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Cherry Lemonade

Cherry Lemonade
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Cherry Lemonade is a refreshing and vibrant beverage that balances the bright tartness of fresh lemons with the sweet, rich flavor of cherries. Perfect for hot days, summer gatherings, and festive occasions, this versatile drink can be customized as still, sparkling, infused with herbs, or even spiked for adults. Enjoy a crisp, colorful, and easy-to-make homemade lemonade that delights the palate and cools you down.

Ingredients

Scale

Fresh Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted
  • Fresh lemons (enough to yield 1 cup lemon juice, approximately 4-6 lemons)
  • Ice cubes (for serving)

Sweetener

  • ½ cup sugar (or honey/agave or preferred sweetener)

Liquid Base

  • 3 cups cold water or sparkling water

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Cherries: Start by washing and pitting fresh cherries. For about 2 cups of cherries, remove pits to ensure a smooth lemonade without any unexpected bites.
  2. Juice the Lemons: Roll the lemons on the counter to loosen juices, then cut and squeeze enough lemons to yield about 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
  3. Make a Cherry Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the pitted cherries with ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cherries soften and the sugar dissolves, creating a vibrant cherry syrup.
  4. Strain the Syrup: Use a fine mesh strainer to press the mixture and separate the pulp, extracting the rich cherry flavor and sweet syrup for the lemonade base.
  5. Mix and Chill: In a large pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice, cherry syrup, and 3 cups of cold water or sparkling water. Stir well to blend all flavors, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and cool.
  6. Serve Over Ice: Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled Cherry Lemonade over them. Garnish as desired with lemon slices, fresh cherries, or herbs and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Choose ripe cherries for the sweetest, most flavorful lemonade without needing extra sugar.
  • Adjust sweetness gradually by tasting as you add sugar to avoid making it too sweet.
  • Use filtered or clean fresh water for the purest and crispiest lemonade flavor.
  • Chill the lemon juice and cherry syrup beforehand for the best refreshing taste.
  • Enhance presentation and flavor by garnishing with lemon wheels, cherry halves, or fresh mint/basil.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cherry Lemonade, refreshing drink, summer beverage, homemade lemonade, cherry syrup, sparkling lemonade, cherry cocktail

Find it online: https://eazyum.com/cherry-lemonade/