This spiked cherry lemonade spritzer is the ideal drink to sip on hot summer days. It's the perfect balance between sweet and tart.
The best part is, it's a quick and easy recipe so you can spend less time mixing and more time relaxing.
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✨ Here is why this recipe is amazing:
- Made with just four ingredients, you can mix up this refreshing beverage anytime you want!
- Comes together in just one minute.
- Easily make a non-alcoholic version by omitting the vodka and increasing the other liquids.
🥫 Ingredients needed:
This recipe is made with simple ingredients that are easy to keep on hand so you really can whip one up whenever you want.
- 3 fresh, pitted cherries
- Ice
- 2 ounces of vodka
- 3 ounces of lemonade
- 3 ounces of lemon lime soda
🔄 Substitutions
If you don't have fresh cherries, you can swap in jarred maraschino cherries. These will be a little sweeter so only use two (unless you want it sweeter).
To really kick up the sweetness, add a splash of the cherry juice from a jar of maraschino cherries.
For a non-alcoholic version, omit the vodka and use 4 ounces each of lemonade and soda.
If you don't have (or don't like) vodka, you can use gin, rum, or bourbon. Use the liquor you like best!
For the lemonade, you can use your favorite store-bought lemonade (yes, even pink lemonade!). Or, if you prefer, you can use freshly squeezed lemonade. Avoid using lemonade made from a lemonade mix though since the flavor will be too artificial.
Prefer the flavor of lime? Make a cherry limeade instead by substituting limeade for the lemonade, then garnish with a lime wedge.
If you're using sweetened lemonade, you can use club soda instead of lemon lime soda to reduce some of the sweetness.
🥄 Helpful equipment
You don't NEED special equipment to make this refreshing summertime drink but if you happen to have the following items, they'll be helpful:
- Cherry pitter
- Muddler
- Shot glass
🔪 How to make cherry lemonade, basic instructions
- Add the cherries to a glass or mason jar and muddle them.
- Top cherries with ice.
- Pour vodka, lemonade and soda over the ice.
- Garnish with extra cherries, lemon slices and/or fresh mint leaves.
📝 Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
If you're making this recipe to serve a crowd, follow the same steps as above but instead of a glass, use a pitcher and increase the ingredient amounts proportionally. So, for a 32 ounce pitcher, you would use 12 cherries, 8 ounces of vodka, and 12 ounces each of lemonade and soda.
The purpose of a muddler is to lightly mash the cherry to release some of the juice into the cocktail so several kitchen items can be used to do this if you don't have a muddler. A wooden spoon is a great alternative.
Store your vodka in the freezer so you can use less ice and prevent your drink from getting diluted if you take your time sipping on a warm day.
Freeze lemonade in an ice cube tray and use frozen lemonade cubes in place of regular ice cubes.
Sweet cherries work best in this recipe so keep your eye out for Bing cherries when you're doing your grocery shopping.
More fruity lemonade recipes:
- Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade
- Homemade Raspberry Blueberry Lemonade
- Sparkling Strawberry Mint Lemonade Green Coffee
Spiked Cherry Lemonade Spritzer
Equipment
- Cherry pitter
- Muddler
- Shot glass
Ingredients
- 3 fresh pitted cherries
- Ice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces lemonade
- 3 ounces lemon lime soda
Instructions
- Add the cherries to a tall glass or mason jar and muddle them.
- Top cherries with ice.
- Pour vodka, lemonade and soda over the ice.
- Garnish with extra cherries, lemon slices and/or fresh mint leaves.
Nutrition
Corinne
Founder & Home Life Blogger
Corinne is a mom of 5 who loves sharing crowd-pleasing, kid-friendly recipes that are easy to make so people can spend more time enjoying meals together and less time working in the kitchen.
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