Easy Lavender Lemonade Recipe: Vodka Makes It A Great Summer Cocktail

When I think of summer, I think of picking fresh berries on the North Fork, cooking on the grill as often as we can, and enjoying the sun on my face. But if you ask my kids what they think of when they hear the word “summer,” it’s swimming all day long, eating ice cream, and drinking lots of lemonade. My kids can’t get enough of the stuff, which is why I really wanted to find a way to make my own.

It’s not for any health conscious reason. I mean, it’s lemonade for crying out loud and there’s a ton of sugar in it. I just wanted to see if I could make something that didn’t taste like sour dishwater. So I did what most people my age do. I went online and looked up a few ideas and cobbled something together. There are an insane amount of Lemonade recipes online, but I knew I wanted to use up some of the lavender that I had recently picked up from Lavender on the Bay, so my searches were a bit more specific than most.

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And if we’re being truthful, I should admit that I was trying to find something that would also work well as an adult beverage for our summer barbecues. I think this one fits the bill quite nicely. All you need is a splash of vodka and you’re all set! Again, this recipe is as simple as it gets, but the added lavender jazzes it up just enough to make it my own.

Keep in mind that lavender is very aromatic. Use sparingly or else you’ll feel like you’re drinking a bar of soap. Yuck! The same holds true for using it in spice rubs and baked goods: a little goes a long way!

Easy Lavender Lemonade Recipe

Makes 1 quart

Ingredients:

5 cups of water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup lemon juice, about 6 lemons (I love Meyer lemons, but any old lemons will do; don’t stress!)
Juice from 1 lime
4 sprigs of fresh lavender
An extra lime and lemon, just in case you need to adjust the taste to your liking.

Directions:

Step 1: Bring water and lavender to a boil in a medium sized pot. Add the sugar. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often to make sure sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 30 minutes. This will enable the lavender to fully infuse into the simple syrup you’re making.

Step 2: Pour cooled lavender syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a large carafe. Add lemon juice and lime juice. Place in the refrigerator until it’s chilled completely.

Step 3: Before serving, taste it to see if you need any additional lemon juice or sugar. Pour into glasses and garnish with a lemon or a lime slice (I prefer lime) and a small pinch of dried lavender.

Enjoy,

Denine

P.S. Simply Recipes, Thug Kitchen and About Food Cocktails were great sites to visit to learn ho to make lavender lemonade.