This Cherry Limeade is delicious, refreshing, and so easy to make! It is the perfect kid-friendly drink on a hot day. While most Cherry Limeades bring in maraschino cherry juice, we opt for the real thing in this absolutely delicious drink.
There is something so refreshing about a big glass of lemonade on a hot day. If you are looking for the perfect fun spin on lemonade, this Cherry Limeade does the trick. It is a great summer day project with the kids.
Reminiscent of Sonic’s Cherry Limeade, but made easily at home with real cherries, your family will love this delicious treat! This recipe is a fun twist on our Strawberry Lemonade, another great summer recipe.
I made this Cherry-Limeade for our family get together yesterday. Everyone loved it. I was afraid no one else would like it and I would be drinking it for a week. Hah! We ran out before the evening was over. It is really delicious.
How to Make Cherry Limeade
- Make Cherry Puree. In a food processor or blender combine thawed frozen cherries and lime juice until the cherries are very fine.
- Make Cherry Lime Syrup. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cherry-lime puree, water, and sugar. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Strain the mixture. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large pitcher.
- Cool the mixture. Allow the mixture to cool completely in the refrigerator.
- Add in water. Once the mixture is completely cooled, combine with 3 cups of cold water and serve.
All Natural Cherry Limeade
A lot of cherry limeade recipes are made with maraschino cherry juice as the cherry flavor. While this might be a slightly easier way to make this drink, it doesn’t have quite the cherry punch that this recipe has. Additionally, if you have some in your home with an intolerance to food dye, like we do, that drink will leave them feeling terribly ill.
Our recipe for cherry limeade gets all of it’s cherry flavor from fresh or frozen cherries. Couple that with some fresh lime juice and a little simple syrup and you have the perfect kid friendly summer drink.
Fresh vs. Bottled Lime Juice
While bottled lime juice is a very handy ingredient to keep in your refrigerator, I urge you to use freshly squeezed lime juice for this recipe. The difference between the two is somewhat subtle when it comes to marinades, but when we are making drinks and cocktails, it is quite noticeable. The bottled lime juice tends to be more sour, and it also separates, while the fresh lime juice has a smoother taste in drinks.
Let's Talk Sugar
You may notice that there is a cup of sugar in this recipe. While this is true, it is spread out over eight servings. It is also pretty important to balance the tartness of the lime juice. You may not realize, but that much sugar is pretty standards in lemonade recipes too. If you would like to use less, you are welcome to do that, following the rest of the recipe as written. Another great option would be to substitute the sugar with swerve or monk fruit.
Making it a Cocktail
Naturally, whenever I post kid friendly drinks like this I get comments from my lovely followers on social media about making it into a cocktail. I’ve got you covered with this Cherry Lime Vodka Tonic!
Cherry Lime Vodka Tonic
FAQ
How long does cherry limeade last?
This recipe will keep in your refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Always use your best judgement when it comes to leftovers.
Can we use fresh cherries?
You can use fresh cherries, just keep in mind that they will need to be pitted and will need to simmer a little longer to get nice and soft.
Does it have to be strained?
Yes, I recommend that you strain the cherry limeade with a mesh strainer for a more enjoyable beverage.
What to Serve with Cherry Limeade
If you are hosting a backyard summer BBQ, here are some great recipes that will go perfectly with this amazing drink.
- Grilled Chicken Sandwiches: These are easy to make, and taste like your favorite take out, but better!
- Steak Kabobs: The marinade for this recipe makes the meat melt in your mouth tender.
- Grilled Corn: This is one of our favorites all summer long!
- Watermelon Salad: We love this fresh and fun salad.
If you make this Cherry Limeade recipe or any of my other recipes, please be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Cherry Limeade
Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen cherries thawed
- 1 cup fresh lime juice about 10 medium limes
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups of water divided
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, puree the cherries and lime juice together so that the cherries are very fine.
- In a saucepan over low heat, bring the cherry-lime mixture, 1 cup of water, and the sugar to a low boil, stirring consistently. Simmer until the sugar is compltely dissolved
- Strain the mixture into a large pitcher and allow it cool completely in the refrigerator. This will take about 2 hours.
- Add the remaining three cups of water and serve over ice.
Melody Wright says
You out did yourself on this post. The cherry limeade did me in but THEN, the adult version!! Oooo. Girl! Gonna do these for the 4th. Also, FYI, I save almost all your pins under the title Simple Joy on my Pinterest account and your pins are the most saved on my acct. Keep up the good work and Happy July 4th.
You made my day, Melody!
Phyllis Hughes says
I made this Cherry-Limeade for our family get together yesterday. Everyone loved it. I was afraid no one else would like it and I would be drinking it for a week. Hah! We ran out before the evening was over. It is really delicious. It was a little more tart than I like so I added a half cup of sugar more than it called for. My limes might have just been a bit more tart than normal. But then I like my lemonade sweeter than most, too.
Phyllis, I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it! And I’m glad it was a hit with your family.
Ray says
Very easy to make and it tastes great. I followed your suggestion to add vodka and tonic which was very refreshing.
I’m glad you liked it, ray!
Melody Wright says
O.K. I didn’t make this on the 4th. Too much food and other drinks. But today! Oh my! Heat index today in North Florida was 104°. I worked in my yard hoeing and weeding. After all that work, I had a glass. Oh, alright, 2 glasses. And I had the adult version with vodka. It was so good and refreshing. It is a little tart but I liked it immensely. After all, I adore green plums and salt. I will make this again. Thanks for the recipe.
I’m so happy you liked it, Melody! Thank you for taking the time to come back and tell me.