Vodka Strawberry Lemonade

This is similar to electric lemonade but with sweet, ripe strawberries! Here are more strawberry recipes you'll love.

This recipe is meant for people over 21 years old. Please drink responsibly.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 🔪 Instructions
• Non-alcoholic strawberry lemonade
• Make this a punch
• 💭 Things to know
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
• 📖 Variations
• 📚 Related recipes
• 📞 The last word
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

• Made with fresh strawberries
• Quick and easy
• So 👏 Much👏 Flavor👏

Steamy, sultry, hot southern summers would be unbearable without drinks like this fruity, refreshing spiked strawberry lemonade cocktail. Think of it as Kool Aid for adults!

It's one of those easy drinks you want on hand all summer long. Be sure to check out the limeade, blueberry, and raspberry variations.

🧾 Ingredients

• Strawberries - the more ripe they are the better the flavor. See notes for using frozen berries.
• Lemons - or use limes for limeade.
• Vodka - I use regular, unflavored vodka for this but you could use a strawberry, lemon, or strawberry lemonade flavored vodka to enhance the flavor even more.

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

This light and fruity summer cocktail is SO refreshing! I think it's better the day after it's made because the flavors have time to blend.

It's similar to this strawberry watermelon margarita.

Step one

1. Wash, stem and slice the berries.
2. Add water and sugar to a heavy saucepan.
3. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally until the sugar completely dissolves.
4. Add the berries and simmer a few more minutes.

Step two

1. Blend the strawberries and simple syrup in the blender until smooth (fresh strawberry puree)
2. Cool the puree before using..

Step three

1. Pour into a pitcher.
2. Add the vodka.
3. Add the lemon juice and stir.
4. Garnish with lime and strawberry slices.
5. Serve in tall glasses or Mason jars with plenty of ice cubes.

Non-alcoholic strawberry lemonade

Follow the instructions above but leave out the vodka. Add an extra half cup of lemon juice and an extra half cup of strawberry syrup.

Or add a cup of Sprite or other lemon lime soda.

Make this a punch

Make this a strawberry vodka punch recipe by changing the number of servings to 20 for a large batch.

Serve in a punch bowl with sliced fresh strawberries and lemon slices as a garnish.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: You can use frozen strawberries 🍓 - just thaw them and let them drain in a colander over a bowl. Measure and use the liquid that drains off as part of the water called for in the recipe.

• Use the ripest berries possible.
• Fresh lemon juice is better than bottled but either will work.
• Let the sugar syrup and strawberry mixture cool before continuing with the recipe. If you don't you may burn off some of the alcohol or run the chance of the pitcher shattering if it's glass.
• Strawberry lemonade vodka cocktail is better the second day. Make it, cover tightly, and refrigerate.
• Some people prefer to strain the strawberry and syrup mixture through a fine mesh sieve to get rid of any fiber or seeds from the berries.
• You can skip the lemon juice and use prepared lemonade or lemonade mix and water if you like. I don't like it that way but many people do.
• Always store in the refrigerator, tightly covered.
• For extra strawberry flavor use strawberry vodka instead of regular vodka.
• You can leave the vodka out and freeze the strawberry lemonade part in ice cube trays. Just add to your blender with a couple of ounces of vodka when ready to serve for s slushy spiked strawberry lemonade.
• If you'd like it sparkly without the extra sweetness of lemon lime soda try sparkling water or club soda.

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

📖 Variations

• Use an equal measure of lime juice in place of lemon for spiked strawberry limeade.
• Try this with strawberry lemonade vodka instead of plain vodka for even more flavor.
• Use raspberries, cherries, or blueberries in place of strawberries (equal measure).
• Use frozen strawberries and blend with partially frozen sugar syrup for a strawberry vodka lemonade slush.
• Use a flavored vodka. Try strawberry, lemon, or another favorite.
• Silver tequila is a great substitute for the vodka.
• Increase the recipes to make this a delicious, spiked strawberry vodka punch.
• I like to make it sparkly and lighten it up with club soda on a hot summer day.
• Leave out the sugar syrup and top the berries and lemon juice off with Sprite or 7-Up.

📚 Related recipes

• Lavender Lemonade is a light purple color and full of delicious lavender and lemon flavor. Serve it as is or spike with vodka.
• Electric Lemonade Cocktail Recipe is a beautiful blue cocktail that is deliciously refreshing - perfect for summer parties.
• Mexican Mule Cocktail is a sweet and spicy twist on the Moscow Mule. I like to call it a Texas Mule because it has a kick!
• Bourbon Peach Tea is another pitcher drink made with fresh fruit that's just made for summer!

📞 The last word

If there's one thing I like to do in the summer it's sitting in one of the rockers on the front porch with a good book and an icy glass of something like a vodka strawberry lemonade recipe or a cold coffee cocktail.

People from up north have asked how in the world we survive 115F temperatures and I always tell them that those temperatures from Hell's furnace are a blessing in disguise.

You see, a hot day forces you to slow down, take it easy, and relax... it's just too hot to do much else!

And some of us need to be forced to take some time to just watch the world go by.

This is my favorite strawberry vodka drink... try it and see what you think!

📖 Recipe

First published May 21, 2020. Last updated May 12, 2022 for editorial content.