As we continue on our month-long celebration of state fair foods and beverages, today we are enjoying some blackberry lemonade. There’s is nothing like going to the Minnesota State Fair and enjoying some fresh lemonade. It’s one of our favorite things to do. Today, we are taking a little twist on the traditional lemonade and adding in some fresh blackberries.
The blackberry lemonade tastes best if it sits overnight so the flavors can all meld together. And it’s best-served ice cold over a nice glass of ice. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart, a refreshing beverage on a warm summer day. Plus, you can add a shot of vodka to it and make it into a fruity adult beverage.
To make the blackberry lemonade you will need the following –
4 C Water
1 C Sugar
1 C Lemon Juice, takes about 5-8 lemons to get 1 cup of fresh juice
1 TBSP Lemon Zest
1 C Blackberries
First, you are going to juice the lemons. You can use a machine or juice by hand. I always use a hand juicer so I can be sure to get every last ounce of juice out of my lemons.
Next, in a large saucepan. combine 2 C of water and the sugar. Heat over medium to high heat until it boils. Let the sugar water boil for about 2 minutes. You’ll want to stir the mixture to help the sugar dissolve, I prefer using a whisk for this step.
Once the 2-minute boil is up, remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and the remaining 2 C of water. Set aside and let it cool.
In a blender, place the blackberries and enough of the lemonade mixture to cover the berries, about 1 C. Blend on high until the blackberries are pureed.
Strain the blackberries and discard of the seeds. This step is optional. You can leave the seeds in but my daughter prefers it to be seedless.
Combine the blackberry mixture with the lemonade mixture and stir.
Place it in the refrigerator until chilled. It’s best to let it chill overnight or at least for a few hours before you serve it.
When you are ready to serve, give the pitcher a quick stir, pour over ice, and enjoy!
Check out some of our other State Fair eats. We will have a new recipe every day in August!
State Fair Blackberry Lemonade
Ingredients
- 4 C Water
- 1 C Sugar
- 1 C Lemon Juice - 5 to 8 lemons juiced
- 1 TBSP Lemon Zest
- 1 C Blackberries
Instructions
- First, you are going to juice the lemons. You can use a machine or juice by hand. I always use a hand juicer so I can be sure to get every last ounce of juice out of my lemons. Next, in a large saucepan. combine 2 C of water and the sugar. Heat over medium to high heat until it boils. Let the sugar water boil for about 2 minutes. You'll want to stir the mixture to help the sugar dissolve, I prefer using a whisk for this step. Once the 2-minute boil is up, remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and the remaining 2 C of water. Set aside and let it cool. In a blender, place the blackberries and enough of the lemonade mixture to cover the berries, about 1 C. Blend on high until the blackberries are pureed. Strain the blackberries and discard of the seeds. This step is optional. You can leave the seeds in but my daughter prefers it to be seedless. Combine the blackberry mixture with the lemonade mixture and stir. Place it in the refrigerator until chilled. It's best to let it chill overnight or at least for a few hours before you serve it. When you are ready to serve, give the pitcher a quick stir, pour over ice, and enjoy!
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