Whether you want to jazz up your summer drinks or add a sweet and tart twist to your favorite breakfasts or desserts, this homemade strawberry lemonade syrup is a game changer. It's easy to whip up, packed full of vibrant flavor, and can be stored for use whenever you want a fruity kick.
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Some foods, drinks, and flavors just scream summer more than anything. Of course, lemonade is one of those things. But make it strawberry lemonade instead and that summertime flavor is amplified times ten!
A nice refreshing glass of strawberry lemonade makes me so happy in the summertime. But what if you could add that sweet flavor to everything your heart desired? With this strawberry lemonade syrup, it's possible!
This syrup has become my summertime necessity, but I'm honestly think I'll be carrying right into fall and winter, too.
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
This simple syrup is so easy to make and tastes just like your favorite summer drink! What more could you want?
Not only can you use it to make a super quick and easy strawberry lemonade drink, but you can use it as an add-in or topping on so many of your favorite drinks and foods.
Mix up a drink and serve it along with these strawberry lemonade cookies!
🗒 Ingredients
You only need a few basic ingredients for this syrup! Here's everything you need (be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Water
- Granulated sugar
- Sliced strawberries
- Fresh lemon zest
🍓 How to make strawberry lemonade syrup
If you've ever made your own simple syrup before, this will be a no-brainer for you. If this is your first time, you'll quickly learn how easy homemade syrups are!
To start, combine fresh lemon juice, water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, add strawberries and lemon zest and stir to combine.
Lower heat to a simmer.
Let the mixture simmer until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup begins to thicken. This should take about 10 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof container like a bowl or a mason jar.
Press down on the strawberries with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible from them.
You won't need the strawberries anymore, so you can discard them... But I recommend keeping them and using them in your oatmeal or yogurt. Or as an ice cream topping.
Place bowl or jar in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.
I've considered keeping this little carafe of syrup next to me at all times. Just in case.
Strawberry lemonade syrup is the most gorgeous vibrant color and it's packed with bright strawberry flavor with tangy citrus notes.
It tastes like summer sunshine.
🍹 How to use
I've made a lot of simple syrups over the years and I think this is one of the most versatile I've made. It has SO many uses and makes so many foods and drinks even more delicious. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
- Easy homemade lemonade: If you want a glass of strawberry lemonade in a pinch, just stir some of this syrup into cold water with ice cubes. You can easily control just how sweet and flavorful you want the lemonade to be. It makes the BEST pink lemonade!
- Strawberry lemonade soda: For a sparkling beverage, add the syrup to seltzer water instead. Kids will love this homemade soda as the perfect summer drink.
- Cocktails: You can add this to all kinds of cocktails from vodka seltzers to margaritas to gin and tonics and more. I think the strawberry lemonade flavor goes especially well with vodka, tequila, and gin.
- Wine add-in: We may have accidentally discovered that adding strawberry lemonade syrup to rosé or white wine makes for an amazing summer refreshment. It would also be great for adding some extra flavor to sangria.
- Homemade Pink Drink: I have a copycat recipe for the Starbucks Pink Drink, but you could also use this syrup to make a quick Pink Drink!
- Tea flavoring: You can use this syrup in either hot tea or iced tea for a lovely added flavor and liquid sweetener.
- Ice cream topping: As if ice cream isn't summery enough, drizzle a little strawberry lemonade over the top for an even sweeter, more summery dessert. This works best on vanilla ice cream, but is also delicious on sorbets.
- Oatmeal or yogurt topping: add instant summer flavor to your healthy breakfast with a drizzle of this syrup.
- Pancake, waffle, french toast, or crepe topping: I love this syrup on top of my brunch favorites. It's such a nice summer alternative to maple syrup and is especially delicious on these strawberry crepes.
- Homemade popsicles: Mix the syrup with water and freeze in popsicle molds for homemade strawberry lemonade popsicles.
- Salad dressing addition: I love adding a little simple syrup to oil-based salad dressings for added sweetness and flavor. Strawberry and lemon flavors work well with so many different salads. It would also be great drizzled on its own over fruit salad.
- Marinade or glaze: Use the strawberry lemonade syrup for added unique flavor as a marinade for chicken or fish. You could also use it as a glaze for grilled or roasted vegetables.
- Cake moistener: Many pastry chefs like to coat their cakes with simple syrup in order to retain the cake's moisture and to infuse it with additional taste. The essence of strawberry lemonade pairs delectably with vanilla, lemon, or strawberry flavored cakes. It would also be the perfect addition to this strawberry lemonade cake.
I would love to hear how you're using this syrup!
🫙 How to store
This strawberry lemonade simple syrup can stay fresh for around a month if you store it the right way. I recommend keeping it in an airtight container, like a mason jar, and storing it in your fridge.
Did you know you can freeze simple syrup too? If you have syrup left that you want to keep for longer than a month, I suggest pouring it into an ice cube tray and freezing it. After they're frozen, put the syrup cubes into a big bag that can be kept in the freezer.
When you're ready to use the frozen syrup, just take a cube or two out of the freezer and let them melt. Cubes should keep in the freezer for 3-4 months.
🧊 Can I use frozen strawberries?
I always think fresh strawberries taste best, especially when it's strawberry season, but if you can't get them, you can certainly use frozen strawberries for this syrup.
You can just add them right into the water/lemon/sugar mixture without thawing.
🎉 Variations on recipe
This recipe will give you strawberry lemonade syrup in its purest form. But of course, there are all kinds of ways you can jazz it up and add additional flavors to it. Here are some fun ingredients you can add to the syrup:
- Vanilla extract
- Fresh mint
- Fresh basil
- Jalapeño
- Add additional berries like blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries
- Substitute lemon juice for lime juice
- Cinnamon or anise
- Lavender, rose, or hibiscus
If strawberries aren't your thing, you can omit them and make this with other berries instead. Raspberry lemonade syrup is another favorite.
I almost always include a section in my simple syrup posts about where you can purchase the particular flavor of syrup if you don't want to make it.
But guess what? I haven't been able to find any strawberry lemonade syrups or even strawberry lemon syrups on the market. So, this recipe really is unique and if you want to enjoy it, you'll have to make it.
I promise it really is better than anything you could purchase online or store-bought in grocery stores anyway.
🫐 More flavored syrup recipes
If you love the idea of adding berry flavor to all your favorite foods and drinks, I have so many more syrup recipes for you, featuring berries and beyond. You can see them all on my simple syrup page, but here are some of my favorites:
If this doesn't get you in the summer mood, I don't know what will! I'm ready for the next hot summer day so I can use this syrup to whip up a large pitcher of the best homemade strawberry lemonade with lemon slices and sliced strawberries as garnish.
What syrup flavor would you like to see next?
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Lemonade Syrup
Ingredients
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon zest
Instructions
- Combine lemon juice, water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, add strawberries and lemon zest and stir to combine. Lower heat to a simmer.
- Let simmer until sugar is dissolved and syrup begins to thicken, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and strain syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof container like a bowl or a mason jar. Press down on strawberries with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard strawberries or use them for something else (they make a delicious ice cream topping!)
- Place bowl or jar in fridge to cool completely before using. Syrup will continue to thicken as it cools.
Christina says
Hello! Can you make a coconut syrup?
Thanks!
Sues says
Hi Christina- Yes, that's a great idea! I'll do that soon!
Sandra Williams-Parker says
Hello, I would love to see a simple peach syrup. Please and thank you.
Sues says
Hi Sandra- I have a peach syrup recipe! https://wearenotmartha.com/peach-simple-syrup/