Description
A vibrant and refreshing Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail combining fresh strawberry puree, zesty lemon juice, simple syrup, and your choice of vodka or gin, served chilled and perfect for summer afternoons or any festive occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh ripe strawberries, washed and hulled
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2–3 lemons)
- 1/4 cup simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 to 1.5 cups vodka or gin (optional for alcoholic version)
- Cold water or soda water, to taste
- Ice cubes, as needed
Instructions
- Prepare the Strawberry Puree: Wash and hull about one cup of fresh strawberries. Blend them in a food processor or blender until smooth, then strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds for a silky puree.
- Squeeze Fresh Lemon Juice: Juice 2 to 3 lemons until you have about half a cup of fresh lemon juice. Using fresh juice ensures a bright, zesty flavor that bottled juice can’t match.
- Mix the Cocktail Base: In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry puree, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir well to blend the flavors evenly.
- Add the Spirit and Water: Pour in 1 to 1.5 cups of vodka or gin if using, then add cold water or soda water to taste, adjusting the strength and fizziness. Stir gently to combine.
- Chill and Serve: Add plenty of ice cubes to the pitcher or individual glasses. Garnish with lemon slices and extra strawberries if desired, then serve immediately for the freshest taste.
Notes
- Use Ripe Strawberries: The sweeter the berries, the better the flavor, so pick the freshest you can find.
- Balance Sweetness: Adjust the simple syrup gradually to ensure it doesn’t overpower the tart lemon.
- Chill Everything: Keep your ingredients and glasses cold to maintain the cocktail’s refreshing quality.
- Seed Removal: Straining the strawberry puree removes seeds, giving your drink a smooth finish.
- Experiment with Spirits: Gin adds herbal notes, vodka keeps it clean, and tequila can give it a fun twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: No Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (about 8 oz)
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: strawberry lemonade cocktail, summer cocktail, fruity cocktail, refreshing drink, simple syrup, vodka cocktail, gin cocktail, mocktail option, sparkling cocktail