Honey Sweetened Berry Lemonade – Fresh, sweet, and perfectly old-fashioned.
A deliciously refreshing summer drink, perfect for barbecues and picnics.
Once or twice a summer, I get a hankering for old-fashioned lemonade. I want the kind with freshly squeezed lemon juice and plenty of berries in it. Nothing too smooth or strained. That home-y texture is what I crave most.
This Honey Sweetened Berry Lemonade really hits that sweet spot. It’s got a gorgeous texture from the fresh berries, it’s tangy with the fresh lemon juice, sweet from the honey, and there’s even a little brightness from mint (or basil) that really brings the other flavors to life.
I’ve been historically anti-mint. (My thinking: “why would anyone want their food to taste like toothpaste?”) I’ve changed my thinking this year, and I’m majorly crushing on mint this season. I think when it’s not overdone, it adds a little pop of freshness and brightens the other flavors (rather than dominating them). So, so good. Basil is also an amazing one. It’s a little bit stronger, but it’s a deliciously bold flavor that tastes amazing.
The other big thing here is the berries. Berries make it so beautiful and add natural sweetness. You can use fresh or frozen berries. I use a blender (an immersion blender in a pitcher or a regular blender) to help break up the berries a bit. Nothing too smooth! Then, I like to add frozen berries right before serving to act as berrylicious ice.
Whether you drink it straight from a pitcher, or pack it into mason jars with lids for picnics or barbecues, this is sure to become one of your favorite summer drinks.
Notes on the recipe:
Don’t be scared! If adding fresh herbs to your lemonade sounds a little scary, never fear. You’ll still have a fresh, sweet berry lemonade without them.
Ooh, sparkly! For a bubbly version, try making this with unsweetened sparkling water (like La Croix) instead of water. It’s a fizzy and fun change of pace!
Amounts. The amounts below are in a range. This is because everyone has their own taste preferences. Some like it more lemony, some like it sweeter.
Ice, ice, baby. This lemonade is fairly strong, since it’s intended to be served over ice, which will melt and dilute the flavor. If you’re not adding ice, or find that it’s too concentrated a flavor for you, just add more water or sparkling water till you hit your sweet spot.
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PrintHoney Sweetened Berry Lemonade
- Yield: 5-6 cups lemonade 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1/2–3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 4–6 Tbsp honey
- 3–4 cups water
- 3–4 sprigs fresh mint or basil
Instructions
- In a blender, pulse together berries, lemon juice, honey, and water just a few times to break up the berries. (You can also use an immersion blender in a pitcher)
- Taste and add additional honey or lemon juice as desired. Stir in the fresh herbs. Serve over ice!
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