A fresh, self-serve lemonade drink station featuring homemade lemonade, raspberry syrup, fresh fruit, herbs, sparkling mixers, and fun garnish options for parties, bridal showers, cookouts, brunches, and summer gatherings.
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Servings: 12 guests
Calories: 135kcal
Equipment
- small saucepan
- fine mesh sieve
- large pitcher or drink dispenser
- mixing spoon
- serving bowls
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh lemon juice
- 6 cups cold water
- 1 1/2 cups simple syrup
- 1 pinch fine salt
- 2 lemons, sliced
- ice, for serving
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup fresh raspberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup peach slices
- 1 cup lemon wheels
- 1 cup lime wedges
- 1 bunch fresh mint
- 1 small bunch fresh basil
- 1 to 2 bottles sparkling water
- 1 bottle ginger ale
- paper straws or stirrers, as needed
Instructions
- Add the sugar and water to a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
- Combine the raspberries, sugar, water, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes while gently mashing the berries. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and chill.
- In a large pitcher or drink dispenser, stir together the fresh lemon juice, cold water, simple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust with more water or syrup if needed.
- Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 1 hour before serving. Keep the ice separate until serving time.
- Arrange cups, ice, lemonade, syrups, fruit, herbs, sparkling water, ginger ale, stirrers, and napkins on the serving table.
- Allow guests to build their own drinks by adding ice, 1 to 2 tablespoons of syrup, lemonade, fruit, herbs, and sparkling water if desired.
Notes
For the best lemonade bar recipes, keep the lemonade base slightly tart because syrups and fruit will add sweetness. Chill everything before serving, including syrups and sparkling mixers. Use small bowls for fruit and refill as needed to keep toppings fresh. Do not add ice directly to the lemonade dispenser unless serving immediately, as melted ice will dilute the lemonade.
Storage: Store leftover lemonade in a covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store fruit syrups in sealed jars in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Fresh fruit garnishes are best enjoyed the same day.
Nutrition
Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 40mg | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.2mg