Lemonade 6 Ways
Quench your thirst and elevate your summer sipping with "Lemonade 6 Ways," a versatile and refreshing beverage recipe that transforms the classic lemonade into six delightful variations. Start with a perfectly balanced homemade lemonade base featuring freshly squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, and water, then get creative with unique flavor infusions. From sweet and fruity Strawberry Lemonade to herbaceous Mint Lemonade, floral Lavender Lemonade, bubbly Sparkling Lemonade, and boldly spiced Ginger-Cayenne Lemonade, there's a version to suit every palate. Easy to prepare in just 30 minutes, this recipe is a go-to for backyard barbecues, picnics, or lazy afternoons. Garnish with fresh fruits, herbs, or sprigs of lavender for a visually stunning presentation that tastes as good as it looks. Perfect for summer entertaining or a refreshing treat, "Lemonade 6 Ways" ensures you'll never settle for ordinary lemonade again!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 whole lemons
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup strawberries (hulled and sliced)
- 0.5 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
- 2 cups sparkling water
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (grated)
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
1. Prepare a lemonade base by juicing 6 lemons, yielding about 1 cup of lemon juice, and set it aside.
2. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to make simple syrup. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
3. Combine the lemon juice, the cooled simple syrup, and 4 additional cups of cold water in a large pitcher. Stir well. This is the Classic Lemonade base.
4. For Strawberry Lemonade: Blend 1 cup of fresh strawberries with 1/2 cup of water until smooth. Strain the mixture to remove seeds, if desired, and add the puree to the Classic Lemonade base. Stir well, and serve over ice.
5. For Mint Lemonade: Muddle 1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves in the bottom of a pitcher. Add the Classic Lemonade base and stir to combine. Let steep for 10 minutes, then strain out the mint leaves before serving over ice.
6. For Lavender Lemonade: Simmer 1 tablespoon of dried culinary lavender in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Strain the lavender water and add it to the Classic Lemonade base. Chill before serving.
7. For Sparkling Lemonade: Replace 2 cups of water in the Classic Lemonade base with 2 cups of sparkling water. Stir gently to keep the carbonation intact, and serve immediately over ice.
8. For Spicy Ginger Lemonade: Add 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the simple syrup while it’s still warm. Let the syrup cool, then strain out the ginger. Combine the spiced syrup with the lemon juice and water in the Classic Lemonade base. Stir well, and serve over ice.
9. Garnish each lemonade variation with fresh slices of lemon, additional strawberries, mint leaves, or a lavender sprig as appropriate. Enjoy cold!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
999 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 3.0 g | 4% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.2 g | 1% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 93 mg | 4% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 264.0 g | 96% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 23.3 g | 83% | |
| Total Sugars | 222.5 g | ||
| Protein | 12.0 g | 24% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 615 mg | 47% | |
| Iron | 14.6 mg | 81% | |
| Potassium | 1567 mg | 33% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
