Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberries are finally starting to go down in price and I am so excited to start making more strawberry things! I have a long list of strawberry treats and dessert recipes ready. So get excited cause I am!!

This strawberry lemonade, its the perfect balance of sweet strawberries and tart lemons. Perfect for a hot summer day or in my case a warmish spring day cause I cant wait for summer.

Strawberry Lemonade
Recipe Adapted from: AlaskaFromScratch.com

Simple Syrup
2 cups Water
2 cups Sugar

Strawberry Puree
2 cups Strawberries, hulled and quartered
1 cup Cold Water

Lemonade
Zest of 1 Lemon
1 1/2 cups Lemon Juice, about 6 lemons freshly squeezed
1 1/2 cups Cold Water
2 cups Ice
Lemons and Strawberries for garnish

1. In a medium saucepan combine the water and sugar over high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from the heat and set aside. Place the strawberries and 1 cup of cold water in a blender and puree.

2. In a pitcher, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, 1 cup cold water, ice. Stir in the strawberry puree and the simple syrup. Taste and add more cold water if needed. Refrigerate until cold.

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

Sweet and tangy. The perfect strawberry lemonade cupcake for me. Sweet strawberry and tangy lemonade. They compliment each other. Its my perfect cupcake!

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
Recipe Adapted from: ConfessionsofaCookbookQueen.com

Cupcakes
1 box White Cake Mix
3oz box Strawberry Jell-O
2 1/2 cups Strawberries, diced
2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
4 Eggs
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 cup Water

Frosting
1 cup Butter, room temp
5 cups Powdered Sugar
1/3 cup Country Time Lemonade Powder
1/2 teaspoon Lemon Extract
3 Tablespoons Water

1. In a medium bowl combine the strawberries and the granulated sugar, mix to combine and refrigerate for 2 hours. Then puree. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. 

2. Combine the cake mix and strawberry jello in the bowl of stand mixer and stir. Add in strawberries, eggs, oil, and water. Mix on medium until well combined. Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. 

Frosting

In the bowl of a stand mixer add the butter and beat until fluffy. Add in the powdered sugar and lemonade powder on low until just combined. Add in the water and beat on medium high until light and fluffy. Add more water if its too thick.