Lavender Honey Lemonade
I have a serious thing for drinks that look like they belong in a fairytale, and this Lavender Honey Lemonade fits that description exactly. It is this gorgeous pale purple-pink color, it smells incredible, and it tastes like the very best version of lemonade you have ever had with this soft floral sweetness underneath all that bright citrus. I first made it for a spring bridal shower a few years ago and the reaction was absolutely overwhelming. People were asking if I had bought it somewhere because they could not believe it was homemade.
The secret is the lavender honey syrup, which takes about 15 minutes to make and transforms the entire drink. It is so easy and so worth it, and once you have a jar of this syrup in your fridge you will find a hundred reasons to use it. (This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)
Lavender Honey Lemonade
Ingredients
Method
- Make lavender honey syrup: combine 1 cup water, honey, and lavender buds in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until honey dissolves. Simmer gently 5 minutes. Remove from heat and steep 10 minutes.
- Strain syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a jar, discarding lavender. Let cool completely.
- Combine lemon juice, 4 cups cold water, and lavender honey syrup in a large pitcher. Stir well.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness as desired.
- Serve over ice garnished with lemon slices and fresh or dried lavender sprigs.
Notes
The Lavender Honey Syrup is Everything
You make it by simmering water with honey and dried culinary lavender buds, then letting it steep for a few minutes before straining. The result is this gorgeous, fragrant syrup that tastes floral without tasting like soap, which is the fine line you always have to walk with lavender. The key is using culinary lavender, not decorative, and not using too much. Two tablespoons per cup of water is the sweet spot. The honey adds a rounded, natural sweetness that is completely different from sugar and pairs with lavender beautifully.
Tips for the Best Lavender Lemonade
Always use fresh squeezed lemon juice here. Bottled lemon juice has a cooked, slightly bitter taste that you will notice against such a delicate flavored base. Fresh lemons give you that bright, clean tartness that makes this drink sing. A good electric citrus juicer makes juicing 8 lemons completely effortless and is one of my most used kitchen tools all summer long.
Make the syrup a day ahead and refrigerate it. The flavor deepens overnight and it keeps for up to two weeks in a sealed jar in the fridge. Having a jar ready means you can mix up a pitcher of lavender lemonade at a moment’s notice. Store your finished lemonade in a pretty glass pitcher and garnish with actual lavender sprigs for a presentation that will genuinely stop people in their tracks.
Make It Your Own
Add a splash of sparkling water per glass for a fizzy lavender lemonade spritzer that is absolutely perfect for celebrations. For a cocktail version, gin pairs with lavender in the most stunning way. Add 1.5 oz of your favorite gin per glass and you have an elegant summer cocktail worthy of any garden party. A few fresh blueberries muddled in the bottom of each glass before pouring give you gorgeous purple flecks and a subtle berry flavor that complements the lavender perfectly. This syrup is also incredible stirred into iced tea, drizzled over yogurt, or mixed into a simple vinaigrette.
The Final Sip
Lavender Honey Lemonade is the kind of drink that makes an ordinary moment feel like an occasion. It is beautiful to look at, incredible to smell, and absolutely delicious to drink. Make a big batch for your next gathering, your next lazy Sunday, or just for yourself on a quiet afternoon when you want something that feels a little special. You deserve the pretty drink. xo, Pam
