Easy Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Make-Ahead Strawberry Lemonade That Tastes Like Summer

This easy strawberry lemonade concentrate recipe is one of my favorite ways to turn fresh strawberries into a bright, refreshing summer drink you can enjoy right away or freeze for later. It is sweet, tart, fruity, and so much better than powdered drink mix.

The best part? You only need four simple ingredients: strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and water. Blend the concentrate once, freeze it in a quart-size freezer bag, and then thaw it whenever you want homemade strawberry lemonade without starting from scratch.

Quick answer: To make strawberry lemonade concentrate, blend fresh strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and 1 cup of cold water until smooth. Freeze or refrigerate the concentrate. When you are ready to serve, mix the concentrate with 4 cups of cold water and pour over ice.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

If you have ever bought frozen lemonade concentrate, this homemade version gives you a fresh, fruity option you can make with real strawberries. It is not a canning recipe and does not require any special equipment beyond a blender.

This recipe is especially helpful when strawberries are in season or when you have berries that are still good but a little too soft or imperfect for serving fresh. Instead of letting them go to waste, blend them into a sweet strawberry lemonade concentrate and freeze it for a hot day, barbecue, birthday party, baby shower, or simple weekend treat.

And if you love fun lemonade recipes, you may also want to try our creamy lemonade recipe for a sweet, frothy twist.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Fresh Strawberries

Fresh strawberries give this lemonade its pretty pink color and bright berry flavor. One pound of whole fresh strawberries usually gives you about 2 cups of hulled strawberries once they are cleaned and prepped.

This strawberry huller makes the job quick and helps reduce waste.

Lemon Juice

Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor. You will usually need about 3 1/2 to 4 lemons to get 1 cup of lemon juice, depending on the size and juiciness of the lemons.

If you make lemonade often, a sturdy citrus press is helpful. This Chef’n citrus juicer is one we have used and liked.

Sugar

Granulated sugar sweetens the concentrate and balances the tart lemon juice. You can adjust the sweetness slightly depending on how sweet your strawberries are and how tart you like your lemonade.

Cold Water

You will use 1 cup of cold water in the blender to make the concentrate, then add the remaining 4 cups of chilled water when you are ready to serve.

How to Make Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate

Step 1: Wash and Hull the Strawberries

Rinse the strawberries well, remove the green tops, and discard any berries that are moldy or spoiled. Soft berries are fine as long as they are still fresh and safe to eat.

Step 2: Blend the Concentrate

Add the lemon juice, sugar, and only 1 cup of cold water to the blender. Then add the strawberries and blend until smooth. If you like a little texture, you can leave it slightly chunky. If you prefer smooth lemonade, blend it longer.

Step 3: Taste and Adjust

Because strawberries and lemons vary, give the concentrate a quick taste. It should taste stronger and sweeter than finished lemonade because you will add more water before serving.

How to Mix the Concentrate

Once the strawberry lemonade concentrate is blended, pour it into a pitcher and add the remaining 4 cups of chilled water. Stir well and serve over ice.

Concentrate-to-water ratio: This recipe uses about 1 quart of strawberry lemonade concentrate mixed with 4 cups of cold water.

If you like a stronger lemonade flavor, start with less water and add more to taste. If you want it lighter, add a little extra cold water or sparkling water.

How to Freeze Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate

This is what makes the recipe so handy. Instead of mixing the concentrate with the final 4 cups of water right away, pour the blended concentrate into a quart-size freezer bag or freezer-safe container.

Lay the bag flat in the freezer so it freezes in a thin layer. This makes it easier to store and faster to thaw. When you are ready to use it, thaw the concentrate in the refrigerator, pour it into a pitcher, add the water, stir, and serve over ice.

For best quality, use frozen homemade lemonade concentrate within about 2 to 3 months. The USDA notes that freezing keeps food safe when stored continuously frozen, but quality is best when frozen foods are used within recommended timeframes. You can read more about safe freezing basics from the USDA freezing and food safety guide.

Can You Use This Instead of Frozen Lemonade Concentrate?

This homemade strawberry lemonade concentrate is wonderful for making drinks, punch, and party lemonade. However, it is not exactly the same as store-bought frozen lemonade concentrate.

