This pink rose lemonade is so refreshing, so easy to make an and absolute treat on a warm day. Rosewater lemonade needs to be the next variation you try, the flavor is absolutely delicious and unique.
I love this anytime of the year, but especially during the warm summer months when quenching your thirst becomes more essential than ever.
If you are looking for another delicious lemonade recipe, try this frozen mint lemonade– it’s insanely good too! Or try this unique creamy lemonade, which is made with sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar.
If you want a really lovely pairing, have this rose lemonade with these ghraybeh, little melt in your mouth rose flavored Middle Eastern shortbread cookies.
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What makes this rose lemonade recipe so good:
- I love the addition of cranberry juice, both for flavor and also to give this lemonade a beautiful pink color that really echoes the rose flavor.
- It’s so simple and requires just 4 ingredients besides water!
- It’s sweet, but not at all too sweet. Perfectly balanced! Using a sugar syrup, which is really simple to make, makes sure the sugar dissolves perfectly throughout.
- The Middle Eastern flavor of the rosewater in this lemonade is unique and delicious, perfect to serve on your Ramadan iftar table.
- Kids will love this too! It’s such a great twist on a regular lemonade.
Ingredients you need:
- Water: Room temperature is fine
- Sugar: Regular granulated white sugar
- Lemons: Use fresh lemons, not bottled lemon juice for the best lemonade flavor
- Cranberry Juice: Use any bottled cranberry juice you like
- Rose Water: What gives the lemonade that delicious flavor
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions:
- Step 1: Start the prep by juicing your lemons.
- Step 2: Add sugar and 1 cup of water to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Step 3: Bring to a boil, then simmer 6-8 minutes.
- Step 4: Once syrup like in consistency, remove from heat and cool.
- Step 5: Pour the sugar syrup, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and remaining water in a pitcher and stir to combine.
- Step 6: Chill, serve and enjoy!
Hint: Taste and adjust- if you like your lemonade more tart, squeeze in some more lemons. If you like it more diluted, add some more cold water. For a stronger rose flavor, up the rose water.
Pro Tip
You can find rose water at any Middle Eastern supermarket, or online at any large retailer. Make sure you aren’t getting rose water from the beauty section which could be mixed with other stuff, this is a grocery item!
How to serve:
- Ice cold -this is best when it’s super chilled, so make sure you keep it in the fridge, and add as much as ice cubes as you need. I prefer cubes rather than crushed ice so that the flavor of the rose water lemonade doesn’t get diluted.
- In pretty glasses- serve in pretty clear glasses so you can get the full visual effect, and garnish with lemon slices.
Recipe variations:
- Pomegranate rose lemonade- add pomegranate juice instead of cranberry juice for another fun twist!
- Sparkling rose lemonade- Top up individual glasses with soda or sparkling water right before serving for an extra fun fizzy rosewater lemonade.
- Edible rose petals– to emphasize the rose aspect of this lemonade, add some pretty edible rose petals in the cups before serving.
- Extra sugar syrup – If you like things extra sweet, make a larger batch of the sugar syrup, and save some to mix into individual cups on the side if needed.
Storing Leftovers:
Leftover rose lemonade will last 3-4 days tightly covered in the fridge. I usually cover my pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap. When pouring out into glasses, top with extra ice cubes.
Expert tips and tricks:
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice from fresh lemons (not older ones which can have a bitter taste).
- Taste and adjust- if you are nervous about the flavor of the rose water, add half the amount at first, then taste and add the remaining amount if desired.
- Use culinary grade rose water- be careful not to use rose water from the beauty section which isn’t safe for use in cooking.
- Chill before serving, the rose water lemonade needs to be really cold to truly hit the spot!
Top Tip
Keep an eye on the sugar syrup, you don’t want it to thicken too much, just barely turn into a runny syrup where all the sugar has dissolved.
Recipe FAQs:
You’ll find it at speciality Middle Eastern supermarkets, or online at large retailers.
Yes, it stores really well in the fridge for 3-4 days. Add the ice cubes right before serving.
Yes, but since honey is thick and sticky it won’t dissolve well into the liquids unless you first mix it with warm water. You’ll have to add to taste, start off with less adding more if you want the lemonade to be sweeter.
Rose Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 cups water, divided
- 1 cup sugar 200g
- 1 cup lemon juice 6-7 lemons
- 1 cup cranberry juice 250ml container
- 2 tablespoon rose water
Instructions
- Make your sugar syrup by placing 1 cup of the water in a medium saucepan, and adding the sugar, then placing on medium high heat. Stir just to combine, then bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and stir until sugar dissolves, 6-8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a pitcher, combine the sugar syrup, remaining water, lemon juice, cranberry juice and rose water and stir to combine. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Right before serving, place ice cubes and a few lemon slices in the pitcher. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Sugar: regular granulated white sugar works best, can substitute with honey to taste by dissolving it in warm water first
- Lemons: always use fresh lemons for the best flavor, not bottled lemon juice
- Cranberry juice: adds flavor and a pink color, can substitute with pomegranate juice for a different twist
- Rose water: use culinary-grade rose water which can e found in Middle Eastern supermarkets or in large online retailers.
- Store tightly covered in the fridge for 3–4 days
- Remove any garnishes before storing to avoid bitterness
- Stir before serving as ingredients may settle.
- Place ice in cups right before serving
- Taste and adjust sweetness, tartness, and rose flavor before serving
- Chill thoroughly for the most refreshing flavor
- Garnish with lemon slices and/or edible rose petals for presentation
Nutrition
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with rose water lemonade:
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