Homemade Strawberry Limeade
Delicious and refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness! Made with an easy-to-make strawberry syrup and fresh lime juice, this Homemade Strawberry Limeade is the perfect spring and summer drink. It's sure to please!
Tart, Sweet, and Refreshing!
If I don’t have anything else in the house during the spring and summer, I’m gonna have a homemade drink waiting in the fridge! Whether it‘s a lemonade or a sweet tea, I’ve got to have something. With the crazy humidity that Maryland goes through sometimes, having something cold is essential!
But, this time, I wanted something different! My Homemade Strawberry Limeade Recipe has become one of my favorite drinks this season! It takes no time to make and only uses a few ingredients that are probably lying around your house. I just know y’all are going to love this recipe!
TIPS & TRICKS
Here a just a few of my favorite tips & tricks for making the BEST Limeade ever!
Try Making a Simple Syrup 1st! Take the amount of sugar listed in the recipe below and mix it with 1 - 1 1/2 cups of water. Bring it to a simmer and allow the sugar to completely dissolve. Then, mix it with the lime juice.
Add the zest of the Limes. The zest of the limes actually has more lime flavor than the juice itself. Zest the lime first and then mix it with the lime juice. The lime flavor will be crazy good!
ALWAYS USE FRESH LIME JUICE! Concentrated bottled lime juice is pasteurized in order to increase its shelf life. The flavor is not what you want at all in limeade. Fresh limes will require more time, but the flavor will be SO MUCH better!
Strawberry Limeade Ingredients
The ingredients are pretty simple in this recipe; but, let’s still walk through them to understand them. They are also so easy to find in any grocery store. They are all relatively cheap which makes this drink recipe even better!
Fresh Strawberries: Make sure that your strawberries are cleaned and sliced before making your simple syrup. I used about 3 cups total to get as much strawberry flavor into the syrup as possible. If you can’t find any good-quality strawberries, use frozen. Just make sure to thaw them first.
Water: If you can, use filtered water to make both your simple syrup and the rest of the limeade. You’ll need 1 cup for the syrup and the remaining for mixing at the end.
Granulated Sugar: The sugar is used for overall sweetness in the drink and to help make the simple syrup. Pouring granulated sugar directly into the pitcher isn’t your best bet. It will take forever to dissolve especially if you’re using cold water.
Fresh Lime Juice: This ingredient right here is the key to a good limeade. Fresh Lime Juice is going to make this drink taste even better. Bottled lime juice will make the drink taste overly pasteurized and artificial, and you don’t want that.
Ice: You’ve got to have a cold drink! If you’re impatient like me and don’t feel like waiting for the limeade to cool in the fridge, just grab a few ice cubes and build your drinks.
Garnishes: Y’all know that I’m all about presentation! So, I added in some fresh lime and strawberry to my pitcher before mixing my limeade. This is totally optional, but I highly recommend it!
Fresh Mint Leaves: For an added cooling effect, I added in some fresh mint leaves. This adds a nice touch to the limeade but it’s totally optional.
Club Soda or Sparkling Water: I like some added bubbles in my drinks. So, I added just a splash of club soda into glasses to top them off. It also helps to cut some of the sweetness of the drink. Sparkling water will work as well (try a lime or strawberry-flavored one)!
How to make Strawberry Limeade
Now that we have our ingredients, let’s make this easy spring and summertime limeade recipe!
This recipe will take no time at all! When I tell y’all that this limeade was one of the most refreshing I’ve had in a while, I mean it! It was the perfect balance of tart and sweet! The full written recipe is below, but here’s an overview:
LIMEADE:
STEP 1: Make Simple Syrup. In a saucepan over medium heat, add 3 cups of sliced strawberries, 1½ cups of granulated sugar, and 1 cup of water. Mix until combined.
STEP 2: Simmer & Cool Syrup. Bring the mixture to a simmer (this should take about 4 - 5 minutes). Slightly mash the strawberries with a spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
ASSEMBLY:
STEP 3: Strain Syrup & Make the Limeade. When the strawberry syrup has cooled, strain it through a fine mesh strainer (cooked strawberries can be discarded). Add a few strawberry slices, lime slices, and fresh mint leaves to a large pitcher. Add strawberry syrup, fresh lime juice, and the remaining 4 cups of water. Stir until fully incorporated.
STEP 4: Chill the Limeade & Assemble in Glasses. Refrigerate until cold. Assemble a few glasses with ice, strawberry slices, lime slices, and fresh mint. Pour limeade into glasses, serve, and enjoy!
Can I make this drink in advance?
Yes! You most definitely can! Here’s how to do it:
Make & Chill the Simple Syrup. The syrup can easily be made, strained, and chilled the night before you intend to use it. It will hold for several days.
Combine the lime juice, simple syrup, and water. This limeade will taste even better once it sits overnight. Make sure to fully strain the syrup to avoid any particulates unless you like the added texture.
Add the Fresh Sliced Fruit the Next Day. On the day that you want to have the drink ready for your guests, add your sliced fruit. The fruit can be sliced the night before as well.
Serve the limeade with ice and enjoy! The limeade will last for 6 - 7 days in the refrigerator.
I’d love to hear your feedback about this delicious Homemade Strawberry Limeade! Leave me a message in the comments section below. Remember to share and enjoy! Follow Be Greedy Eats on Pinterest and Instagram as well!
Homemade Strawberry Limeade
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add 3 cups of sliced strawberries, 1½ cups of granulated sugar, and 1 cup of water. Mix until combined.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer (this should take about 4 - 5 minutes). Slightly mash the strawberries with a spoon. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- When the strawberry syrup has cooled, strain it through a fine mesh strainer (cooked strawberries can be discarded). Add a few strawberry slices, lime slices, and fresh mint leaves to a large pitcher. Add strawberry syrup, fresh lime juice, and the remaining 4 cups of water. Stir until fully incorporated.
- Refrigerate until cold. Assemble a few glasses with ice, strawberry slices, lime slices, and fresh mint. Pour limeade into glasses, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
Cooking Tips:
- For a sparkling twist, pour some club soda or sparkling water into your strawberry limeade!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
184Fat (grams)
1 gSat. Fat (grams)
1 gCarbs (grams)
49 gFiber (grams)
2 gNet carbs
47 gSugar (grams)
43 gProtein (grams)
1 gSodium (milligrams)
12 mgCholesterol (grams)
0 mgYOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
