This Homemade Strawberry Lemonade is sweetened with real fruit and made with just 4 natural ingredients. It’s the perfect summer drink to make when hosting guests, enjoying a day by the pool, or simply needing a way to use up those lemons.
The Healthier Version of Pink Lemonade
If you grew up loving strawberry lemonade or pink lemonade, you’re in for a treat! This healthier version is equally sweet, refreshing, and a beautiful shade of pink – perfect for Spring and Summer.
Many strawberry lemonade recipes on the Internet are made with sweeteners such as white sugar, simple syrup, agave nectar, coconut sugar, or even strawberry syrup. We wanted to make a version that was not only good but nutritious, too!
This strawberry lemonade is made with fresh strawberries and sweetened with dates, making it a great source of dietary fiber and a drink you won’t think twice about making a double batch of. It’s the best delicious drink to make for strawberry season, a hot summer day, or celebrations such as birthdays, picnics, Mother’s day, Easter, baby showers, and more!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Lemons: In order to make the best homemade lemonade, it is essential to juice your own fresh lemons! From our experience, 2 Meyer lemons should yield about 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice, but this will depend on the size of the lemons as well as the method in which you juice them. For example, squeezing the lemons by hand is going to yield less juice than using a citrus juicer.
Water: You will need 3 cups of fresh, filtered water to dilute the tartness of the lemons and help blend the lemonade completely smooth.
Fresh strawberries: For the best flavor, use extra ripe strawberries. The riper they are, the sweeter your strawberry lemonade will be (without the need for any cane sugar!).
Dates: Our secret to making sweet lemonade without refined sugar. With a powerful, high-speed blender, the dates will blend completely smooth and add nutrition and fiber to this summery drink.
Variations
Use another berry: Strawberry is of course the classic, but try making this homemade lemonade with fresh raspberries to make raspberry lemonade, or try a blend of raspberries and strawberries for a sweet and tart flavor combo.
Make strawberry limeade: Swap the fresh-squeezed lemon juice with fresh lime juice. It’s equally as tart and delicious and is a fun twist on classic lemonade.
Turn it into an alcoholic beverage: Vodka lemonades are popular for a reason! They’re refreshing, easy to make when hosting a crowd, and require no bar tools. Or check out these 8 Alcohols You Can Mix with Lemonade and make your own refreshing summer cocktail at home.
Use frozen berries: If you’re out of fresh, sweet strawberries, replace them with frozen strawberries. It will make your lemonade more of a slushie texture, but no one will complain!
Make it an Arnold Palmer: If you love classic Arnold Palmers, try making a Strawberry Almond Palmer! Simply mix half of the strawberry lemonade with half the sweet tea and enjoy.
Equipment Needed
High-speed blender
Large storage containers, such as a pitcher, mason jar, or similar container
Strainer
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
Blend all ingredients! Place the water, diced strawberries, Medjool dates, and lemon juice in a high-speed blender and blend until completely smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
Strain. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any date pulp. This is not necessary but highly recommended for smooth lemonade.
Chill for 1 hour. Transfer the strawberry lemonade to an airtight container such as a large pitcher, mason jar, or your favorite glass serving container, and add in the sprigs of fresh mint if using. Tightly cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until cold.
Serve. Serve chilled over ice with additional sprigs of fresh mint, sliced lemons, strawberries, or as desired!
Recipe FAQs
What can I add to lemonade to make it better?
If you think your strawberry lemonade could use a bit more sweetness, blend in a couple of additional dates until your desired sweetness level is reached. If you think it could be sourer, add additional tart lemon juice.
What pairs well with lemonade?
Homemade strawberry lemonade always reminds of warmer weather, so here are a few of our favorite summer favorites: Grillable Veggie Burgers, Carrot Hot Dogs, Grilled Barbecue Tofu Skewers, Vegan Mexican-Inspired Pinwheels, and Easy Vegan Antipasto Skewers! Feel free to serve this strawberry lemonade with any of your favorite refreshing recipes, or check out our “No-Cook Summer Recipes” video on our YouTube channel for more ideas!
Is strawberry lemonade just another name for pink lemonade?
Pink lemonade refers to any lemonade beverage that is the color pink. This includes strawberry lemonade but most often references lemonades that are dyed pink using food coloring. Pink lemonade does not typically contain fresh fruit or taste like strawberry.
Should I strain my lemonade before serving?
This lemonade is made to be served without straining, but if you prefer to strain yours through a fine mesh sieve for a very smooth consistency, feel free to do so. We like to leave the strawberry puree and date fiber in our lemonade for a boost of nutrition and optimal fruity flavor.
Tips for Success:
Pit your dates! Dates contain a tough pit in their center and can damage the blade of your blender if accidentally left in the fruits. Always double-check that they have been removed, or play it safe and purchase pitted Medjool dates from the grocery store.
Store your fruit to last. If you’ve purchased fresh lemons and strawberries to make strawberry lemonade for guests this summer, you want to help your fresh ingredients last as long as possible. Check out the Best Tips for Storing Produce and Wasting Less and make your produce last for weeks.
Use a high-powered blender. Although you can get away with a low-powered blender for many of our recipes, this is one where you’ll want to use a quality, high-powered blender such as a Vitamix. A low-powered blender won’t be able to blend the fruit completely smooth, leaving you with a gritty lemonade full of strawberry seeds and tiny chunks of dates. No, thank you!
More Homemade Drink Recipes to Try:
Calamansi Margaritas – A tropical twist on the classic margarita made with calamansi juice and Cointreau.
Easy Cucumber Fennel Juice (No Juicer Required) – Another refreshing drink you can make at home using a blender.
