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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Drinks

    Pink Lemonade

    Updated: Jun 13, 2025 โ€ข Published: Jun 16, 2025 by Sam Merritt โ€ข Leave a Comment

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
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    collage of homemade pink lemonade, top image is a close up of single glass of pink lemonade with slice of lemon in rim, bottom image of two glasses photographed from above

    This pretty pink lemonade recipe is naturally colored with cranberry juice. It’s so smooth and refreshing–perfect for sipping poolside! Recipe includes a how-to video!

    Glass of pink lemonade garnished with a lemon slice.

    Naturally Colored Pink Lemonade Recipe

    Today’s recipe is inspired by my kids’ favorite summertime beverage! Pink lemonade is a special treat in our household during the summer months, but not the powdered kind full of artificial colors and sweeteners. We prefer to make our own from scratch–it’s easy to do and incredibly tasty too!

    To be clear, this is a true pink lemonade recipe, not a strawberry lemonade or raspberry lemonade recipe. Pink lemonade is supposed to taste similar to regular lemonade, but with a pink color. Many versions rely on food dye to achieve this color, while others often add a small splash of cranberry or raspberry juice for a natural pink color (or grenadine, which is super sweet and usually highly artificial). We’re going the natural route today!

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Pretty and tasty! Cranberry juice gives a beautiful natural pink hue and adds a hint of tartness to complement the lemonade flavor.
    • No artificial flavors or colors–just 100% pure fruit juice, water, and sugar.
    • Super smooth, since we start by making a simple syrup. This step melts down the sugar, allowing it to evenly distribute and avoids any grittiness.
    • You can customize to suit your taste by adjusting the sugar, adding your favorite garnishes, substituting sparking water, etc. I talk more about how you can customize this recipe below!

    What You Need

    Only four ingredients today!

    Overhead view of ingredients including lemons, sugar, and cranberry juice.
    • Lemon juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice truly is best. But you could use bottled if you are feeling lazy.
    • Cranberry juice. Use 100% juice–not cocktail. It’s not that cocktail wouldn’t work, but it’s not going to give us the proper edge.
    • Sugar. Stick with regular granulated sugar. If needed, you can reduce the sugar by up to half but you WILL lose depth of flavor; this is a personal preference for you to adjust as you’d like. 
    • Water. We’ll use one cup for the simple syrup and save the rest for stirring in at the end. Filtered water will provide the best flavor.

    SAM’S TIP: If you have extra lemons leftover after juicing, you can slice them up and use them as a garnish or use them in one of my lemon recipes.

    Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

    How to Make Pink Lemonade

    Collage of simple syrup, lemon juice, cranberry juice, and water being combined to make pink lemonade.
    1. Make the simple syrup by combining the sugar and just one cup of the water in a saucepan. Stir frequently over medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves, then set aside to cool.
    2. Juice your lemons until you have 1 cup of juice, making sure to remove any seeds that sneak in. Pour this into your serving pitcher (it should hold at least a half gallon).
    3. Add the cranberry juice and cooled simple syrup.
    4. Pour in the remaining water and stir until the lemonade is uniform. Pour over ice if you plan to enjoy it right away, or cover and place in the fridge to chill until ready to serve.

    SAM’S TIP: Always, always, ALWAYS stir before serving! This will ensure each glass has the best flavor, as the ingredients tend to settle as they sit.

    Overhead view of glasses of pink lemonade garnished with lemon slices.

    Customize your lemonade!

    • 🌿 Add a garnish: Top with mint leaves, fresh or frozen berries, or a lemon slice for pretty presentation.
    • 🍹 Spike it: Add a splash of vodka or gin for a fun and refreshing adult beverage.
    • 🫖 Mix with sweet tea: Make an Arnold Palmer by mixing your lemonade with sweet tea.
    • 🧊 Freeze it: Pour your lemonade into popsicle molds and freeze until solid.
    • ✨ Make sparkling pink lemonade: Use still water for the simple syrup but replace the remaining 5 cups of water with sparkling water.
    Glass of lemonade made with a splash of cranberry juice for a natural pink color.

    Looking for more kid-approved recipes? Try my dirt cookies and cheese crackers next!

    Enjoy!

    Let’s bake together! Subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of all the newest recipes, and find my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜

    Glass of pink lemonade garnished with a lemon slice.

    Pink Lemonade

    This pretty pink lemonade recipe is naturally colored with cranberry juice. It's so smooth and refreshing–perfect for sipping poolside!
    Recipe includes a how-to video!
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    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 8-oz servings
    Calories: 107kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups (1.4 L) water, divided
    • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar (or adjust to-taste)
    • 1 cup (236 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (seeds removed)
    • ¼ cup (60 ml) cranberry juice (NOT cranberry juice cocktail, must be 100% juice)

    Recommended Equipment

    • Small saucepan
    • Lemon juicer
    • Pitcher

    Instructions

    • Prepare the syrup: Combine a cup (236ml) of the water and the sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for at least 10 minutes.
      1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
    • Pour lemon juice into a large pitcher. Add cooled simple syrup and cranberry juice.
      1 cup (236 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice, ¼ cup (60 ml) cranberry juice
    • Add remaining 5 cups (1.2L) water and stir well.
    • Cover and store in the refrigerator to chill before serving or serve immediately poured over ice. Always stir before pouring.

    Notes

    Storing

    Cover the pitcher and store for up to 5 days. Always stir before serving.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 18-oz serving | Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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