Description
This Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade is a refreshing and vibrant beverage perfect for summer gatherings or anytime you need a delightful fruity drink. Combining pureed raspberries, tangy lemonade concentrate, and fizzy club soda, it offers a perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors with a sparkling finish. Garnished with fresh raspberries and lemon slices, this easy-to-make lemonade is sure to impress your guests and quench your thirst.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 12 oz bag frozen raspberries, thawed (or 12 oz fresh raspberries)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 12 oz can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed in the fridge
- 2 Liter bottle club soda, chilled
- Fresh ice to serve
- Fresh raspberries and slices of lemon for garnish (optional)
Optional Homemade Lemonade Substitute
- 1 cup lemon juice (from about 6 medium lemons)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Blend the Base: In the bowl of an electric blender, puree together the thawed lemonade concentrate, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and the thawed raspberries. Ensure you remove the raspberries from the bag before blending to avoid damage or contamination of the blender.
- Strain the Mixture: To remove raspberry seeds and achieve a smooth syrup, strain the blended mixture through a cheesecloth or fine sieve, pressing on the seeds to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the leftover seeds. This step takes just a few minutes but helps create a silky texture.
- Combine with Club Soda: Just before serving, pour the raspberry lemonade syrup into a punch bowl and gently mix in the chilled club soda. Adding the soda last preserves the bubbles and gives the lemonade a refreshing sparkle.
- Garnish and Serve: Add fresh raspberries and lemon slices to the punch bowl for an attractive presentation. Serve over fresh ice to keep the lemonade refreshingly cold.
- Individual Serving Option: For single servings, fill a tall glass with ice, pour 1/3 cup of the raspberry syrup over it, then gently top with 1 cup of club soda. Add a few fresh raspberries and a lemon slice for a festive, vacation-inspired look.
Notes
- If you prefer, substitute the frozen lemonade concentrate with freshly squeezed lemon juice and sugar. Combine 1 cup lemon juice with 3/4 cup sugar, stirring until dissolved.
- Make sure the club soda is well chilled to maintain the sparkling effect in the lemonade.
- Straining the raspberry mixture removes seeds for a smoother drink but can be skipped if you don’t mind the texture.
- This recipe yields 8 servings and makes a great party punch or casual beverage.
- Use fresh or thawed raspberries depending on availability; frozen raspberries slightly soften the texture but still blend well.
