Sparkling Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Make a refreshing, homemade sparkling lemonade that combines sweet strawberries, fresh basil, and tart lemon juice.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 50 min
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stirring
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water (for simple syrup)
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)
- 4 cups cold sparkling water or club soda
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Make the strawberry basil simple syrup: Combine sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Remove the syrup from the heat. Add the sliced strawberries and basil leaves to the hot syrup. Let the mixture steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing gently on the solids to extract the liquid. Discard the solids. You should have about 1.5 cups of flavored syrup.
- In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry basil simple syrup and the fresh lemon juice. Stir well.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the lemonade base into each glass, depending on your preferred sweetness.
- Top each glass with cold sparkling water or club soda. Stir gently.
- Garnish each drink with a fresh strawberry slice and a small basil leaf.
Notes
- For a less sweet drink, reduce the sugar in the simple syrup to 3/4 cup.
- You can make the strawberry basil syrup up to one week ahead and store it in the refrigerator.
- If you want a stronger basil flavor, muddle a few extra leaves directly in the pitcher before adding the sparkling water.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 10 oz)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 46
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0