Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade
A quick and refreshing sparkling strawberry lemonade pitcher recipe perfect for summer, combining fresh strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and sparkling water for a bubbly, sweet-tart drink.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 3 large lemons, juiced (about 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (can substitute with honey or agave)
- 4 cups sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup cold water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse and hull about 1 pound of fresh strawberries, then slice into halves or quarters and place in a large pitcher or mixing bowl.
- Using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, gently press and mash the strawberries until juice is released but some chunks remain.
- Roll lemons on the counter, cut, and squeeze to get about 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice. Strain out seeds if desired.
- In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1 cup cold water and stir until sugar dissolves completely. Microwave for 10 seconds if needed.
- Pour lemon juice and simple syrup over the muddled strawberries and stir gently. Let rest for 5-10 minutes to blend flavors.
- Just before serving, slowly add 4 cups chilled sparkling water and stir lightly to maintain fizz.
- Serve over ice cubes and garnish with fresh mint leaves or whole strawberries if desired.
Notes
Add sparkling water last to keep the bubbles lively. Use ripe strawberries for best flavor. You can prepare the strawberry, lemon, and syrup base up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate; add sparkling water and ice just before serving. For a smoother drink, strain out seeds and pulp. Substitute sugar with natural sweeteners for a sugar-free option. Frozen strawberries can be used if fresh are unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: sparkling strawberry lemonade, summer drink, refreshing beverage, pitcher drink, easy lemonade recipe, sparkling water drink