Nitrate & Nitrite Free Fresh Vanilla Berry Lemonade
Bright, tangy, and layered with the kind of floral sweetness you can't get from a bottle, this drink is the definition of a warm-weather upgrade. Real strawberries and blueberries are muddled right in the pitcher, releasing their natural juice and color into every sip. A homemade vanilla simple syrup — steeped from an actual vanilla bean and sweetened with maple syrup — gives the whole thing a soft, aromatic depth that store-bought lemonade simply can't touch. Because every ingredient here is whole and fresh, there's nothing processed or cured lurking in the mix, which makes it a genuinely clean pour for anyone avoiding additives in their food and drinks. You can strain it smooth for a polished, jewel-toned glass or leave the berry pulp in for something a little more rustic and textured — both are delicious. A handful of fresh mint on top pulls it all together and makes it feel like something you'd pay too much for at a rooftop bar.
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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.
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