Today we’re making my favorite homemade strawberry lemonade that’s sweetened with juicy Oregon strawberries and local honey.
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Something sweet without all the sugar
Summer 2020 is here, whether we're ready or not! And who isn’t craving a big glass of strawberry lemonade?
It’s sweet, tangy, and totally refreshing served over ice on a hot day.
The only downside of chugging several glasses of this summer drink?
So. Much. Sugar.
As someone with diabetes in my family, I wanted to find a refined sugar free way to make it.
My low sugar hack? Using honey instead of sugar to make this healthy strawberry lemonade!
Benefits of local honey
Using any kind of honey will work in making your strawberry lemonade, but I wanted to take a minute to talk about some of the benefits behind using local honey from your state.
When I first began developing seasonal allergies as a teen, my parents were desperate to find any natural remedies to help soothe my symptoms.
One of those remedies?
Local honey!
Whether you have seasonal allergies or not, consuming local honey is a great preventative or aide in combating them.
Part of this is because local honey contains pollen from local plants and flowers, which in turn can help to boost your immune system.
Not to mention, local honey just tastes better! Especially when used to sweeten this healthy strawberry lemonade.
You can learn more about local honey and it’s benefits in this article from Better Hens and Gardens.
Vegan modification
If you’re plant based or just looking for a way to make this recipe for a vegan friend, I’ve got you covered!
While honey is not vegan (shout out to honey bees), there are some easy substitutes that will make your healthy strawberry lemonade plant based and free of any animal products.
If you are open to your lemonade having a maple flavor, maple syrup is an awesome natural sweetener that is also really powerful. A little bit goes a long way so start with half the amount (I find it’s sweeter than honey) and tasting to see if it needs more.
Another great vegan sweetener is agave syrup. You can find agave at most grocery stores.
Happy summer!
Salima
PrintHealthy Strawberry Lemonade
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverages, Drinks, Lemonade
- Method: Stewed
- Cuisine: American, Drinks
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and minced into tiny pieces
- 2 tbsp local honey
- 6-8 lemons, juiced with seeds removed
- 2 cups filtered water
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine honey and strawberries. Heat over low heat for 15 minutes or until the strawberries begin to break down and the honey has a thin liquid consistency. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Squeeze your lemon juice into a large pitcher. Add water. Add strawberry honey mixture. Add ice and serve!
Keywords: healthy strawberry lemonade, strawberry lemonade, sugar free strawberry lemonade
