How to Make Pink Lemonade

Last Updated: October 18, 2022

If you get pink lemonade from the store or a drink machine, you're most likely paying for the exact same lemonade taste, plus food coloring. If all you want is the fun color, you can use the same trick at home, but getting the color from fruit or fruit juice will create a more memorable, flavorful concoction.

Ingredients

1½ cups / 355 milliliters (12 fl oz) lemon juice (roughly 10 medium lemons)
4½ cups / 1065 mL water
2 cups / 480 milliliters (16.2 fl oz) cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, or more water
1 cup / 240 mL white sugar
¾ cup / 180 mL raspberries or strawberries (fresh or frozen)

Optional:

ice
basil or mint leaves
red food coloring

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Pink Lemonade with Fruit or Juice

1
Mix the sugar and water. Stir 1 cup (240 mL) white sugar into 4½ cups (1125 mL) water until it dissolves. If you are using granulated sugar instead of superfine sugar, you might need to warm the mixture up slightly on the stove to help it dissolve.
- If you like your lemonade sour, use ⅔ cup (160 mL) sugar instead.
2
Mix together the liquid ingredients. In a jug that can hold at least 2½ quarts (2½ liters), mix the water and sugar mixture into 1½ cups (375 mL) lemon juice and 2 cups (500 mL) cranberry juice or other red fruit juice.
- If you like your lemonade sweet, use 1 cup (240 mL) lemon juice instead.
- If you do not have red fruit juice, you can replace it with water. The fruit alone will only add a little color, so add a couple drops of red food coloring as well.
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3
Add the fruit. Strawberries can be cut into thin slices or chunks and added directly to the pitcher. If using raspberries, mash them in a separate bowl first to release the juice, then strain it over the lemonade through cheesecloth, muslin, or a fine mesh strainer.
- You can skip this if you added red fruit juice, but the fruit will add additional flavor and a fresh appearance.
- Let frozen fruit thaw for a few minutes first.
- Raspberries add much more color than strawberries. Frozen raspberries add more than fresh raspberries, since the ice crystals rupture the fruit.
4
Chill, garnish, and serve. Keep the pitcher in the fridge until ready to serve. Optionally, garnish the pitcher with thin slices of lemon and a few mint leaves.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making Pink Lemonade with Simple Syrup

1
Combine fruit, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Combine ¾ cup (180 mL) raspberries or strawberries, 1 cup (240 mL) water, and 1 cup (240 mL) white sugar in a medium saucepan.
- If using frozen fruit, let them thaw for ten minutes before you begin.
2
Bring to a boil, stirring in the sugar. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat on the stovetop and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is steaming or gently boiling, stir it until the sugar is completely dissolved. This simple syrup should keep the sugar completely dissolved, so there's no risk of ending up with a pile of sugar in your lemonade glass.
3
Simmer the mixture. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the mixture until the fruit starts to fall apart. This usually takes 10 to 12 minutes for raspberries and about 20 minutes for strawberries. If the syrup isn't pink yet, stir the fruit and press it against the sides.
4
Strain the mixture into a pitcher. Pour the syrup mixture through a mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Press the fruit against the mesh with the back of the spoon to release more juice and color.
5
Let the mixture cool. Let the syrup cool for about 15 minutes. Place it uncovered in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes after that.
- Squeeze the lemons while you wait, if you're squeezing the lemon juice yourself.
6
Mix the syrup with the rest of the water and lemon juice. Add 1½ cups (355 mL) lemon juice and 3½ cups (830 mL) water to the pitcher containing the syrup and stir thoroughly.
- You may want to add the water and lemon juice ½ cup (120 mL) at a time, tasting in between to see whether you want more lemon juice or more water.
7
Chill before serving. If you're not planning to drink the lemonade for a few hours, leave a fresh-picked basil leaf or two to soak and add more flavor to the pink lemonade. Remove the soggy leaf and replace it with a fresh garnish before serving.

Community Q&A

Question

What is pink lemonade?

Community Answer

it’s lemonade with added red fruit like strawberries or raspberries and this is why it’s called pink lemonade.
Question

How many liters does the first recipe make?

Community Answer

It makes 2.32 liters, but you can make more by doubling the proportions. If you make more, you can use a jug and then serve it in cups.