Fresh Watermelon Basil Lemonade Recipe Easy Homemade Citrus Drink with Coconut Sugar Syrup
A refreshing summer drink combining juicy watermelon, aromatic basil, and freshly squeezed lemon juice sweetened with a rich coconut sugar syrup. Perfect for quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing refreshment.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (about 600g) fresh watermelon chunks, seeds removed
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4–5 medium lemons)
- 2 to 3 cups cold water, adjusted to taste
- Ice cubes for serving
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- Optional: a small pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Make the Coconut Sugar Syrup: Combine 1/2 cup coconut sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Add a pinch of sea salt if using. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Lower the heat and simmer for about 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Prepare the Watermelon-Basil Puree: Place the watermelon chunks and basil leaves into your blender. Pulse until smooth, about 30-45 seconds. If you want a pulp-free lemonade, strain this mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a bowl.
- Juice the Lemons: Squeeze fresh lemons to get 1 cup of juice. Strain out seeds.
- Combine the Lemonade: In a large pitcher, mix the watermelon-basil puree, lemon juice, and cooled coconut sugar syrup. Stir well to combine.
- Add Water & Adjust Sweetness: Pour in 2 cups of cold water to start. Taste and add more water if needed to balance the sweetness and tartness, up to 3 cups total. Add more syrup if too tart.
- Chill & Serve: Add plenty of ice cubes to the pitcher or directly to glasses. Garnish with fresh basil leaves or thin lemon slices.
Notes
Use ripe, sweet watermelon for best natural sweetness. Adjust basil quantity to avoid bitterness. Cool syrup before mixing to preserve basil flavor. For a pulp-free drink, strain the puree. Syrup can be stored separately in the fridge for up to a week. Lemonade keeps well for up to 2 days refrigerated. Sparkling water can replace still water for a fizzy version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 90110
- Carbohydrates: 2327
- Protein: 1
Keywords: watermelon lemonade, basil lemonade, coconut sugar syrup, summer drink, homemade lemonade, refreshing drink, citrus drink, vegan lemonade, gluten-free beverage