Store-bought frozen lemonade concentrate is usually more concentrated and often comes in 12-ounce or 14-ounce cans. This homemade version makes about 1 quart, or roughly 32 ounces, of concentrate before the final water is added. Because it is less concentrated than a commercial can, it may not be a perfect 1:1 substitute in desserts like frozen lemonade pie.

If you are using this in a recipe that calls for a 12- or 14-ounce can of frozen lemonade concentrate, start with a smaller amount and adjust to taste. For drinks, it is very forgiving. For pies and desserts, you may need to reduce other liquids in the recipe.

Tips and Easy Variations

Make It Sugar-Free

You can use a cup-for-cup sugar substitute if you want a lower-sugar option. We have had success with Swerve Sweetener and Lakanto Monkfruit Sugar Substitute. You can also experiment with Splenda or stevia, but sweetness levels may vary.

Use Frozen Strawberries

Fresh strawberries are ideal, but frozen strawberries can work too. Thaw them first and include the juices in the blender for extra flavor.

Make It Sparkling

For a fun party drink, mix the thawed concentrate with chilled sparkling water instead of still water. Add the sparkling water right before serving so it stays bubbly.

Strain It If You Want It Smooth

If you want a smoother lemonade, pour the blended concentrate through a fine mesh strainer before chilling or freezing. If you do not mind strawberry seeds and pulp, you can skip this step.

More Easy Summer Recipes

• Creamy Lemonade
• Healthy Pina Colada Smoothie Recipe
• Honey Lime Fruit Salad Recipe
• Homemade Chocolate Milk Recipe
• Easy Cream Cheese Fruit Dip Recipe
• Homemade Strawberry Freezer Jam

Frequently Asked Questions About Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate

How much strawberry lemonade concentrate does this recipe make?

This recipe makes about 1 quart, or roughly 32 ounces, of strawberry lemonade concentrate before you add the final water. The exact amount can vary slightly depending on the size and juiciness of your strawberries and lemons.

How much water do I add to strawberry lemonade concentrate?

Add 4 cups of cold water to the finished concentrate when you are ready to serve. If you like stronger lemonade, start with less water and add more to taste.

Can I freeze homemade strawberry lemonade concentrate?

Yes. Pour the blended concentrate into a quart-size freezer bag or freezer-safe container and freeze it before adding the final 4 cups of water. Thaw in the refrigerator, then mix with cold water and serve.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?

Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor, but bottled lemon juice can work in a pinch. The flavor may be slightly less bright and fresh.

Can I use this concentrate for punch?

Yes. This strawberry lemonade concentrate is great for punch. Mix it with cold water, sparkling water, lemon-lime soda, or a combination depending on how sweet and bubbly you want it.

Can I make this ahead for a party?

Yes. You can make the concentrate ahead and refrigerate it for a day or two, or freeze it for later. Wait to add ice until serving so the lemonade does not get watered down.

Do I need to strain the strawberry puree?

No, but you can. If you like a smoother drink, strain the blended concentrate through a fine mesh strainer. If you like a more natural strawberry texture, leave it as is.

Final Thoughts

This freezer strawberry lemonade concentrate is simple, refreshing, and such a smart way to use fresh strawberries. It is easy enough for a weeknight treat but handy enough to make ahead for summer parties, backyard dinners, and hot afternoons when everyone wants something cold and sweet.

Make a batch while strawberries are fresh and tuck it in the freezer. Future you will be very happy.

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Easy Homemade Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Easy, delicious homemade strawberry lemonade recipe! Perfect for a summer treat!

4.50 / 5 ( 2 Reviews )

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Serves: 8

Adjust Servings: 8

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole strawberries hulled and pureed (2 cups pureed)
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar or more to taste (or erythritol sweetener)
• 5 cups water

Instructions

• Blend and then pour into a quart sized freezer bag and freeze! When you’re ready to use it, thaw and add 5 cups of chilled water and stir (I even like to blend it frozen for a slushy drink)! Or for a tasty treat, add 1 liter of Sprite to the concentrate!

Recipe Notes

Makes about 3 1/2 cups homemade strawberry lemonade concentrate.

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g