Refreshing Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade Cocktail
A bubbly, rosy pink, and refreshing summer cocktail featuring fresh strawberry puree, lemon juice, and sparkling water. Perfect for warm-weather gatherings and easy to make in under 10 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
- 2 cups sparkling water
- ½ cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, heated until dissolved)
- Ice cubes (large, for serving)
- Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
- ¼ cup vodka or gin per serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the simple syrup by combining ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves completely (about 3-5 minutes). Set aside to cool.
- Place the hulled and chopped strawberries in a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth but still slightly textured, about 20-30 seconds.
- Roll lemons on the counter to soften, then cut and juice until you have ½ cup of fresh lemon juice. Strain out seeds.
- In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry puree, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir gently to mix.
- Just before serving, pour in 2 cups of chilled sparkling water. Stir gently to combine without losing the bubbles.
- If desired, stir in ¼ cup vodka or gin per serving.
- Fill glasses with large ice cubes and pour the cocktail over. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or a lemon wheel if desired.
Notes
Do not add sparkling water too early to preserve fizz. Use large ice cubes to prevent dilution. Adjust simple syrup to balance sweetness and tartness. Keep sparkling water chilled and add just before serving. The strawberry-lemon base can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days, but add sparkling water fresh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (about 8 oz)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 1
Keywords: sparkling strawberry lemonade, summer cocktail, refreshing drink, homemade cocktail, easy cocktail recipe, strawberry lemonade mocktail