I’m so excited to have our friends from Southern Living jumping over to visit with us again today! Be sure to click over to my post there to read about how Jack said the word lemonade when he was little. 🙂
This recipe is seriously so easy and only calls for 4 ingredients. The hardest parts are juicing the lemons and muddling the basil and sugar together. And though there’s some effort involved in juicing 6 to 8 lemons, it’s absolutely worth it.
If you love lemonade and the fresh taste of basil, I bet you’re going to love this incredibly refreshing combo. It’s my absolute favorite summer time drink. And just so you know, this recipe makes some mean lemonade even without the basil… if that’s more your speed. Y’all enjoy!
Basil Lemonade
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup firmly packed basil leaves
- 6 cups water divided
- 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice 6 to 8 lemons
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan, muddle the sugar and basil together with a wooden spoon. Add 2 cups of water and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until all of the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow the basil to steep in the syrup until cool. Once cool strain the simple syrup into a pitcher. Add 4 cups of water and the lemon juice. Stir well. Serve over ice with a garnish of basil and lemon.
Making This Recipe?Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernBite using the hashtag #SouthernBite, so I can see how it turned out!
Amy says
I’ve only recently come to love ‘proper’ lemonade. Growing up in England our lemonade was mostly a lemon flavored soda and did not have the sour greatness of fresh lemonade.
This recipe will for sure be used soon
Amy | https://bucketloadofjoy.com
Caroline says
Wow, I see that I am 1 1/2 years late coming to the basil lemonade party, but better late than never! Perfect for a pesto weary, basil growing warrior. What an addictive drink – our family of 8 can’t get enough! I just stripped our basil plant to freeze basil syrup because we are getting our first hard freeze of the year tonight here in Central Texas. So happy to have recently come across your website. I am looking forward to finding food recipes to go with my lemonade (rather than vice-versa)! May the Lord bless you and your family with a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Stacey says
Thanks so much, Caroline! I’m hoping to get one more harvest off mine before the cold comes later this week. I’m so happy to hear you enjoy this one and hope you’ll find lots more too! Happy Thanksgiving to y’all, too!
Emily says
I thought this was fabulous and it was a hit at my party tonight. Everyone was asking for the recipe. I’m surprised at how yellow your lemonade is though, mine was a beautiful brown from all the muddling bruising up the leaves. Are you not muddling very hard? Either way, I will now choose brown lemonade over pink 😀
Stacey says
I’ve not had mine turn brown, but do put a little force into getting all that flavor out of the basil. Regardless, I’m glad everyone enjoyed it!
Jaclyn says
How many days will this lemonade last? I was thinking of making it a few days in advance
Stacey says
A few days – maybe 3. Hope you enjoy it!!
Jelenne Parker says
My picky 7-year-old approved! It was so good! ????
Stacey says
Awesome! So glad y’all enjoyed it!!
Zara says
I’m using this recipe today…I’ll be pepping it up with a bit of limoncello for that boozy vibe and using as a soaking syrup to make a Basil & Lemon Tiramisu!
Stacey says
Sounds great! Enjoy!
Dena Barnes says
Made this and it is PERFECT! No tweaking needed.
Stacey says
Awesome! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!