Gut Friendly Fresh Vanilla Berry Lemonade
This vibrant drink is a serious upgrade from anything you'd find in a bottle or a powder packet. Real strawberries and blueberries get muddled right in the pitcher, releasing their natural juice and color into every sip, while freshly squeezed lemon juice keeps things bright and alive. The homemade vanilla simple syrup — made with maple syrup instead of refined white sugar and steeped with a whole vanilla bean — adds a warm, floral sweetness that feels genuinely special. Maple syrup is a gentler sweetener that tends to sit better for people keeping an eye on digestive comfort, and every other ingredient here is whole, fresh, and recognizable. You can strain it smooth for a clean, elegant pour or leave the berry pulp in for something a little more rustic and textured. A handful of fresh mint on top makes it feel like something you'd pay too much for at a fancy brunch spot — except you made it yourself in about thirty minutes.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →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.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!