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Nothing says summer like some good, old-fashioned lemonade. While that sentence might take you back to the Country Living powdered lemonade days, I’m here to assure you that we’ve upgraded since then. This summer, we only want fresh, clean, and whole ingredients (plus some splashes of vodka). So, settle in for the best lemonade recipes (boozy and virgin) this year!
Spicy Vodka Lemonade
Thank you Vegan Yack Attack for the recipe!
Ingredients
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¼ cup fresh lemon juice
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1 Tbsp fresh jalapeño (sliced)
- 1 Tbsp agave syrup
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¾ cups water
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2 oz. vodka
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Ice
Directions
1. Pour the lemon juice into a glass along with the jalapeño. Use a muddler to muddle the jalapeño slices a bit.
2. Add the agave, water, and vodka to the mixture and stir until everything is combined.
3. Serve with ice and enjoy!
Lemonade Mint Julep
Thank you Bless Her Heart Y’all for the recipe!
Ingredients
Simple Syrup:
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½ cup water
-
½ cup sugar
Drink:
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Bourbon
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1 cup fresh lemon juice
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Sparkling water
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A handful of fresh mint leaves
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Lemon slices and more mint leaves to garnish
Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the water and sugar over medium heat until the water starts to simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for 1-2 minutes while the sugar dissolves. Remove the mixture from the heat and set it aside.
2. Place the mint leaves and one shot of bourbon in the bottom of each glass. Muddle the mint leaves a bit. Once the simple syrup has cooled enough, pour the syrup in equal amounts into each glass and muddle the mint again.
3. Top each glass with ice and pour ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice into each cup. Top with sparkling water and add a lemon slice and more mint leaves to garnish. Stir and enjoy!
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Thank you Oh So Delicious for the recipe!
Ingredients
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2 cups strawberries (de-stemmed and sliced in half)
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¼ cup basil (chopped)
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1 + ½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
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1 + ½ cups sugar
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2 cups water
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5-6 cups cold sparkling water
Directions
1. Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add the strawberries and basil and bring the heat to medium and allow the mixture to simmer for 5-10 minutes until the strawberries are soft and the syrup is thick. Strain the mixture with a fine strainer.
3. Let the mixture come to room temperature.
4. Add the lemon juice and 5-6 cups of cold still or sparkling water to a large pitcher. Combine with the strawberry basil syrup.
5. Add lemons, basil, and strawberries to garnish.
Blackberry Lemonade
Thank you Taste of Home for the recipe!
Ingredients
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4 cups water
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1 cup sugar
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1 cup lemon juice
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1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
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1 cup blackberries
-
1-2 drops blue food coloring (optional)
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, bring 2 cups of water and sugar to a boil. Boil the mixture for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the lemon juice, zest, and remaining water. Cool completely.
2. Combine 1 cup of the lemon mixture and the blackberries in a blender. Strain and discard the seeds. Pour the blackberry mixture and remaining lemon mixture into a pitcher and stir well. Add the food coloring, if you want, and refrigerate until it’s chilled. Serve over ice.
Watermelon Lemonade
Thank you Belle of the Kitchen for the recipe!
Ingredients
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4 cups watermelon (chopped)
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1 + ½ cups lemon juice
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½ cup sugar
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6 cups cold water
Directions
1. Blend the chopped watermelon and lemon juice in a blender until the mixture is smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into a large pitcher. Add the sugar and cold water and stir well.
3. Pour the lemonade over ice and serve!
Frozen Coconut Lemonade
Thank you Averie Cooks for the recipe!
Ingredients
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¾ cup lemon juice
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¾ cup granulated sugar
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½ – ⅔ of a 14-ounce can full-fat coconut milk (chilled in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight)
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2 + ½ cups ice cubes
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Fresh lemon wedges
Directions
1. Add the lemon juice and sugar to a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar. This is your lemon simple syrup.
2. Add the lemon simple syrup, the thick and fatty part of the coconut milk, and ice to a blender and blend on high until the lemonade is whipped and frothy. If you want it thicker, add additional ice cubes.
3. Garnish with additional lemon wedges, if you want.
Matcha Lemonade
Thank you Spoon Fork Bacon for the recipe!
Ingredients
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1 cup hot water
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2 cups pure cane sugar
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2 cups fresh lemon juice
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1 + ½ Tbsp matcha
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3 + ½ cups ice water
Directions
1. Pour sugar and hot water into a large mixing bowl and stir everything together until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the lemon juice and matcha.
2. Pour the mixture into the blender and blend until there are no matcha granules remaining and the mixture is smooth.
3. Transfer the mixture into a large pitcher and stir in the ice water. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. Stir again and serve.
Okay, we’re ready for the best lemonade of our lives! Which recipe is your favorite? Comment below!
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