Description
A refreshing, fizzy summer drink made with fresh raspberries, lemon juice, and mint. This sparkling lemonade is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, offering a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors that looks fancy but takes only 15 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh raspberries (300g)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
- 1 cup water (240ml)
- 4–5 large fresh lemons (yields ¾ to 1 cup juice)
- 4–6 cups sparkling water or club soda (1–1.5 liters)
- 1 large bunch fresh mint (10–12 stems)
- Ice
- Optional garnishes: extra raspberries, lemon wheels, edible flowers
Instructions
- Combine raspberries and sugar in a medium saucepan. Crush berries with a muddler or fork until juicy but not pureed.
- Add 1 cup of water to the saucepan and heat over medium heat until it reaches a gentle simmer.
- Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and berries release their juice.
- Remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 10 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on berries to extract liquid but discarding pulp and seeds.
- Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold.
- Roll lemons on the counter to soften, then cut and squeeze to extract ¾ to 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
- Wash mint and pat dry. Slap mint leaves between palms to release oils, then remove leaves from stems.
- In a large pitcher, combine the cooled raspberry syrup and fresh lemon juice. Stir well and taste, adjusting sweetness or tartness if needed.
- Right before serving, add sparkling water to the pitcher (4-6 cups depending on desired strength). Stir gently to preserve bubbles.
- Fill glasses with ice, pour the lemonade over ice, and garnish with fresh mint leaves and raspberries. Serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Use fresh raspberries for the best flavor; if using frozen, thaw completely and drain excess liquid.’, ‘Do not boil the raspberry mixture vigorously to avoid cooking out the bright fruit flavors.’, ‘Slap mint leaves between hands to wake up essential oils without bruising them into bitterness.’, ‘Keep all components chilled before mixing to maintain carbonation and refreshment.’, ‘For a clearer drink, strain the raspberry syrup through a coffee filter.’, ‘The fully mixed drink with sparkling water should be consumed within 2 hours to prevent it from going flat.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: sparkling raspberry lemonade, summer drink, party drink, gluten-free beverage, dairy-free drink, raspberry syrup, fresh mint lemonade, easy cocktail mocktail