When freshly squeezed lemonade is mixed with a lavender simple syrup, something magical happens. This lavender lemonade cocktail has a few sweet tricks up its sleeve. This cocktail is best described as an elevated and boozy twist on the classic lemonade - sounds delightful, right?! Now, a serious lemonade question. Have you ever made lemonade with the lemon peel? Lemon peels are full of oils and when blended create this rich and creamy, full-flavored lemonade that is unlike anything you have ever tasted before. Once you make lemon peel lemonade, you will never go back!
This 5-ingredient lavender lemonade cocktail is a fun twist on the classic lemonade. All you need to do is whip up some lemon peel lemonade, make an easy lavender simple syrup, and splash in some vodka. I'll walk you through a few easy culinary techniques that will take your lemonade game to the next level! This lavender lemonade cocktail recipe is a sweet and zesty sip of Summer. Now, let's get you a glass of boozy lavender lemonade!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LOVE: Lemon & Lavender Baked Doughnuts / Prickly Pear Margarita / Mini Guide: How to Harvest Culinary Lavender
I absolutely love lemons and use lemon juice and zest to lighten up everything from dinners, to drinks, and desserts. When I originally started recipe testing, I had visions of throwing in whole lemons, lavender flowers, sugar, and water into a blender for a super easy recipe. I'm a huge fan of no-fuss recipes if I can get away with it! I quickly realized that using the whole lemon made the lemonade very bitter, requiring too much sugar to balance it out the mouth puckering flavor. The more I fiddled with this recipe, more steps were added, and the better the recipe became. In the end, I was able to find the perfect balance of lemon peel, sugar, and lavender for the the ultimate lavender lemonade cocktail!
Chef Tip: Lemon peels are full of natural oils that not only have a strong citrus scent and flavor, but also can create an emulsion when blended. An emulsion is when two liquids that typically do not mix seamlessly together become one uniform liquid with the help of an oil and quick mixing. When blended, the lemon peel oils evenly coat each water molecule making the lemonade very creamy and prevents separation when left in the refrigerator over night. I also love the rich flavor and color a lemon peel gives to this recipe!
Another exciting element to this lavender lemonade cocktail recipe is the homemade lavender simple syrup. If making a simple syrup is a little intimidating, don't be afraid! I'll hold your hand through the entire process - I guarantee you will be surprised how easy it is! Essentially, you are warming water, sugar, and lavender flowers together until the sugar dissolves. When heated up, the lavender flowers steep and infuse all of its flavor into the syrup (just like tea). After you've brought the lavender simple syrup up to a simmer, take off the heat and strain out the lavender flowers once it cools down to room temperature. Yes, it really is that simple! If you can boil and strain pasta, you can simmer and strain this homemade simple syrup.
Check out the above photo with the two mason jars. To demonstrate the effect the lemon peel oils have on the lemonade, I made classic lemonade on the right and my blended lemon peel lemonade on the left. The lemonade blended with the lemon peel is much more colorful, rich, and creamy. I'm telling you, your lemonade game will never be the same!
Dietitian Tip: If you needed another reason for why you need this cocktail in your life, few small research studies have suggested that eating lavender may have a calming and relaxing effect. This means lavender is the perfect drink addition to help you unwind and relax while sipping this boozy lemonade by the pool on a warm weekend (source 1, source 2).
Loving all things lavender? Check out my full guide to culinary lavender where I discuss how to find, use, grow, and prepare culinary lavender. Now that you know how to make a lavender simple syrup, you can enjoy sweet lavender all year long in everything from drinks to desserts. Cheers!
Shop my Lavender Lemonade Cocktail Recipe Ingredients:
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Lavender Flowers / C & H Cane Sugar / Vitamix Blender
PrintLavender Lemonade Cocktail
This 5-ingredient lavender lemonade cocktail is a fun twist on the classic lemonade. All you need to do is whip up some lemon peel lemonade, make an easy lavender simple syrup, and splash in some vodka. Take your lemonade game to the next level with this sweet and zesty sip of Summer!
- Total Time: 25 Minutes
- Yield: 5.5 - 6 cups 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Lavender simple syrup:
1 cup water
2-4 tablespoons culinary lavender (see note 1)
1 ¼ cups sugar
Lemonade:
8 lemons
4 cups water
5 - 6 oz Vodka
Optional garnish:
Lemon slices
Instructions
- Prepare the lavender simple syrup: In a medium-sized pot, stir the water, lavender, and sugar together until the sugar has dissolved, then place the pot on the stove and set to medium heat, stirring occasionally. After 10-15 minutes, the syrup should be slowly simmering (do not let boil, see note 2), then take off the heat and let cool to room temperature. Using a mesh strainer, strain the syrup directly into the serving pitcher, discarding the lavender buds.
