Hamdi Saidani This blueberry lemonade is made with fresh lemons, muddled blueberries, a simple syrup, and a splash of sparkling water. It’s tart, sweet, and fizzy, a cold drink for a hot day. It takes about 20 minutes and serves 8.
The simple syrup is the base. You dissolve sugar in water on the stove and let it cool, which sweetens the lemonade evenly without any grit. Muddle the blueberries in the pitcher first so their juice and color run through the whole drink.
The sparkling water goes in last, poured over each glass rather than the whole pitcher. That keeps the fizz from going flat and breaks up the tartness of the lemon and the sweetness of the berries.
Pioneer Woman Blueberry Lemonade
Description
This blueberry lemonade muddles fresh berries into a tart homemade lemonade, sweetened with simple syrup and topped with sparkling water. A fizzy, refreshing drink for a hot day.
Ingredients
Instructions
- For the simple syrup: Heat the sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
- Juice the lemons. You should have about 1 1/2 cups lemon juice. Place the blueberries in a pitcher and muddle them with a potato masher or the handle of a wooden spoon. Add ice, then add the lemon juice, 1 cup of the simple syrup, and 5 cups cold water. Stir to combine.
- Pour the lemonade into glasses and top with sparkling water. Add more blueberries.
FAQs
Why make a simple syrup instead of adding sugar straight in?
Sugar doesn’t dissolve well in cold liquid and leaves grit at the bottom. Dissolving it in warm water first makes a syrup that sweetens the lemonade evenly. Let it cool before mixing so it doesn’t melt the ice.
Why do I muddle the blueberries?
Muddling breaks the berries open so their juice and deep color spread through the whole pitcher. Whole berries just float. Use a potato masher or the handle of a wooden spoon to press them in the bottom first.
Why add the sparkling water to each glass?
Topping each glass instead of the whole pitcher keeps the fizz from going flat before you serve it. It also lets you control how bubbly each drink is, and it lightens the tart-sweet flavor.
Can I make it a cocktail?
Yes. Add 2 ounces of vodka or gin to each glass for a summer cocktail. For a rum version with mint and lime, try my [INTERLINK 1: Blueberry Mojitos].
What else can I do with fresh blueberries in summer?
Plenty. If you have berries left over, blend them into my Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie, or simmer them down into a Blueberry Syrup Recipe to keep on hand.
