Refreshing Red Strawberry Punch
A bright, fruity, and refreshing homemade punch perfect for summer gatherings and Juneteenth BBQs. This easy recipe balances natural sweetness with a hint of citrus and fizz.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar (or honey/agave syrup as substitute)
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups club soda or sparkling water
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint leaves (a handful, optional)
Instructions
- Rinse, hull, and slice about 2 cups of fresh strawberries.
- Puree the sliced strawberries in a blender or food processor until smooth. Optionally strain through a fine mesh sieve for less pulp.
- In a large pitcher, combine the strawberry puree, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, and 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Pour in 3 cups of cold water and stir to combine.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill and let flavors marry.
- Just before serving, add 2 cups of club soda or sparkling water to the chilled mixture and stir gently to maintain fizz.
- Serve over ice cubes and garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.
Notes
Use ripe, juicy strawberries for best flavor. Dissolve sugar fully to avoid grit. Add sparkling water just before serving to keep fizz. Can substitute sugar with honey, agave, stevia, or monk fruit sweetener. For a spiked version, add 1 cup light rum or vodka. Punch base can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated; add soda and ice just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 15
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 0.5
Keywords: strawberry punch, summer drink, Juneteenth, BBQ drink, refreshing punch, homemade punch, fruity beverage