- Blend the lemonade: Peel 2 lemons (see note 3) then juice all 8. Add the yellow peels, lemon juice, and 4 cups water to a blender and blend on medium speed for about 1 minute, making sure the peels have become very small and the lemonade is creamy. Strain the blended lemonade into a serving pitcher and discard the strained lemon peel.
- Mix, chill, and serve: In serving pitcher, mix the syrup and lemonade together, then cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. When serving, pour the lavender lemonade into each glass and top off each drink with 0.5 - 1 oz of vodka, ice, and garnish with a lemon slice.
Notes
The equipment and ingredients linked are affiliate links. I listed the exact blender and edible culinary lavender I used for this recipe and highly recommend.
Note 1: I like to give a lavender range for this recipe because someone may only want a hint of lavender while others want lots of flavor. The strength of lavender flavor also varies on the brand, how fresh the flowers are, and the lavender variety. Don't go over 4 tablespoons though, too much lavender can taste like soap!
Note 2: Don't leave your simple syrup unattended while simmering because the syrup can go from simmering to a boil really quickly, which can splatter and burn. When cooling, do not stick your finger in the pot to check the temperature because you can easily burn yourself. Instead, use a thermometer and when the syrup has reached about 75˚F, it is ready to be strained.
Note 3: When peeling the lemons, use a vegetable peeler and apply light pressure. The white part under the peel is very bitter, so when applying light pressure to the peeler you get more of the yellow skin and less of the white underneath. Some white is ok, just the less of it the better. The peels have some natural oils, which give a really unique creamy texture when blended.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (7 oz including alcohol)
- Calories: 244
- Sugar: 43 g
- Sodium: 9 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Lavender lemonade cocktail
Karen says
LOVE THIS LAVENDER LEMONADE! Refreshing and sweet, I can't get enough!
★★★★★
Michele says
I am so glad you love my recipe! Thanks for stopping by Karen!
Alanna says
Gorgeous! I adore lavender lemonade but have yet to have a cocktail. I must try this!
Michele Sidorenkov, RDN says
Thank you, Alanna! The cocktail version is a must-try, I think you will love it.
Clau17 says
I wanted to make this ahead of time with the vodka already in it. Will it hold up okay to have vodka in it for hours at a time?
Michele Sidorenkov, RDN says
Hi Clau! I have not made this recipe ahead with vodka, just only made ahead the lavender lemonade portion. I don't see why you couldn't add the vodka and set it aside for a few hours, I would just give it a good stir before serving. I hope that helps and I would love a follow up if it worked! I'll add it to the recipe card notes 🙂
Jessica says
Just made this for a bridal shower and it was a big hit! Also, do you happen to remember where you got these glasses from? They are super cute
Michele Sidorenkov, RDN says
So happy the recipe was a hit and for the perfect occasion, too!
For the glasses, I just checked and there isn't an emblem or marking on them. I got them a few years ago at a Marshalls or Ross and haven't seen them since 🙁 They always reminded me of mint julep glasses, maybe try searching for that term. There are quite a few similar glass styles online. Hopefully you can find what you are looking for!
★★★★★
Catherine Karpman says
This has been my summertime go to beverage and the best lemonade recipe I have tried. I love the creamy and frothiness of this lemonade recipe and the lavender syrup takes just enough tartness to make this a splendid mocktail or cocktail. Other lemonades do not compare! ❤️
★★★★★
Elizabeth says
Hi - love love love this!! I need to make 3 gallons for an outdoor party ( Midwest - July 4th… hot!!) How best to scale this recipe? Thanks!!
Michele Sidorenkov, RDN says
Hi Elizabeth - So excited you're going to make this recipe, perfect for the 4th of July!
To scale the recipe, on the recipe card I have three boxes that say "x1, x2, x3" which will auto the scale/calculate the recipe to be double or triple the amount. When you select the x3 box (Yield: 16 1/2 - 18 cups ), that is equal to 1 gallon. So you would make the x3 amounts three times.
For the simple syrup: 9 cups of water, 18-26 tablespoons lavender (I would stick closer to 18 for a large crowd, lavender can be really strong), and 11.25 cups sugar.
For the lemonade: 72 lemons, 36 cups of water, and 45-54 oz (about 5.5-6.5 cups) vodka.
That's a lot of lemons but for a big party, sounds just like the perfect amount - haha. Let me know how the recipe goes!