Hi guys!! Today I am (finally!!) posting my Valentine’s Day recipe for Strawberry Lavender Lemonade. My family is very lucky to have fresh lavender growing in our yard as well as a lemon tree, but even if you have to do a bit of hunting for the ingredients I think the end result is well worth it! Lavender lemonade has been an absolute favorite of mine for years so when I began to ponder Valentine’s Day recipes for my blog, I thought incorporating strawberries to make strawberry lavender lemonade would be an amazing idea. Much to my dismay, there are a few similar recipes on the interwebs, but I did my best to make my recipe different from the rest! Here it is…
INGREDIENTS
5 cups Water
6 Lemons (juiced)
1/4 cup Fresh Lavender
1 cup Strawberries (sliced w/tops discarded)
1 cup + 2 tbsp Sugar or Splenda (my fave!)
Strawberry Slices + Lavender Buds (to garnish)
HOW TO MAKE IT
In a small saucepan, add lavender (I used blossoms & leaves stripped from their stems), 1 cup sugar (or Splenda) and 1 cup water. Bring this mixture to a boil while stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 20 to 30 minutes. In a small bowl, sprinkle 2 tbsp sugar over your sliced strawberries and muddle (or mash – I used a fork) until your strawberry pieces are a swallowable size but not completely pureed. Set aside, allowing the sugar to draw juice from the strawberries while your lavender steeps. Once steeped, strain the lavender mixture to remove the blossoms and leaves. In a pitcher, combine the lavender mixture with your lemon juice and the remaining 4 cups of water and proceed to the adjustment phase below…
HOW TO ADJUST IT
I love a tart lemonade, but everyone’s tastebuds crave something different. If the above recipe is too sweet for you, add a bit more lemon juice to the mix. If the recipe is too tart, add a little more sugar or Splenda. Stir, test and adjust until you’re satisfied. I like to add the sugared strawberries to the bottom of individual glasses before pouring in the lavender lemonade mix, but feel free to add the sugared strawberries into your pitcher instead for more of a self-serve sorta deal. Either way, pour, garnish and enjoy!
HOW TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER
If you’re of the legal drinking age for your area and you’d like to add a little extra love to your lemonade, go ahead and mix in a little liquor. I added a half-shot of Jamison Whiskey to my glass and it was lovely! J, my mom and my dad all enjoyed this “hard lemonade” version as well.
Ok guys! I hope you enjoy this recipe if you get a chance to make it and I’m sorry it’s so last minute! My original plan was to post this last Friday to give everyone a chance to shop for the ingredients if necessary but I ended up writing a sad little post about my sad little day. Anyway… If you’re unable to make this in time for Valentine’s Day, be sure to keep this recipe handy for summertime as this lemonade makes for the perfect cold drink for all the long, hot days coming our way!
Wishing you all a WONDERFUL Valentine’s Day tomorrow with your family, friends, significant others or perhaps just yourselves with a box of well-deserved treats!! I’ll talk to you again on Wednesday! Xoxo.
Ashlynn Cueto says
I love lemonades, and this one sounds sooooo delish! Definitely going to have to give this a try! Hard lemonades are probably my next favorite alcoholic beverage, right after sangrias. BUT lemonade sangrias are to die for! <3
Ashlynn | http://thecrimsoncardigan.com
nickyashleigh says
Thank you!! Let me know if you try it! I’ve never ever had a lemonade sangria but I may have to try one immediately… 🙂 🙂 🙂
Julia says
This would be so nice to make for a party or something-it looks so pretty as well!
Julia // The Sunday Mode
nickyashleigh says
Thank you!! I hope you get a chance to make it!