Warm weather calls for a quencher, and a pitcher of this refreshing Lavender Lemonade Recipe is the sunniest of them all.
5 Star Review
“This is the best lemonade! It’s the perfect treat to make my family on a warm day.”
— Nancy —
As summer rolls in, I like to spend as much time as humanly possible outside in the sunshine.
Here in Milwaukee, summer is a precious commodity. So as soon as the temps rise above 60 you’ll find Ben and me firing up our grill, hanging on our patio, and mixing up refreshing cocktail recipes and ice-cold beverages until the leaves begin to fall.
This made-from-scratch lavender lemonade is my newest fair-weather beverage obsession (especially when served with a platter of Lemon Cheesecake Bars).
It’s bright, lightly floral, and not too sweet.
If you’ve never made homemade lemonade (or Lemon Bars), you are in for a true treat.
Real lemonade is only three little ingredients—water, lemon juice, and sugar—and is perhaps the most iconic sipper on a summer afternoon.
I beg you, leave the powdered stuff behind and use real fruit.
You deserve it, and the taste improvement is exceptional.
This lavender lemonade is a fun twist on the classic recipe (this Spicy Margarita is another fun drink with a twist).
The sweet and tart flavors of the lemon are lovely with the fresh floral flavors and aroma of the lavender.
- Enjoy it as is for a refreshing non-alcoholic lemonade.
- Turn it into lavender lemonade with vodka or gin for a summer cocktail.
- For a spritz, mixed with Strawberry Champagne.
Lavender lemonade benefits
Lavender is known for its soothing effects when used as an essential oil in aromatherapy. While I can’t say for certain that lavender lemonade shares these benefits, I no doubt felt relaxed as I sipped a tall glass of this refreshing lemonade on my patio last weekend.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Made with just a few fresh ingredients (like this Strawberry Mojito recipe), this easy lavender lemonade recipe stores well in the fridge for several days and would be a stunning addition to any spring or summer celebration spread.
- Lemons. Ditch the bottled lemon juice because freshly squeezed lemon juice is the best (and only way) to make the most delicious lemonade from scratch. (It’s also key for making the BEST Skinny Margarita ever.)
- Sugar. While I have not tested it personally, if you would like to make lavender lemonade naturally sweetened, you could try making the homemade lavender syrup with honey or agave instead.
- Lavender. While storebought lavender syrups exist, I make a super simple homemade lavender syrup with fresh lavender for this lemonade recipe that comes together in right around 30 minutes.
- Garnish. Make your pitcher of lavender lemonade the centerpiece of your dining table by adding a few springs of fresh lavender or fresh lemon slices to the pitcher before serving.
More Ways to Use Lavender Syrup
If you find yourself with extra lavender syrup after making this easy lavender lemonade recipe, here are some of my other favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Mixed with club soda
- Shaken with vodka or gin for a tasty lavender cocktail
- Snuck into champagne (or a St. Germain Cocktail)
- Drizzled over vanilla ice cream with fresh fruit
- Soaked into sponge cake or served with Peach Shortcake
Step-By-Step Instructions
- In a small saucepan, rub the lavender and sugar together with your fingers until fragrant. Pour 1 cup of water over the lavender sugar.
- Bring to a boil, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and steep for at least 30 minutes.
- Strain the syrup into a pitcher.
- Pour in the lemon juice and the remaining water, stir, then chill. Serve over ice, garnished with additional lemon slices or fresh lavender springs. ENJOY!
Lavender Lemonade Recipe
Email Me the Recipe!
From time to time, we’ll send you Well Plated emails. You can unsubscribe anytime. Have an account? Log In.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 5 cups water divided
- 1 ½ cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (5 to 8 lemons, depending on size)
- Additional lemon slices optional for garnish
- Fresh lavender sprigs optional for garnish
Instructions
- Place the lavender and sugar in a small saucepan. Off the heat, rub them together with your fingers for a minute or so, until the lavender smells very fragrant.
- Add 1 cup of water to the sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir to dissolve sugar.
- Remove the pan from the heat cover, and allow it to steep for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
- Strain the syrup into a serving pitcher.
- To the pitcher, add the fresh lemon juice and the remaining 4 cups of water. Stir together, then chill until nice and cold. Serve over ice, garnished with additional lemon slices or fresh lavender springs.
Notes
- TO STORE: Lavender lemonade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The lavender syrup may be stored in an airtight jar for several weeks in the refrigerator.
- DOUBLE RECIPE: Feel free to double the lavender syrup in this recipe, then use the extra in all kinds of fun ways: mixed with club soda (with or without vodka), drizzled over ice cream, to soak a pound cake, or in champagne.
This looks great for this warm Southern California weather we’ve been having! Does the lavender give a calming effect after drinking this?
Thanks Derek! This is a lovely drink for warm weather. I am not an expert on the benefits of lavender, but I did feel very relaxed after my glass :)
Looks great! I don’t have fresh lavender but do have dried lavender. Would this work?
Hi Sarah! Yes it should work! Hope you enjoy it!
This is the best lemonade! It’s the perfect treat to make my family on a warm day.
Thank you for sharing this kind review, Nancy! I’m so happy it was a hit!
Erin, did you notice your pictures are out of order? Just thought you’d like to know!
Fixed it! Thanks Cat!
Can you tell I always wanted to be in the continuity department for movies (or a detective..lol)?? It’s a curse, noticing the details.
Hi, I have my lavender syrup steeping. Does the entire amount go into the lemonade water mixture?
Hi Randy! Yes it all goes in. Enjoy!
Made this tonight and it was amazing. I let the syrup steep for 30 min and it was the perfect amount of lavender flavor.
Hi Randy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I’d like to make this for my daughters bridal shower. About how many cups or ounces does it make?
Hi AnnMarie, the serving size is 6 cups. Enjoy!
Amazing! I found this a little tart – so PERFECT! (You can always add a little sugar if you need it.) Later, I did 1 part Lemonade to 1 part Prosecco – also AMAZING! Thank you for this recipe!
Thank you LLC!
My mom is a diabetic – would this work if I used a sugar substitute? Or is there a way to make it with less sugar?
Hi Kristen, I’ve only made it as written, but I am sure you can decrease the sugar but it will be more tart and tangy. Hope this helps!
We absolutely loved it! I made this for a ladies luncheon and also had prosecco to mix with the lavender lemonade. All eight of us really enjoyed it. It was easy to make as well and I especially liked that the lavender syrup could be made in advance. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
My lavender isn’t currently blooming, but the leaves are very fragrant. Can I use leaves and not flowers?
Hi Ilana! The leaves should work. Let me know how it goes!
This was my first time using lavender in a drink, and I was a bit nervous it would taste like perfume, but it didn’t. It’s actually really smooth and citrusy with just a hint of floral. I let it chill overnight and it tasted even better the next day.
So glad you tried it out, Rebecca! Thank you!
Hi Erin! I had a question about making the lavender lemonade. I have a huge lavender bush in my yard. I wouldn’t need to dry them first is my guess? What do you suggest.
Hi Becky, I think fresh could work just as well as dried. Let me know how it goes!
This lavender lemonade grew on me the more I drank it. At first I wasn’t sure, but after it chilled for a while it tasted really balanced and refreshing. Definitely better cold than right after making it. I enjoyed it. Thank you!
Great to hear, Dorothy! Thank you!
I brought this to a picnic and people were really curious about it. A few had never tried lavender in drinks before, but most ended up liking it. It has a calm, floral vibe but not overwhelming.
So glad to hear, Lacey! Thank you!