This Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade is the homemade summer sipper you'll want on repeat: fresh raspberries simmered into a quick syrup, stirred together with tart fresh lemon juice and topped with sparkling water for fizz. It's sweet-tart, jewel-pink, and so much better than anything from a can or a powder. Make a big pitcher and keep it in the fridge all summer. It works as a refreshing mocktail as-is, or add a splash of vodka or gin for the grown-ups. For more easy summer drinks, my Strawberry Basil Lemonade is the herby cousin, my Pink Vodka Lemonade Cocktail is the spiked version, and my roundup of 22 Easy Summer Cocktails has a drink for every party.
Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade at a Glance
- 🕒 Total Time: 15 minutes (plus chilling)
- 👪 Servings: 6 to 8 (a big pitcher)
- 🍝 Cuisine Type: Drinks / Summer Beverage
- 🧂 Flavor Profile: Sweet-tart and jewel-pink, with fresh raspberry, bright lemon, and lots of sparkling fizz
- 📖 Dietary Info: Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan; non-alcoholic as written, with an optional splash of vodka or gin
- 📦 Storage Notes: Make the raspberry syrup and lemon base up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate; add the sparkling water just before serving so it stays fizzy; serve over plenty of ice
- ⭐Why You'll Love It: A homemade sparkling lemonade that's worlds better than store-bought. Fresh raspberry syrup, tart lemon, and fizzy bubbles in a gorgeous pink pitcher. The easy, refreshing drink of the summer, booze optional.
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Ingredients
- 3 cup fresh raspberries
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 1- liter bottle 33.8 ounces chilled sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh raspberries for garnish
- Super thin lemon slices for garnish
Substitutions & Swaps
🍓 Fruit
- Fresh raspberries (called for) - Tart and jewel-pink; the star
- Frozen raspberries - Work great in the syrup; no need to thaw
- Strawberries or blackberries - Same method, different berry
- Mixed berries - For a deeper, jammy flavor
🍋 Citrus
- Fresh lemon juice (called for) - Bright and tart; freshly squeezed is best
- Meyer lemon - Softer and a little sweeter
- Half lime - Adds a sharper, more tropical edge
🍯 Sweetener
- Sugar syrup (called for) - Dissolves clean into the drink
- Honey or agave - Warm gently into a syrup; vegan with agave
- Maple syrup - Adds a deeper note
- Less sugar - Raspberries are sweet; adjust to taste
🫧 Bubbles & Booze
- Sparkling water or club soda (called for) - Keeps it crisp and fizzy
- Lemon-lime soda or ginger ale - For a sweeter, more soda-like lemonade
- Prosecco - Bubbly and celebratory
- Vodka or gin - A splash for a spiked cocktail version
🍓🍋🫧 Tips & Tricks for the Best Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade
Fresh raspberry, tart lemon, and lots of fizz, the prettiest pitcher of summer
- Make a raspberry syrup. Simmer the berries with sugar and water, then strain for a smooth, jewel-pink base.
- Strain out the seeds. Push the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve so the lemonade is silky, not gritty.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled juice tastes flat; fresh lemon is what makes homemade lemonade sing.
- Add the bubbles last. Stir the raspberry-lemon base together first, then top with sparkling water right before serving.
- Chill the base before adding bubbles. Cold base plus cold sparkling water means the ice lasts and the drink stays crisp.
- Taste and balance. Add more lemon if it's too sweet or more syrup if it's too tart; raspberry sweetness varies.
- Serve over lots of ice. A full glass of ice keeps it cold without watering down a properly chilled drink.
- Make it a pitcher for a crowd. Combine the syrup and lemon ahead, then add bubbles by the glass or right before serving.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries and thin lemon slices. They float prettily and make it look like a party.
- Keep the spirits on the side. Build it as a mocktail, then add a splash of vodka or gin per glass so everyone is covered.
FAQs
What is sparkling raspberry lemonade?
Sparkling raspberry lemonade is a fizzy summer drink made from fresh raspberry syrup, tart lemon juice, and sparkling water over ice. It is sweet-tart, jewel-pink, and far fresher than store-bought lemonade. It works as a refreshing mocktail or as a base for a spiked cocktail.
How do you make raspberry lemonade from scratch?
Simmer fresh raspberries with sugar and water into a syrup, strain out the seeds, then stir the syrup together with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Top with sparkling water and serve over ice. Adjust the lemon and sugar to taste since raspberry sweetness varies.
Can I make sparkling raspberry lemonade ahead of time?
Yes, make the raspberry syrup and lemon base up to 3 days ahead and keep it chilled. Add the sparkling water right before serving so the drink stays fizzy. This makes it easy to serve a crowd.
Can I use frozen raspberries?
Absolutely. Frozen raspberries work perfectly in the syrup since you are cooking them down anyway, and there is no need to thaw them first. You can also swap in strawberries or blackberries the same way.
How do I make raspberry lemonade a cocktail?
Build the lemonade as written, then add a splash of vodka or gin per glass for a spiked version. Prosecco in place of some of the sparkling water makes it bubbly and celebratory. Keep the spirits on the side so you can serve cocktails and mocktails from the same pitcher.
Grab the recipe below for a super easy homemade lemonade that you'll want to make on repeat all summer long!
And be sure to check out the entire spread I did for Anthropologie plus more recipes to put together the most epic Memorial Day menu of all times!
Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade
Ingredients
- 3 cup fresh raspberries
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 1- liter bottle 33.8 ounces chilled sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh raspberries for garnish
- Super thin lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Combine raspberries, sugar, and ½ cup water in medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and berries begin to break down. Increase heat and boil for about 3 minutes. Strain raspberry mixture into bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids in strainer. Chill until cold.
- Stir raspberry syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water in large pitcher to blend. Garnish with fresh raspberries and thinly sliced lemons.
Notes
Nutrition Information (estimated)
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe by What's Gaby Cooking
I love that you made this with sparkling water instead of regular old water. Fun photos!
I absolutely love your recipes! I am a new blogger myself and you inspire me a lot. I am a high school student and my teacher Mrs. Nakamoto (she said she is a good friend of yours) recommended me to follow your page and I absolutely love it! Keep up the good work! 🙂
Raspberry Lemonade is one of my favorite summer drinks!
Seriously straight out of a magazine girl! Gorgeous and perfect for summer!