Description
A vibrant, herbal sparkling lemonade made with fresh strawberries, basil, mint, and lemon juice. It’s a quick, kid-approved summer refresher that tastes better than takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from 3–4 large lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 10–12 large fresh basil leaves
- 10–12 sprigs fresh mint leaves
- 4–6 cups chilled sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- Optional garnish: extra mint sprigs, basil leaves, lemon slices, or halved strawberries
Instructions
- Place hulled strawberries and sugar in a large pitcher. Mash with a muddler, rolling pin, or spoon until broken down and juicy, creating a chunky puree (approx. 3 minutes).
- Tear basil and mint leaves roughly with your hands and add them to the pitcher. Mix and let sit for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Squeeze lemon juice into the pitcher, ensuring seeds are removed. Add lemon zest and stir. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity if needed.
- Pour in chilled sparkling water, starting with 4 cups. Stir gently to preserve bubbles. Add more sparkling water if desired.
- Fill glasses with ice. Pour the lemonade over the ice and garnish with mint, basil, or lemon slices. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use room temperature lemons for easier juicing. Do not freeze the drink as the texture will change. Store the strawberry-herb-lemon base in the fridge for up to 2 days, but add sparkling water only right before serving to maintain carbonation. If serving a crowd, keep sparkling water separate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: sparkling lemonade, strawberry basil lemonade, summer drinks, refreshing beverages, non-alcoholic cocktails, healthy drinks, kid-friendly recipes