this easy basil strawberry lemonade is so refreshing, light, and the perfect thirst quencher on hot days. the basil strawberry syrup works so well with the bright, zesty lemons.
If you are looking for a gorgeous summer drink look no further! This easy strawberry basil lemonade comes together in about 20 minutes, is lightly sweetened and hits you with all different flavors. I love that this lemonade isn’t very sweet, you can always add in more sugar. Personally, I prefer drinks that taste like the delicious fresh fruits that are in them. You are first hit with that zing and zest of lemon and then you get the sweetness of strawberries coupled with a slight hint of basil.
Basil Strawberry Syrup
I wanted to make this as easy as possible for myself and you all. You will just need to boil the basil and strawberries with sugar and water. This doesn’t form a very thick syrup but it sure is delicious. Also, can we just talk about that gorgeous color?! I had toyed around with making a purée first or even just muddling them in the bottom of the picture. After careful consideration I am glad I just made the syrup because it was the easiest way to go.
The Lemons
You will need the juice of 3 regular lemons. If using a different lemon variation for example one that is very small or very large adjust accordingly. Also, you can of course add more or less lemon juice depending on how acidic you want this to be. The juice of 3 lemons will be about ⅓ cup (80ml). I didn’t want to waste the lemons so after juicing them I cut them up into slices and then put that into the pitcher. Easy way to use them and not waste anything.
Sweetness Factor
Maybe I am weird but I do not like when teas or lemonades are too sweet. This whole pitcher only has 3 tablespoons of organic sugar. So, if you want your drink to be sweeter just add more sugar in when you make the syrup. It really is very lightly sweetened so please adjust to your preferences! Another idea I had but ultimately didn’t follow through with was to do a sugar rim on the glasses! It is another great way to add sweetness to each sip.
More Drinks
Easy Basil Strawberry Lemonade FAQ
- Can I make this ahead of time? If you want to make it a few hours before serving that is totally fine. If you want to make this for the next day do not add the lemon and strawberry slices or fresh basil until ready to serve.
- Can I substitute the basil? The flavor is barely there but if you do not like it you can use mint or just leave it out.
- Can I substitute strawberries? Sure, you can use peaches, mango, blueberries, raspberries – any fruit you like. Just keep in mind different fruits have different sweetnesses so you may want to adjust the sugar.
- Can I make this sugar free? Sure you could boil the strawberries and basil in water to get juices out.
- Can I use lemon juice and not squeeze lemons? Yes, I just personally do not like the taste of lemon juice in a bottle.
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Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Ingredients
Basil Strawberry Syrup
- 10 leaves basil roughly torn
- 10 strawberries (about 5.5 ounces/155g), chopped
- 3 tablespoons (36g) organic sugar
- ¾ cup (180ml) water
Other
- 3 lemons juiced (about ⅓ cup/80ml)
- 4 cups cold water (960ml)
- Ice
- 5 extra sliced strawberries for pitcher
- Basil for pitcher
Instructions
- In a small pot combine all the ingredients for the strawberry basil syrup. Bring to a rolling simmer over low heat and then continue to let it cook for another 10 minutes. Once the syrup is done strain it and set aside for about 5 minutes to cool.
- In a large pitcher squeeze in the juice of 3 lemons. Then slice those lemons up and add to pitcher.
- Add the strawberry basil syrup, water, and ice. Mix together.
- Add in sliced strawberries and extra basil.
- Serve with ice and add the fresh fruit to each serving.
Video
Notes
- PLEASE NOTE: this drink is very lightly sweetened, if you want it sweeter add more sugar. Read section above titled sweetness factor.
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