Fresh Peach Lemonade Drink (Printable version)
A refreshing blend of ripe peaches and tangy lemon, perfect for cooling off on hot summer days.
# What you need:
→ Fruit
01 - 3 large ripe peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced
02 - 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4-5 lemons)
→ Sweetener
03 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar, adjusted to taste
→ Liquids
04 - 4 cups cold water
05 - 1 cup sparkling water or club soda, optional
→ Garnish
06 - Ice cubes, as needed
07 - Peach slices and lemon wheels, for serving
08 - Fresh mint leaves, optional
# How To:
01 - Combine the peach slices and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a blender. Blend on high until completely smooth and no chunks remain.
02 - Pour the blended puree through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher. Press firmly with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the retained solids.
03 - Add the granulated sugar to the pitcher and stir thoroughly until fully dissolved into the peach-lemon mixture.
04 - Pour in the cold water and sparkling water or club soda if using. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly throughout the pitcher.
05 - Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness or acidity as needed by adding more sugar or lemon juice to suit your preference.
06 - Fill serving glasses generously with ice cubes. Pour the peach lemonade over the ice and garnish each glass with fresh peach slices, lemon wheels, and mint leaves. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The peach and lemon combination hits that magical sweet tart balance that makes you close your eyes on the first sip.
- It comes together in fifteen minutes with zero cooking, which matters when your kitchen already feels like a sauna.
02 -
- Skip the straining step and you will end up with a gritty, fibrous texture that ruins the refreshing quality of the drink.
- Underripe peaches taste mealy and dull, so if your peaches are firm, let them sit in a paper bag for a day or two until they soften and smell sweet.
03 -
- Warm the sugar with a quarter cup of water on the stove first to make a simple syrup that dissolves instantly and prevents graininess in cold lemonade.
- Roll each lemon firmly on the counter before cutting and you will extract noticeably more juice with less effort.