Refreshing Cherry Limeade with Real Cherries Recipe
This sweet and refreshing cherry limeade is made from scratch using real cherries and freshly squeezed lime juice. Served over ice, this fruity drink offers the perfect balance of tart lime and natural cherry sweetness, making it an ideal beverage for hot summer days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cherry Limeade Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen pitted cherries (about 10 ounces)
- 3 cups filtered water, divided
- ¾ cup cane sugar
- 1 cup lime juice (from 8 – 10 limes, freshly squeezed)
- Ice, as needed
- Fresh lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Cherries: If you are using fresh cherries, carefully pit them removing all the seeds. If using frozen cherries, allow them to thaw for at least 30 minutes to make blending easier.
- Blend Ingredients: In a high-speed blender, combine the pitted cherries, 2 cups of filtered water, and ¾ cup cane sugar. Blend the mixture until it becomes smooth and well combined to create the cherry concentrate.
- Strain Concentrate: Pour the blended mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large mixing bowl or pitcher to remove any pulp or cherry skins, ensuring a smooth limeade.
- Add Lime and Water: Stir in the remaining 1 cup of filtered water and the freshly squeezed lime juice. Mix thoroughly to blend the flavors together perfectly.
- Serve: Fill glasses with ice, pour the cherry limeade over the ice, and garnish with fresh lime slices. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing drink!
Notes
- Using freshly squeezed lime juice significantly enhances the flavor compared to bottled lime juice.
- If you prefer a less sweet limeade, reduce the cane sugar to ½ cup.
- This recipe yields 6 servings and can be doubled if serving a larger crowd.
- For a sparkling version, replace some of the water with club soda just before serving.
- Cherry limeade concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days.
