Beef Free Fresh Vanilla Berry Lemonade

Total time50 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time5 min

4.9

(6)

This is the kind of drink that makes a whole afternoon feel like a special occasion. Fresh strawberries and blueberries get muddled right in the pitcher, releasing their deep, jewel-toned juice into a base of bright squeezed lemon and a homemade vanilla simple syrup that's genuinely worth the extra few minutes. The syrup is built with maple syrup instead of refined white sugar, and steeping a real vanilla bean in it gives the whole drink a warm, floral depth you just can't get from a bottle. Every single ingredient here is plant-based and naturally free from any animal-derived additions, so there's nothing to second-guess on the label. You can strain it smooth for a clear, elegant pour or leave the berry pulp in for something a little more rustic and textured — both versions are stunning over a tall glass of ice. A few sprigs of fresh mint on top take it from backyard refreshment to something you'd happily serve at a summer gathering.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the vanilla simple syrup

½ cup maple syrup
½ cup water
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped

For the lemonade

1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
½ cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6–7 lemons)
3 cups cold water

For serving

ice, for serving
fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the maple syrup, 1/2 cup water, vanilla bean seeds, and the scraped pod in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the maple syrup is fully dissolved, about 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and let the syrup steep for 20 minutes.
2
Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl or measuring cup, discarding the vanilla pod. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.

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