Cool down with these refreshing elderberry lemonade and limeade recipes — naturally sweet, simple to make and full of immune-boosting benefits. Perfect for summer sipping!
Summer is the time of year when my kids start asking for every cold drink under the sun, except water. I get it, it’s hot, they’ve been playing outside and brightly colored drinks just seem more exciting.
But in our home, we’re pretty strict about what we keep in the fridge. Most store-bought juices and “healthy” drinks are loaded with unnecessary added sugars, dyes and ingredients I can’t even pronounce. That’s not something I want in my fridge, especially when it comes to my family.
For the longest time, I thought making our own lemonade would be too much work — something the kids would reject anyway. But one day, I decided to give it a shot.
To my surprise, it was so much easier than I thought. With just a few simple ingredients and some time to spare, I had a pitcher of fresh, tangy lemonade that my entire family loved.
Naturally, I had to experiment with limeade next. The limeade ended up being just as refreshing, especially because limes are my favorite.
Then I thought, why not make it even better by adding a splash of our Elderberry Queen elderberry syrup? Not only did it add a gorgeous color and delicious berry flavor, but it also gave these drinks some real health-boosting benefits.
Let’s talk about that for a second, because elderberry is more than just a sick-season staple.
Fantastic Benefits of Elderberry
Elderberry isn’t just for cold season — it deserves a spot in your summer, too. With its natural antioxidants, immune-supporting flavonoids and anti-inflammatory perks, it’s a quiet superhero in your glass.
That’s why I love stirring a splash of elderberry syrup into drinks like these — it’s an easy (and tasty) way to get a little wellness boost with every sip.
Here are a few of the benefits of elderberries:
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Immune-Boosting Abilities: The flavonoids, vitamins and antioxidants present in elderberries can help prevent sickness and slow its spread. This can be super handy year-round.
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Aids In Heart Health: Maintaining stable blood pressure levels and good cholesterol levels are key to keeping your heart healthy. Luckily, this superfood has been known to help keep those things in check.
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Anti-Inflammatory: The same flavonoids that support your immune system also work to reduce inflammation throughout the body, including swelling.
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Good For Your Gut: The fibers and prebiotics in elderberries help keep your gut balanced and healthy, leading to improved digestion and a happier stomach.
These are the reasons why I try to incorporate elderberry into my everyday recipes. Here at Elderberry Queen, we are dedicated to providing you with healthy recipe ideas and clean, immune-boosting ingredients, like elderberry syrup.
Our Elderberry Syrup is certified organic and made with only the purest ingredients, ensuring you get the benefits you deserve.
Speaking of ingredients, let’s dive into what you’ll need to make this elderberry lemonade or limeade.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Both of these recipes are made with just a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients — no refined sugar, nothing artificial, just pure goodness in every glass.
For Elderberry Lemonade:
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½ cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
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⅓ cup of Local Raw Honey
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4 tbsp of Elderberry Syrup
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3 cups of water
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Lemon slices and fresh mint to garnish (optional)
For Elderberry Limeade:
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½ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice
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⅓ cup of Local Raw Honey
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4 tbsp of Elderberry Syrup
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3 cups of water
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Lime wedges and mint to garnish (optional)
This makes enough for about three glasses of lemonade or limeade, so make sure to adjust the recipe accordingly if you’re serving a crowd. Now, let’s get into the steps for making these drinks.
Step-By-Step Instructions
You’ll be blown away by how simple and quick this recipe is. The ingredient list is so minimal and basic, the steps are easy and the result is to die for.
Instructions:
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Make The Lemonade/Limeade Base: To start, grab a large glass pitcher and add the lemon or lime juice, raw honey and water to it. Stir it all together until combined.
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Add The Elderberry: You can either pour the elderberry syrup over each glass for a beautiful layered look or stir it straight into the pitcher for a more blended flavor. Either way, it’s delicious.
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Throw Some Ice In: This lemonade and limeade is best chilled, so drop a few ice cubes in your glass and sip away.
Consider this advice — sit back, relax, soak up the sun, breathe the fresh air and enjoy every sip of your dreamy summer drink. You’ve deserved it.
Mix Things Up
One of the best things about these elderberry drinks is that they’re super easy to customize. Whether you’re using whatever you have on hand or want to get a little creative, there are so many ways to make these your own.
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Make It Sparkling: Swap still water for sparkling water to add a bubbly twist — it feels fancy and fun, and adds the perfect amount of fizz.
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Add Fresh Fruit: Toss in some sliced strawberries, blueberries or orange wedges for extra flavor — it also looks gorgeous.
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Give It An Herbal Twist: Try muddling fresh mint, basil or rosemary in the bottom of your glass before adding the lemonade or limeade — it adds an extra layer of flavor that pairs beautifully with the citrus and elderberry.
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Turn It Into A Popsicle: Pour your lemonade or limeade into popsicle molds and freeze. This is a healthy summer treat your kids will absolutely love.
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Try An Alcoholic Version: Add a splash of vodka, gin or sparkling wine to turn this into a refreshing cocktail — cheers to wellness, with a twist!
Don’t be afraid to experiment — these drinks are as versatile as they are delicious. However you mix it, you really can’t go wrong.
Save Some For Later
These elderberry lemonade and limeade recipes are too good not to keep on hand. Whether you’re making them on repeat this summer or want a go-to drink for gatherings, don’t forget to pin, print or bookmark this post so it’s just a click away next time.
The elderberry lemonade and limeade will keep fresh in the fridge for up to three days — make sure to cover the pitcher before putting it in the fridge.
Enjoy Summer & Stay Healthy
Ready to make your own glass of goodness? Don’t forget the star ingredient — our organic elderberry syrup, made with clean ingredients you can trust. It’s packed with immune-supporting benefits your whole family will love. Click here to order a bottle!
If you’re craving more simple, nourishing recipe ideas, here are a few of our favorites to keep you cool, healthy and happy:
Here’s to healthy sips and treats, summer sunshine and sweet moments shared with the ones you love.
