This homemade raspberry lemonade recipe is made with fresh lemons, raspberries, water and sugar for a simple refreshing summer drink that everyone will love. Not only does this Raspberry lemonade taste amazing it looks beautiful in the pitcher and when poured into a glass. This is the perfect summer drink recipe, and is great for hot summer days, summer parties, a summer bbq or just because you want to enjoy a delicious lemonade.

Raspberry Lemonade Recipe

The warm summer days are here and they are my favorite days to make a pitcher of this homemade Raspberry Lemonade Recipe. It is such an easy to make recipe and so refreshing. It is the perfect drink for a hot summer day and my whole family loves it when they see me pull out lemons to make lemonade.

I find every excuse that I can to make homemade lemonade during the summer. I think it goes perfectly with just about every dinner on the grill and any get-together you would have and just because it tastes so good. If you have never made homemade lemonade you are in for a real treat. Homemade fresh raspberry lemonade is so much better than the store bought stuff. You will be making it over and over again this summer after you make it for the first time.

This easy homemade raspberry lemonade recipe is a staple in our house during the summer, along with lots of other homemade lemonades. We love making fresh-squeezed lemonade and flavored lemonade all summer long. If you love delicious lemonade then be sure to check out our other simple lemonade recipes, they are perfect for the summer months.

Lemonade Recipes

Recipe Variations

While this refreshing raspberry lemonade is perfect on its own just as the simple recipe says to make it, there are a few things you can do to change things up.

Make it fancy. If you want to get fancy you can make some lemon sugar and dip the rim of the glasses in it before pouring your homemade lemonade into the glass. You can also add some lemon slices, fresh raspberries and mint to dress it up.

Make it Boozy. You can also easily turn this into a Raspberry lemonade cocktail by adding a splash of vodka! But keep that pitcher just for the moms and dads!

Like it tart? Use less sugar.

Make it low carb. Use sugar alternative instead of sugar.

Want stronger flavors? Use less water and also keep in mind that when you add ice and it melts while you are drinking it that will add more water to the drink.

Add fresh raspberries. My kids love raspberries so after they are done pouring it in the glass they like to add some fresh raspberries in the drink and then some lemon slices or lemon wedges on the rim of the glass to make it even prettier looking.

Make it Sparkling Raspberry lemonade. You can use sparkling water for the used to make a sparkling lemonade. You will not want to use sparkling water when making the simple syrup (water and sugar on the stove) but you can use it when you are making the final lemonade recipe in place of regular water.

Can I use Bottled Lemon Juice instead of Fresh Lemons?

When you are making this easy homemade lemonade recipe you are going to want to look for large lemons. They are easier to squeeze the juice out of. Depending on the size of the lemons you are using you will need 6-8 lemons.

Technically you can but I do not recommend it. While it’s being sold as lemon juice it does not have that same great fresh lemon flavor so if you want that optimal fresh lemonade I highly recommend buying a bag of lemons and squeezing them yourself.

How to Squeeze Lemons Easily

I have said in the past that I am in LOVE with my KitchenAid Mixer and use it all the time, what you might not know is that there is an amazing KitchenAid Juicer attachment that is perfect for making lemonade! Using this lemon juicer attachment is an easy way to squeeze lemons, it makes it so much easier to squeeze all of those lemons then doing it by hand!

You can also use a manual squeeze lemon juicer if you prefer.

Can I use fresh Raspberries?

I like using frozen raspberries because they thaw while you are mixing them with the freshly squeezed lemonade and you are left with smushy raspberries that blend in with the fresh made lemonade.

You can use fresh raspberries in this recipe, if you are going to then you will want to put them in the blender and blend them up and then pour the blended raspberries into the lemonade. You can strain with a fine mesh strainer to get the seeds out of the raspberry puree if you want to but I like the seeds in mine for the texture.

How do you make lemonade less bitter?

If you find your lemonade bitter you can sweeten it with an additional amount of sugar or honey. Start with a small amount until you get to your desired sweetness. I like to have a slightly tart lemonade so I tend to use less sugar at times. It is important when squeezing the lemons that you do not get any of the white part of the lemon in it, that part is very bitter and will make the lemonade bitter.

How to Store Raspberry Lemonade

After making the homemade lemonade store it in the fridge in a pitcher without ice. Homemade lemonade will keep in the fridge for 5-7 days.

Can you freeze lemonade?

You can freeze homemade lemonade. In fact I like to use homemade lemonade to make ice cubes so when I add them to my homemade lemonade i don’t dilute the flavor.

To make lemonade ice cubes pour the lemonade into an ice cube tray. Put the tray in the freezer and freeze for 3-4 hours until they are frozen.

If you want to freeze a lemonade concentrate to thaw and make lemonade later make the simple syrup and pour the simple syrup and the lemon juice together and mix well. Then pour the lemonade concentrate into an airtight conainer or a freezer safe zip close bag and store in the freezer. Lemonade concentrate will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer.

When it is time to make lemonade thaw the lemonade concentrate and mix with 3.5 cups of water and the fruit of choice if desired.

Raspberry Lemonade Ingredients

3/4 cup of sugar
4 1/2 cup of water
lemon juice from 8 lemons
3/4 cup of frozen raspberries, thawed

How to Make Raspberry Lemonade

In a small pot add the sugar and 1 cup water and mix.

Put the pot on the stove and turn the heat up to medium-high. Bring the sugar and water mixture to a boil and stir to dissolve the sugar into the water.

Remove the sugar syrup you have just made from the stove and allow to cool.

While the syrup is cooling juice the lemons into a glass or a bowl.

In a large pitcher pour the fresh squeezed lemon juice and 3.5 cups of water.

Add the simple syrup and give it a mix.

simple syrup being poured into water and lemon juice to make raspberry lemonade

Add in the raspberries and mix with a wooden spoon and give the raspberries a little mash while you are mixing.

Serve in a tall glass over ice.

Easy Summer Drink Recipes