Nothing says summer like an ice cold glass of lemonade, but we’re way beyond Country Time. You’ll be glad to have these mouth-puckering twists on the classic under your belt when that sweltering summer heat hits and you need something to serve at that pool party. We’re hoping it comes early so we have an excuse to mix up a pitcher or two today.
1. Roasted Peach Lemonade: If anything says summer more than lemonade, it’s fresh peaches. Combine the two and we’re in heaven. Bonus? Because the roasting brings out the natural sweetness in the peaches, this recipe has way less sugar than most. (via The Naptime Chef)
2. Mango Lemonade: Pretend your backyard is the tropics with some hot shades and cool mango lemonade. (via Plateful)
3. Probiotic Lacto-Fermented Lemonade: We’re hoping by now you’ve heard the hullaballoo on probiotics (Reader’s Digest version: They heal your digestive system and boost your immune system). Don’t just dump out the liquid that collects overnight on your Greek yogurt; save it and whip up this power lemonade that’s tastier and cheaper than kombucha. (via Henry Happened)
4. Sea Salt Lemonade: Immediately transport yourself to the ocean with a sip of sea salt lemonade. (via Hand Jobs for the Home)
5. Plum Lemonade: No, that’s not a Bloody Mary (but you can add vodka if you’d like). The red plums give this drink a gorgeous color and taste. (via Passionate About Baking)
6. Carrot Lemonade: We were skeptical when this one popped up, but if it’s good enough for FLOTUS, it’s good enough for us. (via Linda Wagner)
7. Rosemary Lemonade: The trick for this one is to bypass the popular Meyer lemon for its more acidic cousins, which balance the rosemary. We’ll go with it as long as we don’t have to pick any of those little needles out of our teeth. (via Garden Betty)
8. Pomegranate Lemonade Spritzer: We don’t care if pomegranates are technically a winter fruit. We keep a few in our freezer for rainy days and special occasions. Like the chance to drink this yummy spritzer. (via Sarcastic Cooking)
9. Lavender Lemonade: We can’t wait to whip up this sweet-hued beverage for our next girls’ lunch. (via Munchin with Munchkin)
10. Matcha Lemonade: While we’re still missing the matcha baked good craze of a few years ago, we were happy to discover this new use for the vibrant green powder still sitting in our pantries. (via Inspired Edibles)
11. Homemade Strawberry Lemonade: A timeless classic, strawberry lemonade will always have a place in our hearts. (via Laylita)
12. Blended Green Lemonade: Now you can have lemonade for breakfast, too! This guilt-free concoction is perfect for those mornings it’s too humid to sleep in. (via Detoxinista)
13. Fresh Peach Lemonade: We know, we know, we already used a peach recipe, but we wanted to take full advantage of this summer fruit. This incarnation calls for blanching the peaches, so just throw a few extra in and whip yourself up a pie while you’re at it! (via Full Fork Ahead)
14. Brazilian Lemonade: We don’t know why this is Brazilian or lemonade, but it looks so good we’re not complaining. (via Recipe Critic)
15. Tomato Basil Lemonade: Still not a Bloody Mary in the background! But this trio of herb- and fruit-infused lemonades, including peach thyme and blackberry mint, should be your first stop on the summer express train. (via Love and Olive Oil)
16. Sparkling Honey Lemon Gingerade: This one may be stretching the definition of lemonade, as the recipe calls it gingerade, but we don’t care. Lemon gingerade, ginger lemonade: potato, potahto. (via Aida Mollenkamp)
17. Spiked Cherry Lemonade: Now we’ve hit the boozy recipes. This one goes down easy, so make sure you don’t stand up too fast after drinking a few. (via Sweet Paul Mag)
18. Blueberry Mint Lemonade: Another classic we can’t improve: Enjoy the taste of summer with each refreshing sip. (via Pescetarian Journal)
19. Blood Orange Lemonade: We don’t understand why this Italian delicacy isn’t more popular stateside, but we’re doing our part to rectify it with this drink. (via Buttered Side Up)
20. Grapefruit and Lemon Lemonade: Grapefruit is citrus we feel is under-appreciated by the under-60 set. Gone are the days when you took a sip from Grandma’s juice glass and were unpleasantly surprised by sour grapefruit. It’s time to welcome this little guy back into your heart and stomach. (via A Tasty Love Story)
21. Cayenne Pepper Lemonade: We like this recipe because it’s basically a Hot Toddy without the hot. Which means it will be perfect with a splash of toddy (if you know what we’re saying) to cure that inevitable summer head cold. (via Little Den)
22. Smoked Lemonade: We’d never heard of smoking lemons, but it basically sounds like barbecue so we’re on board. (via the kitchn)
23. Fizzy Gin Lemonade With Blackberries and Rosemary: And la piece de resistance, a combo of our favorite parts of all the preceding lemonades — liquor, fruit, herbs and fizz. If you need us, we’ll be in our beach chairs. (via Henry Happened)
Whether you prefer the classic or are a lemonade daredevil, share your favorite version below!
