Classic Homemade Pink Lemonade Recipe
Make this sweet and tangy homemade pink lemonade. This refreshing summer drink uses fresh lemons and natural coloring for a perfect balance.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4–6 lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups cold water
- 1/4 cup fresh strawberry puree or 1 teaspoon grenadine (for natural color)
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices and fresh berries for garnish
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup: Combine the sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice, the cooled simple syrup, and the remaining 3 cups of cold water. Stir well.
- Add the strawberry puree or grenadine for color. Stir until the pink color is evenly distributed.
- Taste the lemonade. If you prefer it sweeter, add a little more sugar dissolved in a splash of hot water. If you prefer it tarter, add a splash more lemon juice.
- Chill the pink lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Serve over ice, garnished with lemon slices and fresh berries.
Notes
- For a fizzy pink lemonade, substitute 1 cup of the cold water with club soda or sparkling water just before serving.
- If you want an old fashioned lemonade flavor, use only fresh lemon juice and water, and add a few drops of red food coloring instead of fruit puree for a classic look.
- To make a large batch for a party punch, triple the recipe and add sliced citrus fruits like oranges or limes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg