Fresh Strawberry Basil Lemonade Sparkler
A refreshing summer drink combining fresh strawberries, basil, lemon juice, sugar, and sparkling water for a bright, tangy, and bubbly beverage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup fresh strawberries (about 150 grams), hulled and halved
- 8–10 fresh basil leaves, washed
- 2 large lemons (about ½ cup or 120 ml juice), freshly squeezed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams), adjust to taste
- 3 cups sparkling water (720 ml), chilled
- Ice cubes as needed
- Optional garnishes: lemon slices, whole strawberries, extra basil sprigs
Instructions
- Prepare the strawberry-basil puree: In a blender, combine hulled strawberries and fresh basil leaves. Blend until smooth and vibrant, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides as needed.
- Juice the lemons: Roll lemons on the counter, cut in half, and juice until you have about ½ cup (120 ml). Strain out seeds.
- Sweeten the base: In a large pitcher, combine lemon juice and granulated sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves completely.
- Combine puree and lemon mixture: Pour strawberry-basil puree into lemon-sugar mixture and stir gently to blend.
- Add sparkling water and ice: Slowly pour chilled sparkling water into the mixture to preserve fizz. Add ice cubes as desired and stir gently.
- Garnish and serve: Add lemon slices, whole strawberries, or basil sprigs if desired. Serve immediately for best fizz and freshness.
Notes
Use fresh basil for best flavor; frozen basil can be used but flavor is less vibrant. Rolling lemons before juicing helps release more juice. Add sparkling water just before serving to keep fizz. For smoother texture, strain mixture before adding sparkling water. Adjust sugar to taste or substitute with honey, agave, or keto-friendly sweeteners. Freeze strawberries and basil in ice cubes for decorative and flavorful garnish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: strawberry lemonade, basil lemonade, summer drink, sparkling lemonade, refreshing drink, easy lemonade recipe, fresh lemonade, non-alcoholic cocktail