Description
A refreshing layered drink with sweet strawberry puree, creamy acai, and tangy lemonade. Perfect for a hot day!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 packets (100g each) frozen acai puree, unsweetened
- 1/2 cup apple juice or water (for blending)
- 1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 6–8 lemons)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups water, cold
- Ice cubes
- Fresh strawberries, sliced (for garnish)
- Lemon slices (for garnish)
- Fresh mint sprigs (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Wash and Prep the Strawberries: Start by thoroughly washing your strawberries under cold water. Remove the green hulls from each strawberry.
- Combine Ingredients: In a blender or food processor, combine the hulled strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice.
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture until it is completely smooth.
- Taste and Adjust: Give the puree a taste. If it’s not sweet enough for your liking, add a little more sugar, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired sweetness level. If it’s too sweet, add a tiny splash more lemon juice to balance it out.
- Strain (Optional): For an extra smooth puree, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any seeds.
- Chill: Transfer the strawberry puree to an airtight container and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.
- Prepare the Acai: Take your frozen acai puree packets out of the freezer. Let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly.
- Combine Ingredients: In a blender, combine the slightly softened acai puree, apple juice (or water), and honey or agave nectar (if using).
- Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture until it’s completely smooth and creamy. You might need to stop the blender occasionally and scrape down the sides to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
- Adjust Sweetness (Optional): Taste the acai base. If you prefer it sweeter, add a little more honey or agave nectar, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired sweetness.
- Keep Chilled: Once blended, keep the acai base chilled until you’re ready to assemble the lemonade.
- Make a Simple Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and 1 cup of water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Cool the Simple Syrup: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the simple syrup cool completely.
- Juice the Lemons: While the simple syrup is cooling, juice your lemons. You’ll need about 6-8 lemons to get 1 cup of fresh lemon juice.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, combine the cooled simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and the remaining 3 cups of cold water. Stir well to combine.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the lemonade. If it’s too tart, add a little more simple syrup (you can make more if needed). If it’s too sweet, add a splash more lemon juice. Adjust the water to reach your desired concentration.
- Chill: Refrigerate the lemonade for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Prepare Your Glasses: Fill your glasses with ice cubes.
- Layer the Ingredients: Start by adding a layer of the strawberry puree to the bottom of each glass.
- Add the Acai Base: Gently pour the acai base over the strawberry puree.
- Top with Lemonade: Slowly pour the lemonade over the acai base, filling the glass to the top.
- Garnish: Garnish each glass with a slice of fresh strawberry, a slice of lemon, and a sprig of fresh mint (if using).
- Stir and Serve: Gently stir the lemonade to combine the layers before serving.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately and enjoy your refreshing Strawberry Acai Lemonade!
Notes
- For an extra smooth strawberry puree, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the seeds.
- Adjust the sweetness of the strawberry puree and acai base to your liking.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential for the best lemonade flavor.
- Chill each component (strawberry puree, acai base, and lemonade) before assembling for the most refreshing drink.
- Get creative with your garnishes!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes