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When the temps hit the 90’s, the only thing that makes me happy is a pool with homemade strawberry lemonade. Add this to your lineup of refreshing summer drinks — it’s the one my kids fight over on pool days, and it’s a refreshing pour for a backyard cookout too.
Central Florida is home to many strawberry patches, so finding a healthy strawberry lemonade recipe is a no-brainer for me. Just grab your blender and get ready to enjoy a sophisticated upgrade to my favorite childhood drink.
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More refreshing drink recipes to try: Paloma Mocktail, Non-Alcoholic Sangria, Homemade Italian Soda and Chia Fresca Endurance Drink.
How to Make Strawberry Lemonade
You don’t need a stovetop to make this lemonade recipe. Instead, wash and slice the strawberries. Place them in a bowl with maple syrup, for at least 15 minutes. Letting the berries soak up the syrup makes for perfectly sweetened lemonade.
I also use real lemons and lemon zest to bring that tang through the sweet strawberries. This healthy lemonade doesn’t use weird lemon juice in a bottle, nor do you need refined sugar. For more no-sugar-added options like this one, check out my full list of healthy juice recipes.
To make the most of the fresh fruits, I use a blender. This gives it a ‘mocktail’ feel. If your blender can’t puree the seeds of the strawberries, then feel free to use a strainer before pouring out your mixture into a pitcher. Make this recipe the texture and consistency you want.
November 9-13, 2026
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I’d love for you to soup it up with me! For 5 days, I’ll send you a daily veggie-packed soup that’s easy enough for a busy weeknight and makes enough to freeze and pull out all winter.
Flavor Boosts
While this homemade strawberry lemonade is perfect on its own, you can jazz it up in a few easy steps!
- If you’re serving this at an outdoor even, you need an easy way to keep it chilled. Two words: frozen fruit. For real! Just toss some frozen strawberries or other berries (raspberries and blueberries work too!). Your lemonade stays chilled without getting watered down by ice.
- Make this more visually appealing and lemony by washing a whole lemon then slicing it up. Toss the slices into the finished drink (take out any seeds) for a pop of color and a boost of lemon.
Sweetener Options
Most homemade lemonade recipes require stovetop cooking to ensure the sugar is turned into sugar water. Not with my recipe! I’m sweetening my healthy(ish) strawberry lemonade with pure maple syrup. No need to use a stovetop, just allow the strawberries to soak up the syrup before blending.
If you don’t need this recipe to be vegan, you can also use honey as the sweetener.
More Drinks Recipes
Switch up your favorite party drinks with one of the recipes above. I always need drink inspiration to avoid just running to the store for random sodas. Next time you want to make a splash, grab one of the recipes above, or the healthy strawberry lemonade below, and elevate your beverage options!
I use all fresh ingredients in my homemade lemonade, including fresh strawberries, juice from a whole lemon, lemon zest and maple syrup. I soak the strawberries in the maple syrup for at least 15 minutes before blending. Then I add everything to a blender with 1 quart of water and puree until smooth. If you aren’t using a high powered blender, you may want to strain the final product before pouring into a pitcher to serve.
I use maple syrup to sweeten my strawberry lemonade. You can also use honey (though this is not a vegan option).
Of course! No need to thaw them first, either. Just omit the washing step and go straight to adding them to a bowl with maple syrup and allowing them to sit for at least 15 minutes to soak up the syrup.
Recipe Card
Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 lb strawberries
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice fresh
- 2 tbsp lemon zest
- 4 cup water
Instructions
- Wash the strawberries, remove the stems and slice. Place in a medium bowl, pour the maple syrup over the top, gently toss and cover. Let stand for at least 15 minutes at room temperature or up to 1 day in the refrigerator.
- Transfer the berries and any juices to a blender. Add the lemon juice and lemon zest and puree until smooth. Add the water and blend again.
- Pour into a serving pitcher and chill until ready to serve.
Recipe Notes
- Frozen Berries: Frozen strawberries work too. Skip the washing and toss them with the maple syrup straight from the freezer; there’s no need to thaw them.
- Sweetener Swaps: Honey or another liquid natural sweetener can stand in for the maple syrup. For a tarter lemonade, start with 1/4 cup and add more to taste.
- Blender Tip: If you’re not using a high-speed blender, strain the lemonade through a fine-mesh sieve before pouring it into the pitcher.
- Make Ahead: It keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir well before serving, since it separates as it sits.
Nutrition
Serving: 12 oz | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 17 mg | Potassium: 295 mg | Sugar: 30 g | Vitamin A: 15 IU | Vitamin C: 78 mg | Calcium: 71 mg | Iron: 1 mg
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Maple syrup is the missing ingredient.
Added some sparkling water and ginger for a pop.
Great idea, Ivy!
when is the lemon to be added, during maseration or after when the water is added?
Hi Rachel! You can add the lemon when you add the water. Hope this helps!