Four Delish Lemonade Recipes to Try This Summer

Lemonade is the ideal summer beverage that always hits the spot. Although we love a tall, ice cold, refreshing glass of classic lemonade, we're into an array of yummy flavors this summer.What better way to cope with a hot Summer day than to indulge in a glass of ice cold lemonade? Here are four delicious lemonade recipes I know you'll love.
Cucumber Mint Lemonade

What you'll need

1. Cucumber – 2 cups, peeled and chopped
2. Mint – 8 to 10 Leaves
3. Lemon Juice – 1 tbsp *
4. Sugar – 2 tbsp*
5. Salt – ½ tsp
6. Water – 1.5 cup
7. Ice Cubes

Method

1. In a blender, add the cucumber pieces, mint leaves, sugar and salt and grind.
2. Strain using a fine strainer, add the water while straining.
3. Add the ice cubes in serving glasses and pour the drink over it. Serve chilled, garnished with a cucumber slice and sprig of fresh mint.

Note:

1. Adjust lemon juice and sugar according to taste.
2. For a variation, skip the sugar and spice it up with some black pepper and chat masala.

Vodka-Thyme Lemonade 

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 12 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
• 4 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 24 lemons
• 2 cups vodka

Directions

1. Step 1

   In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups water with the sugar and thyme; bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool to room temperature.

2. Step 2

   Pour mixture through a fine sieve into a large glass measuring cup; discard thyme. You should have 2 cups syrup. Cover with plastic; chill.

3. Step 3

   In a large serving pitcher, stir together lemon juice, vodka, and chilled syrup; garnish with thyme. Divide evenly among eight tumblers filled with ice; serve immediately.
   Spiked Raspberry Lemonade  

   Ingredients:

   RASPBERRY SIMPLE SYRUP:
   1 cup water
   1/2 cup granulated white sugar
   2/3 cup fresh raspberries
   REMAINING INGREDIENTS:
   1 1/2 cups water
   1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
   4 ounces raspberry vodka, divided
   ice
   raspberries/lemon slices for garnish, optional

   Directions:

   1. Make the simple syrup: Heat water in a glass measuring cup in the microwave (or in a small pan on the stove) until almost boiling. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Cool slightly, then pour into a blender along with the raspberries and pulse until pureed. Pour the raspberry simple syrup through a fine sieve to strain out the seeds. Refrigerate until cold (can make ahead).
   2. Prepare the cocktails: In a medium pitcher, combine the raspberry simple syrup, 1 1/2 cups water and lemon juice. Divide ice between 4 medium glasses. Divide raspberry lemonade between the glasses. Top each glass with 1 ounce (or more) of the vodka. Stir to combine, and garnish with skewers of raspberry and lemon (or float them in the glass). Serve immediately.

   Tips:

   *Use regular vodka if you don't wish to purchase raspberry-flavored vodka.
   

   Watermelon Lemonade

    

   serves about 8, adapted from The Healthy Beehive + Bon Appetit
   

   Ingredients

   8 cups 1-inch cubes of seedless watermelon (from about a 4 1/2 pound watermelon)
   1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (roughly 8 lemons)
   3 1/2 cups water
   1 cup granulated white sugar
   for serving: ice cubes or frozen watermelon cubes
   lemon wedges + watermelon wedges for garnish
   

   Directions

   working in 2 batches, blend watermelon + lemon juice in food processor or blender until smooth. pass through a wire sieve to remove any thick pulp/seeds. transfer to pitcher.
   bring 3 1/2 cups water + sugar to boil in medium saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. add hot syrup to pitcher with watermelon-lemon juice. refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
   fill glasses with ice (or frozen watermelon cubes). pour Watermelon Lemonade over + garnish glasses with lemon wedges +/or watermelon wedges.