fair Strawberry Lemonade, which is shaken right in a cup with fresh lemons and strawberries.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

• Super refreshing summer drink perfect for warm weather
• Only 4 simple ingredients
• Ready in about 10 minutes
• Uses real strawberry puree for bold flavor
• Budget friendly when strawberries and lemons are in season
• Pretty pink drink that’s great for spring and summer parties
• Easy to scale up for pitchers or large gatherings

Looking for more refreshing lemonades? Blueberry lemonade is another delicious fruity lemonade. Or try my hibiscus lemonade (agua de jamaica) – another vibrant pink lemonade made from dried hibiscus petals.

Ingredients Needed for Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

• Sugar
• Water
• Fresh lemon juice
• Strawberries

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions for Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberries
Fresh strawberries taste best when they are in season and fragrant. Look for bright red berries with no white shoulders. Frozen strawberries also work well since they are picked and frozen at peak ripeness. Just thaw them first. You can thaw overnight in the refrigerator or microwave in short 30-second bursts.

I get a quart, which leaves plenty leftover so I can garnish drinks with fresh strawberries.

Lemons
Choose lemons that feel heavy for their size since they usually contain more juice. Thin-skinned lemons tend to yield the most juice. I usually grab one extra lemon in case I need more juice and another for garnishing glasses.

It will take about 4-6 lemons depending on size and juiciness.

Sugar
Regular granulated sugar works perfectly here.

Water
Since most of the drink is water, using filtered water gives the best flavor. A Brita filter pitcher works great for this.

Ice (for serving)
Add ice to glasses instead of the pitcher so the lemonade does not become diluted.

How to Make Strawberry Lemonade

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

Make the Strawberry Puree

Wash, hull, and quarter the strawberries. Add them to a blender container with ¼ cup sugar. Stir and let the berries sit for about 5 minutes to macerate. This helps release their natural juices and boosts the strawberry flavor.

While the strawberries sit, you can make the simple syrup and juice the lemons.

Add ½ cup water to the strawberries and blend until smooth.

Make the Simple Syrup

Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.

Remove from heat and let the syrup cool.

Making simple syrup ensures the sugar dissolves completely so it does not sink to the bottom of the pitcher when mixed into cold lemonade.

Juice the Lemons

Roll each lemon on the counter to loosen the juices. Cut them in half and squeeze using a handheld lemon squeezer or citrus juicer with measurement markings on bowl.

Juice the lemons until you have about 1¼ cups fresh lemon juice.

Assemble the Strawberry Lemonade

Place a strainer over a 2-quart pitcher.

Pour the strawberry puree through the strainer to remove the seeds and any bits of remaining pulp. You can skip straining the strawberries if you want. Then pour the lemon juice through the strainer as well.

Add the simple syrup and then pour in cold water until the pitcher is full.

Chill and Serve

Stir the lemonade well and refrigerate until cold.

Because strawberry puree is heavier than the syrup, it may settle slightly in the pitcher. Just give the lemonade a quick stir before pouring.

Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices or fresh strawberries if desired.

Love strawberry drinks? Try these too. Blended strawberry lemonade is a frozen Starbucks copycat that’s like a slushy. Or this strawberry iced tea – a refreshing sweet tea with real strawberry flavor and a little caffeine.

Recipe Notes & Tips for Strawberry Lemonade

Adjust the tartness
If you prefer a tarter lemonade, add a little more lemon juice and less water.

Storage
Since the drink contains real fruit puree, it keeps well in the refrigerator for about 3–4 days.

Make ahead
You can prepare the strawberry puree and simple syrup a day in advance. Store them in the refrigerator and assemble the lemonade when ready to serve.

Extra strawberry flavor
If you love strawberry drinks, you can also make a batch of homemade strawberry puree to keep on hand for lemonades, teas, and smoothies.

Strawberry Puree vs Strawberry Syrup for Lemonade

There are two main ways to add strawberry flavor to lemonade: strawberry puree or strawberry syrup. Both work well, but they create slightly different results.

For this recipe, I like using fresh strawberry puree because it gives the lemonade a deeper, more vibrant berry flavor. Strawberries blend easily, so the puree adds a bold fruit taste that really stands out against the bright lemon juice.

The tradeoff is that puree contains some natural fruit pulp and tiny seeds, even if you strain it. Because the puree is slightly heavier than the syrup, it may settle in the pitcher. Just give the lemonade a quick stir before pouring.

Lemonade made with fruit puree also keeps for about 3 days in the refrigerator, which usually isn’t an issue since a pitcher tends to disappear quickly in the summer.

If you prefer a completely smooth lemonade with no pulp, you can flavor the drink with strawberry simple syrup instead. You’ll need about 1½ cups strawberry syrup, which replaces both the strawberry puree and the plain simple syrup in this recipe.

If you’d like the full methods for each option, see my guides for homemade strawberry puree for drinks and strawberry simple syrup.

FAQs About Strawberry Lemonade

Can I make strawberry lemonade with frozen strawberries?
Yes. Frozen strawberries work great because they are picked at peak ripeness. Just thaw them first before blending.

How long does homemade strawberry lemonade last?
Because the drink contains fruit pulp, it will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

Can I double or triple this recipe?
Yes. This recipe multiplies easily. You can scale it up to make gallons for parties or gatherings.

More Refreshing Lemonade Recipes to Try

If you enjoy homemade lemonade drinks, here are a few more refreshing favorites:

• Refreshing Blueberry Lemonade
• Hibiscus Lemonade (agua de jamaica)
• State Fair Lemonade
• One Gallon Homemade Lemonade
• Frosted Lemonade
• Brazilian Lemonade