Recipe for Raspberry Lemonade
This homemade raspberry lemonade is the perfect mix of sweet, tart, and refreshing with real raspberry flavor that doesn’t get lost behind the lemon. Made with a quick homemade syrup, it’s easy to whip up for a weeknight treat but special enough for summer cookouts and porch sipping. No pink food coloring here. Just bright, bold flavor in e
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice (about 6–8 lemons)
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
- 1 ½ cups fresh raspberries (or thawed frozen)
- ¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 5 cups cold water (divided)
- Ice (for serving)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the raspberries, sugar, ½ cup water, and lemon zest. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring and mashing the berries as they cook down, about 5 minutes.
- Once the raspberries have broken down and the mixture looks syrupy, remove from heat. Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or measuring cup and pour the mixture through, pressing with a spoon or spatula to extract all the liquid. Discard the seeds, pulp, and zest.
- While the syrup cools, juice the lemons. You’ll need about 1 ½ cups of fresh lemon juice.
- In a large pitcher, combine the raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and 4 ½ cups cold water. Stir well and taste. Add more sugar or water, if needed, to suit your preferences.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or serve immediately over ice. Garnish with fresh raspberries and lemon slices if desired.
Video
Notes
- Frozen raspberries work too – Just thaw them first before making the syrup. They’re a great backup when fresh raspberries aren’t in season.
- Adjust the sweetness – Start with ¾ cup sugar and taste after mixing. Depending on how tart your lemons and raspberries are, you may want a little more or less.
- Make it ahead – This lemonade actually tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge, so it’s perfect for prepping earlier in the day.
- Don’t skip the straining – Straining the syrup gives you a smooth lemonade without seeds or pulp, which makes it feel extra refreshing.
- Want to freeze it? – Pour it into jars or ice cube trays. You can thaw it later or use the cubes to chill future batches without watering them down.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg