Fresh Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade Pitcher Recipe
A refreshing and easy homemade summer drink combining fresh strawberries, tangy lemon juice, and sparkling water for a bubbly, sweet-tart beverage perfect for gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 4 large fresh lemons, juiced (about 1 cup / 240 ml lemon juice)
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 4 cups (950 ml) cold water
- 4 cups (950 ml) sparkling water or club soda
- Ice cubes, for serving
- Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Rinse strawberries, hull, and cut into halves or quarters. Place in a large pitcher.
- Gently muddle the strawberries about 10-15 times using a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon to release juice and some pulp without crushing completely (about 2-3 minutes).
- Roll lemons on the counter, cut in half, and juice them using a citrus juicer. Remove seeds. You should get about 1 cup (240 ml) of lemon juice.
- In a small saucepan, combine granulated sugar and 1 cup (240 ml) water. Heat over medium, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Pour the cooled simple syrup and fresh lemon juice into the pitcher with the muddled strawberries. Add 3 cups (700 ml) cold water and stir gently to combine.
- Refrigerate the lemonade base for at least 30 minutes to chill and let flavors meld.
- Just before serving, add 4 cups (950 ml) chilled sparkling water or club soda to the pitcher. Stir gently to combine without losing bubbles.
- Serve over ice cubes in glasses. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or sliced strawberries if desired.
Notes
Do not over-muddle strawberries to avoid bitterness and cloudiness. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Let simple syrup cool before mixing to prevent wilting strawberries. Add sparkling water just before serving to keep fizz. Large ice cubes melt slower and keep drink chilled longer. The lemonade base can be made up to 12 hours ahead and refrigerated; add sparkling water only before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 90110
- Sugar: 22
- Carbohydrates: 25
Keywords: sparkling strawberry lemonade, summer drink, homemade lemonade, refreshing beverage, easy lemonade recipe, strawberry drink, sparkling water drink