Easy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

I reimagined classic lemonade into an easy frozen strawberry lemonade, a Strawberry Refresher Drink that uses just a few pantry staples and one surprising twist.

I started out trying to make something quick and now i’m hooked on this easy frozen strawberry lemonade. Bright, freshly squeezed lemon juice meets frozen strawberries and it turns into a jewel toned slushy that makes summer feel possible even on the grossest day.

It’s exactly the kind of thing I bring to backyard hangs, a Summer Frozen Drinks Nonalcoholic option that always disappears fast. It looks way fancier than it is and leaves you guessing if I snuck in a secret twist.

No secret really, just fruit doing the work and you’ll probably want more.

Ingredients

• Frozen strawberries: Bright frozen berries give natural sweetness, fiber and vitamin C plus icy texture
• Fresh lemon juice: Tart citrus flavor adds vitamin C acidity that balances sweetness and gives fresh zip
• Simple syrup or sugar: Sugar sweetens and smooths; syrup blends quicker than granulated sugar usually
• Ice: Crushed or cubed ice chills the drink creates a slushy texture and dilutes if needed
• Cold water: Used to thin slightly without extra sweetness keeps the drink light
• Lemon slices for garnish: Thin lemon rounds look pretty give a bright scent and extra tang
• Fresh mint sprigs: Mint adds cool herbal aroma great for garnish or muddling a little

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 cups frozen strawberries, hulled
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice about 4 to 6 lemons
• 1/2 cup simple syrup or 1/2 cup granulated sugar if you dont have syrup
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups ice for a slushy texture
• 1/2 cup cold water optional to thin if needed
• lemon slices for garnish optional
• fresh mint sprigs for garnish optional

How to Make this

1. Put 2 cups frozen hulled strawberries, 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/2 cup simple syrup (or 1/2 cup granulated sugar if you dont have syrup) into a blender.

2. If you used granulated sugar, stir it into 2 to 3 tablespoons of warm water first so it dissolves easier, or let the blender run a little longer until it’s gone, otherwise you’ll get gritty bits.

3. Pulse the blender a few times to break up the berries so nothing jams, then scrape down the sides with a spatula.

4. Add 1 cup ice to start, secure the lid and blend on high until smooth and slushy, about 30 to 60 seconds depending on your blender. If you want it thicker add up to another 1/2 cup ice.

5. If the mixture is too thick to pour or to blend well, add up to 1/2 cup cold water a little at a time until it moves freely; if it’s too thin add more ice or a few more frozen strawberries.

6. Taste and adjust sweetness: add a tablespoon or two of simple syrup if its too tart, or a splash more lemon juice if you want more zip, blend briefly to combine.

7. If your blender is struggling swap to a tamper or pulse and rest for 10 seconds, or let the strawberries thaw 5 minutes and try again.

8. Pour into chilled glasses, leaving a little headroom for garnish, and if you like, rim glasses with sugar for extra fun.

9. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint sprigs, serve right away while slushy, and enjoy because it wont stay perfect for long.

Equipment Needed

1. Blender (high-speed if you got one), for crushing frozen berries and ice — pulse to avoid jams and run briefly if sugar is gritty.
2. Measuring cups and spoons, to measure strawberries, lemon juice and syrup or sugar.
3. Citrus juicer or reamer, makes getting 1 cup lemon juice way easier and less messy.
4. Small bowl or cup, to dissolve granulated sugar in 2 to 3 Tbsp warm water if you dont have simple syrup.
5. Rubber spatula, to scrape down sides so nothing gets left behind.
6. Ice scoop or measuring cup for adding ice in controlled amounts.
7. Tamper or long spoon, for pushing fruit toward blades if your blender stalls; or to rest and pulse safely.
8. Chilled glasses and a small plate (for rimming with sugar), plus a paring knife for lemon slices and mint sprigs.

FAQ

Easy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Here are some easy swaps for that Easy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade you can try:

• Frozen strawberries: use 2 cups fresh strawberries plus 1 cup extra ice to chill, or swap for 2 cups frozen mixed berries for a deeper flavor.
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice: bottled lemon juice works (use a little less, taste as you go), or use 1 cup lime juice for a brighter, tangier drink.
• Simple syrup or granulated sugar: swap with 1/3 to 1/2 cup honey or agave syrup (stir until dissolved), or use 1/2 cup maple syrup for a warm note.
• Ice for a slushy texture: use crushed ice or 2 cups frozen lemonade or juice cubes, or freeze some of the blended lemonade into cubes then reblend for a thicker slush.

Pro Tips

– if your blender starts to choke, let the frozen strawberries sit 3 to 5 minutes and pulse a few times then rest. use a tamper or add just 1 to 2 tablespoons of cold water to get it moving, dont pour a lot or youll thin the slush out.

– dont dump regular sugar straight in, dissolve it first in a couple tablespoons of warm water or use superfine sugar so you dont get gritty bits. honey or agave work too but they change the flavor so taste as you go.

– to avoid diluting the flavor make ice out of lemon juice or weak lemon water and use those cubes instead of plain ice. start with less ice, then add more until you hit the slushy texture you want.

– serve immediately in chilled or metal cups and itll stay better longer, or if you need to hold it freeze in a shallow container then scrape with a fork to re-slush before serving; if you want it ultra smooth push it through a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds.