Pink Lemonade packs bright citrus flavor, fresh lemon sweetness, and a berry summer twist, perfect for easy drinks and party pitchers.

This is the best Drink Recipe to enjoy on a hot day. Try my Copycat Chick-Fil-A Lemonade and Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie for more refreshing drinks to keep you cool.

Two glasses of a rose colored drink with ice and topped with lemon wedges with a pitcher in the background.

Top view of rose colored drink in a glass with ice, a lemon wedge and a pink and white straw.

Sabrina’s Pink Lemonade Recipe

Pink Lemonade tastes like pure summer fun—fresh lemon juice, cranberry tang, and just enough sweetness to feel like a tiny fruit-powered firework in your glass. It comes together in minutes, fills a whole pitcher, and shines at cookouts, picnics, or poolside hangs, especially alongside BBQ Pulled Chicken, Classic Burgers, or Grilled Chicken.

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Ingredients

Instructions

Add 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a saucepan.
On medium heat stir until the sugar completely dissolves.
Add the sugar water to the rest of your 4 cups of water in a large pitcher and stir well to combine.
Add in lemon juice, cranberry juice, and ice, stirring well to combine and chill the drink.
Serve in glasses filled with ice.

Nutrition

Sabrina’s Tips

I highly recommend squeezing fresh lemon juice instead of using bottled lemon juice. Fresh juice gives the drink the most vibrant, tangy, zingy flavor. I use 5-6 medium lemons, slice them in half, and juice them. If you’re worried about pulp, you can always strain the juice.

Sabrina’s Pink Lemonade Recipe
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About this Recipe
Can this be made ahead of time?
How to Store
Variations
Related Recipes

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About this Recipe

I’ve always loved how lemon and cranberry team up, they’re instant flavor besties. Cranberries bring that same tart edge lemons have, plus a little bitterness that sugar smooths out beautifully. If I’m craving a sweeter lemonade, I’ll swap the cranberries for raspberry or strawberry instead, and I’ve included plenty of mix in ideas in the variations section. As for what makes Pink Lemonade “pink,” it really depends: sometimes it’s just lemon juice with food coloring, other times it’s boosted with fruit juice or grenadine. In my version, cranberry juice gives the drink its rosy color and bright flavor, though plenty of recipes lean on strawberries, raspberries, or even artificial flavoring.

Can this be made ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make Pink Lemonade ahead of time, and honestly, I prefer it that way because the flavors settle in and taste even brighter. You can mix the whole batch, chill it, and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. I give it a quick stir before serving since the fresh lemon and cranberry can separate a bit as they sit. If you’re prepping for a party or cookout, making it ahead means the lemonade is ice cold and ready to pour the moment guests show up.

How to Store

Serve: After combining this delicous lemonade recipe, pour it into glasses over ice and enjoy. You’ll want to finish the drink before the ice cubes have a chance to melt and water down the recipe.
Store: To keep the homemade lemonade fresh, you can keep it in a pitcher with a lid in the fridge. The drink will stay good for 7-10 days. Simply pour it over ice and enjoy whenever you want a glass.
Freeze: You can also freeze this drink recipe. Pour the Pink Lemonade into a freezer-safe airtight container with enough room at the top for the frozen drink to expand. The frozen drink can stay good for up to 8 months. Simply let it thaw in the fridge overnight and whisk the ingredients together again in case anything separated before serving.

Variations

Grape Lemonade: There are so many amazing lemonade flavor options that you could try to turn this into an original drink that everyone will love. Grape flavor makes a great addition to the sweet and tart flavor of Pink lemonade. You can use grape juice in place of cranberry juice, for a slightly sweeter version of this drink recipe. Plus, using red grape juice, you can still get a slight pink color for the delicious grape-flavored drink.
Apple juice lemonade: Similarly, you could add green apple juice for a crispy flavor. For this version, you can use one part apple juice and one part cranberry. The blend of lemon, cranberry, and apple juice flavor goodness makes the perfect juice drink.
More fruit flavors: There are so many natural flavors that you can add to this recipe by mixing in fresh fruit juice. To make a delicious strawberry flavor, black cherry flavor, classic peach flavor, orange flavor, or delicious raspberry flavor, you can puree fresh fruit. Then strain the pureed mixture to remove any larger pieces. Pour the new fruit juice into the lemon mixture to enjoy the new fresh flavor.
Blended lemonade: If you want to make frozen lemonade, simply add the ingredients to a high-power blender with the ice. Then turn the blender on its smoothie setting for about a minute. Enjoy the perfect frothy, frozen lemonade blend.
Garnishes: You can top off cups fresh lemonade with your choice of garnishes to brighten the drink. Mint leaves, fresh berries, and lemon slices all make beautiful additions. Or, go a little more outside the box with cinnamon sticks for a beautiful look and surprising cinnamon flavor added to the lemon taste.