Vanilla Berry Lemonade – Light, refreshing, and sweet – homemade vanilla lemonade with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
I am sitting on my couch, going through my DVR, and catching up on shows that I have missed being away from home for most of the summer. I am pretty happy to not be in the car. Yesterday, we unpacked our bags, slept in our own beds, and it felt amazing. I love being home.
We had the best summer, saw tons of family and friends, had big adventures, and visited new places. Even with all of the fun, I am looking forward to fall. I love the promise of a new school year. We clean out closets, organize the toys and books, and have one of our twice yearly purges. I love a good purge. I love buying school supplies and making our back to school dinner. My brain is almost ready to wrap itself around watching football, homework, and pumpkins.
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I love these three pictures of my children on the beach. My favorite smell in the world is them after a day on the beach. Sunshine, sunscreen, and salt water. Heaven. Can someone please bottle that smell? Thanks, I’ll take a case.
Even though summer is coming to an end, we can still remember it with homemade lemonade. Thankfully, lemonade can be a year-round summertime treat. When it is cold and blistery outside, I say instead of hot apple cider, we drink lemonade. What do you think? Reverse psychology? Or just an excuse to drink sweet and tart lemonade? Whatever the reason, lemonade just tastes better when you make it yourself. It is not difficult, but you do need to juice the lemons yourself. No bottled juice here. It makes all of the difference in the world. I fancied mine up a little with vanilla bean. After I made it, I realized that I had a lot of berries in my fridge that needed a good home. Add a few berries while the syrup is still warm, and it will add a beautiful pink hue. Perfect for a baby or wedding shower. It is also a delicious adult beverage, just add some vodka.
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 vanilla beans, seeded and split
8 to 10 lemons
5 cups water
2 cups berries (raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries)
Combine the water, sugar, and vanilla beans in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar has completely dissolved and begins to thicken slightly. Remove from heat and let cool.
Juice lemons until you have 1 1/2 cups of juice.
Strain out pulp and seeds.
Add 3/4 of the sugar mixture to a large pitcher.
Add lemon juice.
Add water. Check for sweetness. Add more vanilla syrup if needed. I love this canning funnel, I use it for so many things.
Add berries. Let chill in the fridge for 2 hours before serving. Pour over ice and garnish with more berries and lemon slices.
Vanilla Berry Lemonade
Vanilla Berry Lemonade - Upgraded homemade lemonade. Sometimes if I am feeling fiesty, I add some vodka.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 vanilla beans, seeded and split
- 8 to 10 lemons
- 5 cups water
- 2 cups berries (raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries)
Instructions
- Combine the water, sugar, and vanilla beans in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar has completely dissolved and begins to thicken slightly. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Juice lemons until you have 1 1/2 cups of juice. Strain out pulp and seeds.
- Add 3/4 of the sugar mixture to a large pitcher. Add lemon juice. Add water. Check for sweetness. Add more vanilla syrup if needed. Add berries. Let chill in the fridge for 2 hours before serving.
- Pour over ice and garnish with more berries and lemon slices.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
This Post Has 17 Comments
Great recipe… and love the pictures of your beautiful kids. As much as I love Summer, Fall is where my heart is too. 🙂
Oh thank you. I love beach pictures of them. I am so ready to welcome fall. I have a pumpkin candle burning right now.
This lemonade looks wonderful!!! Glad you had a great summer!!!
Oh My! This looks amazing!
Thank you Anita!
we’re still traveling and although it’s nice to see friends and family I can’t wait to get back home!
Yay for year round lemonade! I prefer it to apple cider
I so hear you.
I definitely need to try this. Such an awesome drink!
Please do! I love the pink color too.
Such a great recipe, I love the added vanilla! So fun!!
Your summer sounds awesome and I so glad you guys enjoyed it!
It was! I am happy and sad that it is over. But happy to be home for awhile.
We totally drink lemonade year round, too! (I mean, no point in limiting it to only one season, is there)– never thought to add vanilla bean, though… what an awesome idea!
Totally, no need to put it in the summertime box.
I definitely have been wanting a little something other than water lately. This sounds like just the recipe I need.
I hope that it is!
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