Creamy Strawberry Basil Lemonade is the summer drink you did not know you needed until you make it once, and then cannot stop making it. Whole blended lemons, fresh strawberries, basil, milk, and honey simple syrup all blended smooth and strained into the most refreshing, slightly creamy, perfectly tart drink of the season.
The whole lemon technique is the same one I use in my Egyptian Lemonade, blending the entire lemon peel and all rather than just squeezing the juice. The peel contains essential oils that give the lemonade a deep complex citrus flavor. The strawberries add a natural sweetness and a beautiful blush color, and the fresh basil adds a herby floral note
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Fresh strawberries and basil together. Sweet, herby, and slightly floral. A combination that sounds simple and tastes incredible.
Slightly creamy from the milk. Just enough to round out the tartness without making it heavy.
Eight glasses from one blender. Fast, fresh, and perfect for summer gatherings or a quiet afternoon on the porch.
Honey simple syrup keeps it naturally sweet. No refined sugar and you can adjust the sweetness to exactly where you want it.
Creamy Strawberry Basil Lemonade Video
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If you want another refreshing drink recipe video, then check out my Tinto de Verano Ice Cubes! This recipe also appears in my Refreshing Summer Drinks collection!
Ingredient Notes
Whole Organic Lemons: Use organic lemons specifically because you are blending the entire skin into the drink. Wash them thoroughly before cutting and that's it!
Fresh Strawberries: Fresh strawberries add natural sweetness, a beautiful blush-pink color, and a fruity depth. Use ripe strawberries for the best flavor. A pale, underripe strawberry will give you very little sweetness or color, and the lemonade will taste flat.
Fresh Basil: Ten leaves add a herby floral note that makes this lemonade taste like something from a proper craft cocktail bar. Add the basil leaves whole directly to the blender with everything else.
2% Milk: Adds a subtle creaminess and rounds out the sharpness of the lemon without making the drink heavy. It sounds like an unusual addition, but it works beautifully and gives the finished drink a slightly silky texture that makes it more satisfying to drink. If you are dairy-free, coconut milk works as a substitute and adds a very subtle tropical sweetness alongside the strawberry and basil.
Honey Simple Syrup: Half a cup of honey dissolved in half a cup of warm water and chilled before using. Making it into a syrup rather than adding honey directly to the blender ensures it incorporates smoothly and evenly throughout the entire batch rather than sitting in a sticky clump at the bottom. Taste the lemonade after straining and add more syrup if you want it sweeter. The amount of sweetness needed will vary depending on how tart your lemons are and how sweet your strawberries are.
Pro tip
The Secret to Perfect Lemonade
Drink within 3 hours of blending. Like the Egyptian lemonade, the blended lemon peel will continue to release oils into the liquid as it sits and the drink becomes increasingly bitter over time. Make it fresh and serve it cold.
Substitutions & Variations
Want it dairy free? Coconut milk works beautifully as a substitute in the same quantity and adds a very subtle tropical sweetness that pairs well with the strawberry and basil. Oat milk also works for a more neutral creamy base.
No fresh basil? Fresh mint is a great substitute and gives the lemonade a completely different but equally refreshing summer character. Use the same quantity.
Want to make it a mocktail? Top each glass with a splash of sparkling water right before serving for a fizzy version that is perfect for summer entertaining.
FAQ
The lemon peel oils continue to release into the liquid after blending and the longer the strained juice sits the more bitter the drink becomes. Make it fresh and drink it within 3 hours for the best flavor.
Yes. Thaw them completely first and use any accumulated juice in the blender too. The color will be equally vibrant and the flavor will be very similar to fresh.
Yes. Replace the milk with an extra cup of cold water for a standard non-creamy strawberry basil lemonade. The drink will be lighter and more sharply tart. Coconut milk or oat milk both work as dairy free alternatives.
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⭐️ Recipe
Creamy Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large organic lemons cut into chunks, seeds removed
- 2 cups fresh strawberries hulled
- 1.5 cups ice
- 3 cups cold water
- 1.5 cups 2% milk
- 10 fresh basil leaves
- Honey simple syrup:
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup water
Instructions
Make the honey simple syrup
- Combine the honey and water in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the honey is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature then transfer to the fridge to chill completely. This can be made the night before.½ cup honey, ½ cup water
Prep the lemons
- Cut each lemon into rough chunks, about 6 to 8 pieces per lemon.3 large organic lemons
Blend
- Add the lemon chunks, hulled strawberries, ice, cold water, milk, chilled honey simple syrup, and fresh basil leaves to a blender. Blend on high speed for a full 60 seconds until the mixture is completely smooth and vibrant pink. Everything should be fully broken down with no visible chunks of lemon peel or strawberry.2 cups fresh strawberries, 1.5 cups ice, 3 cups cold water, 1.5 cups 2% milk, 10 fresh basil leaves, Honey simple syrup:
Strain
- Set a fine mesh sieve over a large pitcher or bowl. Pour the blended lemonade through the sieve. Once most of the liquid has passed through use the back of a large spoon to press the pulp firmly against the mesh. Keep pressing until no more liquid comes through. Do not skip the pressing step. The most vibrant color and the most flavor is in that pulp.
Taste and adjust
- Taste the lemonade. It should be bright, slightly tart, lightly creamy, and well balanced with the honey sweetness. If it tastes too tart add more honey syrup one tablespoon at a time. If it tastes too sweet add a small splash of cold water.
Serve
- Pour immediately over ice in tall glasses. Garnish with a fresh basil leaf and a strawberry slice if you want to be fancy about it. Serve within 3 hours of blending for the best flavor. After that the lemon peel oils continue to release into the liquid and the bitterness takes over.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!