How to Make Cold Brew at Home {easy} – A cheaper, more satisfying way to enjoy your favorite morning cup at home! It’s so easy, you won’t go back to Starbucks after this.
Easy Mango Kombucha Margaritas – Fruity, bubbly cocktails made with probiotics thanks to Mango Kombucha.
My Two Go-To Green Smoothies – These are the smoothies I used to make on repeat in my early vegan days! Still some of my favorite go-to recipes.
Your new favorite summer beverage–an easy and refined sugar-free strawberry lemonade that is sweetened with dates and made with just 4 simple ingredients!
Ingredients
3 cups filtered water
1 cup (140g) diced strawberries
1/4 cup (50 g) medjool dates*
Juice of 2 lemons (about 1/4 cup or to taste; we used Meyer)
Optional: 2-3 sprigs of fresh mint
Equipment
High-speed blender
Large storage containers, such as a pitcher, mason jar, or similar container
Strainer
Instructions
In a high-speed blender, blend all of the ingredients together (except for the mint) until smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any date pulp. This is not necessary but highly recommended for smooth lemonade.
Transfer into an airtight container and add in the sprigs of mint if using. Seal and place into the refrigerator for 1 hour or until chilled.
Serve over ice.
Notes
If your dates are not soft, soak them in hot water for about 20 minutes or until softened, and drain before use.
Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links, which simply means that we earn a commission if you purchase through those links, but your price remains the same. Thank you for supporting Sweet Simple Vegan!
The post Homemade Strawberry Lemonade appeared first on Sweet Simple Vegan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still dine out at restaurants if your diet is plant-based?
Many restaurants now offer vegan-friendly options on their menus. Many new vegan restaurants are appearing in large cities, providing delicious options for vegetarians. Most mainstream restaurants have vegetarian-friendly options. There is still plenty to choose from when you are looking for a restaurant that serves a plant based diet. You can find recipes with vegetables or legumes, such as seitan, tempeh, and seitan. Use vinegar and healthy oils to replace mayonnaise and dressings high-in saturated fat. Do not hesitate to ask your server about vegan options or dairy substitutions with almond or coconut milk.
For ideas on vegan recipes, you might want to research vegan cookbooks before you go. Most restaurants will be happy to accommodate guests who are vegan or vegetarian and will try their best to make sure they do. Easy to enjoy a plantbased meal at a restaurant if you are creative and willing to do some research.
What are some fantastic sources of protein that can be found in a plant-based lifestyle?
The following are great sources for protein from a plant-based food diet: legumes such chickpeas, beans, and chickpeas. Also, soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and grains like quinoa, teff, nuts like almonds, walnuts and cashews. Seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli. These plant-based proteins are rich in fiber and essential micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. You can balance your nutrient needs by adding omega-3 fats to plant-based foods like flaxseeds. chia, walnuts, and hemp seeds.
What is the disadvantage of plant-based meat?
The main problem with plant-based meat is its lack of essential vitamins or minerals. Certain essential amino acids, such as vitamin B12 and heme iron are lower in plant-based meat than in animal proteins. Because of the large amount of sodium needed to preserve them, some plant-based proteins have higher sodium levels than real meat. Furthermore, purchasing quality vegan products from grocery stores or online outlets can be more expensive and time-consuming. Vegan alternatives might require more work during cooking, and may take longer to prepare.
Can you build muscles on a plant-based food?
Yes, it is possible build muscle by eating a plant-based food. A vegetarian diet doesn't necessarily mean that you can have less muscle, but the type of food one eats will play a significant role in building muscle strength and size. A plant-based diet may include legumes (beans and lentils, peas), nuts, doves and seitan. It also might include high-protein foods like tofu, tempeh and nutritional yeast. A plant-based diet that is balanced can help you achieve your fitness and overall health goals. Avoid processed foods, which are often high in unhealthy additives and preservatives. A steady increase in protein is necessary, so make sure to include foods like quinoa or flaxseed and nut oils into your daily food plan. A nutritionist that specializes in plant-based nutritional can help you gain muscle mass, or to maintain your current body and health.
Statistics
Another found that following a diet rich in plant foods and lower in animal foods was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 31 to 32 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. (everydayhealth.com)
In fact, according to research published in the going plant-based can cut grocery bills by $750 a year per person, Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. (forksoverknives.com)
Preparing plant-based meals ahead of time makes cooking easy and efficient. While it takes some planning and preparation, this can save you valuable time and encourage healthy eating habits. Preparing plant-based meals ahead of time makes it easier for you to keep to your diet. You can have the food ready to go when you're hungry. Also, you can save time and make it easier to exercise or relax by not having the food prepared from scratch each day.
Preparing plant-based meals is easy if you prioritize variety and emphasize whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, and legumes. To get more nutrition, choose different ingredients every week. Choose spinach for greens; purple carrots to orange/reds; brown rice for complex carbohydrates. Every meal should have a balanced ratio of fiber and protein. It all depends on the individual's dietary needs.
Use a slow cooker, multi-cooker, or multi-cooker, to optimize your meal prep efficiency.
You can easily prepare meals for a plant diet by following these simple steps. Start by creating a grocery list that is based on the recipes you want to prepare. You can also shop at local health food stores or farmers' markets for fresh produce and other quality products. The next step is to plan enough time to prepare the food. This option allows you to save time and effort while still getting great results. Also, it is important to use the right storage equipment so that food stays fresh until used.
Ultimately plant-based meal prepping enables one to eat well no matter how busy life gets. By taking the guesswork out of healthy eating, individuals will likely achieve their nutritional goals sooner rather than later.
"Honestly finishing these workouts while changing my diet is very concerning." Quinton loves to work out and has always thought that he needed to eat a lot of
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