Sweet and Tangy Watermelon Lemonade
Watermelon lemonade tastes like summer! Each sip is cool and sweet with just enough punchy lemon flavor to keep it balanced.
Serves6
Makesabout 6 cups
Prep10 minutes to 15 minutes
When I crave something ultra-refreshing to help me cool off on hot summer days, two things immediately jump to mind: thick-cut wedges of crisp, ruby-colored watermelon dripping with juice and an ice-cold glass of sweet, slightly tangy lemonade.
Combing these two warm-weather staples was a natural move. The result is a family-friendly pitcher drink that tastes like summer. Each sip is cool and sweet with just enough punchy lemon flavor to keep it balanced. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that comes together with just a few ingredients, and is perfect for summer cookouts, afternoons by the pool, and sipping on the porch.
What Mixes Well with Watermelon Flavor?
Sweet-tart citrus fruits, like lemons and limes, are natural partners to watermelon. Here, the tart, tangy flavor of lemons offers a nice balance to the sweetness of the melon.
If you’re a lime-lover, try this: Watermelon Limeade
What’s in Watermelon Lemonade?
Watermelon lemonade is one of the easiest drinks you’ll make all summer. You need just four ingredients, a blender, and less than 10 minutes on the clock.
- Watermelon: Start with a whole seedless watermelon or pre-cut melon. If buying a whole melon, pick a watermelon that’s heavy for its size and sounds hollow when you give it a thump.
- Lemons: Freshly squeezed lemons make for the best watermelon lemonade. You’ll need four to five large lemons to get one cup of juice.
- Water: Three cups of cold water is just enough to mellow the sweetness of the drink.
- Sugar: While the watermelon and lemons add natural sweetness to the drink, a little bit more sugar is needed to tame the pucker-inducing tang of the lemons.
What Alcohol Can You Use to Turn Watermelon Lemonade into a Cocktail?
A couple shots of your favorite liquor instantly turns watermelon lemonade from family-friendly pitcher drink to an adults-only boozy beverage. A splash of vodka or gin are our top picks for turning watermelon lemonade into a cocktail.
You could also just chill the base and pour in three cups of cold sparkling water right before serving for a bubbly pitcher drink.
Watermelon Lemonade Recipe
Watermelon lemonade tastes like summer! Each sip is cool and sweet with just enough punchy lemon flavor to keep it balanced.
Prep time 10 minutes to 15 minutes
Makes about 6 cups
Serves 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds
seedless watermelon (about 2/3 mini), or 1 1/4 pounds cut watermelon
- 5 to 6 large
lemons
- 2/3 cup
granulated sugar
- 3 cups
cold water
Ice, watermelon wedges, lemon slices, or fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Trim and cut 2 1/2 pounds seedless watermelon or 1 1/4 pounds cut watermelon into 1-inch cubes until you have 4 cups. Place in a blender. Juice 5 to 6 large lemons until you have 1 cup juice. Add the juice and 2/3 cup granulated sugar to the blender.
Blend until smooth and the sugar is dissolved, about 30 seconds.
Fit a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher or large glass measuring cup. Pour the blended watermelon (about 3 cups) through the strainer and press on the watermelon solids with a ladle to force more juice through. Discard the contents of the strainer.
If necessary, transfer to a pitcher. Pour in 3 cups cold water and stir to combine.
Chill until ready to serve, about 3 hours. Taste the watermelon lemonade; if it’s too intense, add more cold water 1/4 cup at a time as needed. Stir together. Serve over ice and garnish with watermelon wedges, lemon slices, or fresh mint leaves.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days, and stir before serving.
This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: Sweet & Tangy Watermelon Lemonade