This fresh sparkling mint lemonade is the perfect summer drink to beat the heat! Made with simple syrup, sparkling water, fresh lemons, and mint, you can enjoy a single serving or make a big batch to share. Whether by the pool or on your front porch, this will be one of your favorite drinks to sip this season!
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Homemade Lemonade with Mint
I’m a huge fan of creative drinks, especially ones made with fresh mint like the mint julep at Disneyland (I could literally drink that all day long!). Or a good virgin mojito at one of my favorite all-inclusive resorts in Cancun!
Nothing cools you down better than sipping a cold drink on a hot summer day and this mint lemonade recipe ranks right up there with my ever-popular simple lemonade and blueberry lemonade recipe!
This homemade mint lemonade drink is made with fresh lemon juice, cool mint leaves, simple syrup, and sparkling water for the fizz. I always think adding carbonation to any drink elevates it in some way. Even if it just gives us the illusion that it’s all the more refreshing!
Sometimes, for special occasions, I’ll whip up a batch of virgin strawberry mojito, but I must say, there are times when this minty lemonade takes over because it’s just so easy to make!
The balance of sweet and tart with the fresh mint is best enjoyed poolside, at backyard BBQs, Fourth of July parties, and after long days of working in the sun! Toss some ice cubes into a glass, garnish with lemon slices, and enjoy!
Why you’ll love this Recipe
- Quick and easy – learning how to make mint lemonade from scratch is easier than you think – this drink comes together in minutes!
- A twist on a classic – the signature sweet and sour lemonade is still present but now we’re adding the ultra-refreshing mint.
- Flexible ingredients – you can certainly make this drink exactly how you want it. Use a different sweetener, add in some fresh berries, skip the sparkling water, or use more or less sugar.
Ingredients in mint lemonade
Ingredient Notes
- Lemon juice – I always recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice from whole lemons for best results and flavor. I personally think lemonade made with bottled lemon juice isn’t even worth drinking.
- Simple syrup – I’ve included instructions on making your own simple syrup in the recipe card at the bottom of this post or I like this store-bought simple syrup too (but making your own is WAY cheaper). You could even try something fun like this honey syrup if you want to change things up.
- Fresh mint leaves – wash them first! And these are not optional, these are what makes it mint lemonade!
- Sparking water – any sparkling water should work, just make sure it’s not flavored sparkling water, just plain. And honestly, I’ve tried this recipe with still water and it just isn’t great. Go sparkling or try something like my strawberry lemonade recipe instead.
How to make Mint Lemonade
You’re going to love how simple this recipe is! It’s as simple as making a simple syrup (called simple syrup for a reason), muddling your mint, then combining all the ingredients!
You’ll have ice cold lemonade with mint on the table in minutes!
Note!
The instructions below are written to make individual glasses of this mint lemonade because I think you get the best mint flavor that way. The recipe card is written for eight individual glasses of lemonade. If you’d like to just make a pitcher and simply the process, the flavor may be diluted a little bit, but it’s still tasty. The instructions for making a pitcher are after these ones!
1 – Make a simple syrup
- Bring one cup of sugar and one cup of water to a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. Stir it constantly.
- Once the sugar has fully dissolved, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely before using it.
2 – Muddle the Mint and Lemon
- Grab a sturdy eight-ounce glass or a drink shaker and add one ounce of fresh lemon juice and one fresh mint leaf.
- Use a wooden spoon or a muddler to muddle (crush) the mint leaves and lemon juice. This will help extract the essential oils, releasing all the fresh mint flavor.
3 – Make the Mint Lemonade
- Add one ounce of simple syrup and two ounces of sparkling water to the glass or shaker. Give it a good stir or shake to combine.
- Fill an 8 ounce glass with ice. Strain (to get rid of the mint leaves) and pour the mixture over the ice. Or you can skip the straining part if you think your guests will enjoy the extra mint!
4 – garnish and serve
- Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wheel and serve chilled!
Enjoy this fresh lemonade with mint for all your summer parties! You can whip up a big batch that people can enjoy all summer long!
Make a pitcher!
If you want to make a pitcher of this mint lemonade (rather than individual glasses as it’s written above), here’s how you’ll do that!
- Multiply the ingredients by how big of a pitcher you’d like to use. This recipe is originally written for a total of 32 ounces of liquid (or eight 8oz glasses with ice) so if you want to do 2-quart pitcher, you’ll need to double the recipe. If you want to do a gallon pitcher, you’ll need to quadruple the recipe.
- Add the fresh mint leaves and lemon juice to the bottom of the pitcher. Muddle them together the best you can.
- Add the sparkling water and simple syrup on top of the muddled mint juice and stir to combine.
- Serve over ice with a lemon wheel and a spring of fresh mint. Or just add the lemon wheels and mint to the pitcher and let them fall into the glasses as you pour!
How to Store Mint Lemonade
All of the elements of this mint lemonade should be stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them or after you’ve made all of the glasses of lemonade that you need! Then when you’re ready to make more, just mix up another glass or two!
If you make a big pitcher of the recipe, just store it in the refrigerator and it should be good to go for up to a week! It may be slightly flat but should still have good flavor!
Expert Tips
Double or triple the recipe. When serving a large crowd, especially on a hot day, make a big batch in a large pitcher so everyone can have more than one glass of lemonade!
Add fresh fruit or berries. Mint and strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries all pair well together. Add some in for a pop of color and extra flavor when serving.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make this minty lemonade ahead of time?
I don’t necessarily recommend making this ahead of time because you’re using sparkling water that will go flat before you serve. If you want to make the process quicker, you can make the simple syrup ahead of time and chill that in the fridge. Then just mix the elements all together right before serving.
More Summer Drinks
Check out more fun, fruity, and refreshing drink recipes to keep you hydrated all summer!
- Strawberry lemonade drink – the perfect balance of sweet and tart and can be made still or sparkling!
- Creamy lemonade – a blended drink that’s as easy as adding, mixing, and pouring!
- Mermaid punch – a beautiful aqua-colored drink with tropical flavors makes this great for themed parties and more!
- Limeade – a refreshing twist to the original lemonade because it is a bit less sweet.
- Virgin pina colada – all the coconut and pineapple flavors we love but in a kid-friendly version for the whole family.
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Sparkling Mint Lemonade
Ingredients
Mint Lemonade
- 8 ounces lemon juice Freshly squeezed
- 24 pieces fresh mint divided
- 8 ounces simple syrup
- 16 ounces sparkling water
- 16 lemon wheels For garnish
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
Mint Lemonade
- Add one ounce of fresh lemon juice and two fresh mint leaves to a cocktail shaker or sturdy 8 oz glass.8 ounces lemon juice, 24 pieces fresh mint
- Use a wooden spoon or muddler to muddle (crush) the mint leaves and lemon juice. This will help extract the essential oils, releasing all the fresh mint flavor.
- Add one ounce of simple syrup and two ounces of sparkling water. Shake or stir until combined.8 ounces simple syrup, 16 ounces sparkling water
- Fill a tall glass with fresh ice. Strain and pour the mixture over the ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wheel.16 lemon wheels
- Pour the mixture into a glass 1/2 filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh mint spring and lemon wheel.16 lemon wheels
- Repeat the process for as many glasses of lemonade as you’d like. This recipe should make up to eight (8 oz) glasses of lemonade with ice.
Simple Syrup
- Bring one cup of sugar and one cup of water to a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. Stir it constantly.1 cup water, 1 cup sugar
- Once the sugar has fully dissolved, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool completely before using it.
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