Fresh Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade Pitcher Easy Summer Drink Recipe
A refreshing and easy-to-make sparkling strawberry lemonade pitcher perfect for summer gatherings, combining fresh strawberries, zesty lemons, and bubbly water for a sweet-tart, fizzy treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 4 large fresh lemons, juiced (about 1 cup lemon juice)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups cold sparkling water
- 2 cups cold water
- Ice cubes, for serving
- Fresh mint leaves (optional, a few sprigs)
- Lemon slices, for garnish
- Strawberry slices, for garnish
Instructions
- Place hulled and halved strawberries in a large mixing bowl or directly in the pitcher. Gently crush the berries with a muddler or wooden spoon to release juices but leave some chunks for texture.
- In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar with 1 cup of water. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves completely (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Juice the lemons until you have about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain to remove seeds if needed.
- Add the cooled sugar syrup and fresh lemon juice to the muddled strawberries. Stir gently to mix. Optionally, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into the pitcher for a smoother texture.
- Pour in 2 cups of cold water and stir to combine. Just before serving, gently add 4 cups of cold sparkling water and stir lightly to keep bubbles intact.
- Add plenty of ice cubes to the pitcher or glasses. Garnish with lemon and strawberry slices and fresh mint leaves if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
Prepare the lemonade base (steps 1-4) a few hours ahead and refrigerate for better flavor melding. Add sparkling water and ice just before serving to keep fizz. Stir gently after adding sparkling water to preserve bubbles. For a smoother drink, strain the mixture before adding sparkling water. Use superfine sugar for faster dissolving. Store lemonade base without sparkling water and ice in the fridge up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: sparkling strawberry lemonade, summer drink, easy lemonade recipe, refreshing beverage, strawberry lemonade pitcher, homemade lemonade, summer drink recipe