Refreshing Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade with Honey and Mint

Let’s talk about my favorite childhood pastime: running a lemonade stand.

Did any of you open one of these when you were a child?

When I was younger, this was one of my favorite things to do on a summer afternoon. I would spend hours designing a cute giant sign, with tons of colors and flowers, suns and hearts.

My mom would help me juice lemons (yes, we actually made the drink I sold from scratch) and we would make giant pitchers of the stuff to chill in the fridge.

When the afternoon came around, I would set up my little table. My sign would get taped to the front, I would get covered in sunscreen, and there I would sit.

Thankfully, my mom and I lived in a townhouse that was right on the corner where the cars would enter the neighborhood.

All I can say is that I made money at that lemonade stand. It was the best way for me to save, and at the end of the summer, my mom would let me buy whatever I wanted before the first day of school.

To this day, I drive around my neighborhood in the summer and see cute little lemonade stands popping up on various corners. I always stop to buy a glass whenever I can.

It always made my day when people would stop their cars and I’d deliver them a chilled glass of lemonade in exchange for a quarter or two.

So, I kind of feel this need to pass on the feeling to any kid that I pass at a homemade stand. Don’t you? They are always just so darn adorable sitting at their table and waving like crazy for you to stop and get some refreshment.

This particular recipe is one that is for kiddos and grownups alike. It has the traditional flavors of lemonade that you know and love so much, with a little something extra going on.

You start with a homemade simple syrup made with honey and mint. Then you add a fresh raspberry puree and a hefty amount of lemon juice.

All those flavors meld together in the refrigerator as it chills.

The drink tastes bright and tangy, with a nice little hint of fresh mint at the end of each sip. Talk about refreshing, let me tell you! It’s like your favorite homemade lemonade recipe, with a ton more flavor and variety than the usual.

The best part of this recipe is that when it is served, you top it all off with a splash of sparkling water.

This gives the drink a little extra lightness and lift, not to mention the bubbles tickle your nose in the best way possible. It’s the best way to bring effervescence to any drink, and we use it in a variety of beverages, like this lemonade and other mocktails.

It’s that bright happiness that simply embodies summer in a glass.

Who else is ready for summer? You can be sure this girl is. As long as I have a glass of this sparkling goodness in hand, it will always be summer in my book.

Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade

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★★★★★

5 from 1 review

• Author: Meghan Yager
• Total Time: 4 hrs, 20 min
• Yield: 6-8 servings 1x

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Description

Enjoy the ultimate glass of refreshment with this sparkling raspberry lemonade, made with fresh berries, citrus, and mint.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups water
• 1/2 cup honey, or more to taste
• 20 mint leaves (from 3–4 sprigs), plus more for garnish
• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• 2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 11 medium lemons)
• 3 1/2 cups sparkling water, chilled

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Instructions

1. To make the simple syrup, begin by heating 3 cups of water, 1/2 cup honey, and mint leaves in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Continue heating, stirring frequently, until honey is fully incorporated and dissolved.
2. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain out mint leaves and set syrup aside.
3. Puree 2 cups fresh raspberries in a blender. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds. Set aside.
4. In a tall pitcher, combine honey water with lemon juice and strained raspberry puree. Stir to combine.
5. Chill mixture in the refrigerator until very cold, about 4 hours. Serve 5 ounces in each glass, topped with 3 ounces sparkling water.
6. Garnish with mint and serve.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lemonade
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Beverages

Keywords: mocktail, cocktail, raspberry lemonade, lemonade

Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Juice Lemons and Measure Remaining Ingredients

Juice about 11 lemons or enough to make 2 cups of fresh lemon juice. Make sure to strain out any seeds. Set aside.

Measure out the remaining ingredients as listed in the ingredients list.

Step 2 – Make Simple Syrup

Add water, honey, and mint leaves to a medium saucepan and place it over moderate heat. Stir frequently, until the honey has been fully incorporated and dissolved.

Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain out the mint leaves and set the syrup aside.

Step 3 – Puree Fruit

Add 2 cups of fresh raspberries to a blender.

Strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer or chinois to remove seeds.

Set aside.

Add the flavored simple syrup to a tall pitcher with the lemon juice and strained raspberry puree.

Stir well to combine.

About Meghan Yager

Meghan Yager is a food addict turned food and travel writer with a love for creating uncomplicated, gourmet recipes and devouring anything the world serves up. As the author of the food and travel blog Cake 'n Knife, Meghan focuses on unique foodie experiences from around the world to right at home in your own kitchen.

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