This cherry lemonade instantly takes me right back to my childhood. Saturdays at the mall with my mom, we head to the food court and I am getting Hot Dog on a Stick’s cheese on a stick and cherry lemonade. Good lord! It was so good. Since moving to the East Coast, I have learned that Hot Dog on a Stick is a West Coast franchise, Boo! Since I won’t be getting their lemonade anytime soon, I made my own and let me tell you, one sip and I am right back in California on the beach soaking up the sun. And maybe one day I will learn how to make the cheese on a stick too.

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Cherry Lemonade

I love a good shortcut, and this cherry lemonade is the perfect mix of easy and homemade. I start with store-bought lemonade and mix it with a simple cherry syrup made from simmering cherries and sugar. The result? A perfectly sweet, slightly tart, and super refreshing drink that tastes like summer in a glass. Pour it over ice, garnish with lemon sugar and a candied lemon, and enjoy!

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Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• Lemonade I like Simply
• 1/2 cup cherries You can buy frozen pitted or fresh that you will have to pit yourself
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water

Lemon Sugar

• 1 Lemon Zest
• 1/4 cup sugar

Candied Lemon

• 1 Lemon
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup water

Method

 

Cherry Syrup

1. To make the cherry syrup place the cherries, sugar, and water in a sauce pan
2. Smash the cherries with a spatula and bring the mixture to a boil
3. Once the mixture is boiling, turn the heat to low and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes
4. Once cool store the syrup in a glass container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks

Cherry Lemonade

1. Fill a glass with ice
2. Pour in 3 tbsp of cherry syrup
3. Top off the glass with lemonade
4. Garnish with a candied lemon and lemon sugar

Lemon Sugar

1. In a small bowl pour 1/3 cup sugar
2. Zest a lemon over the sugar, it is okay if a little lemon juice sneaks in as it allows the zest to cling to the sugar better
3. Mix together and sprinkle on your lemonade

Candied Lemons

1. Slice your lemons really thin
2. In a pan combine sugar and water
3. Once the sugar dissolves add the lemon slices
4. Allow the lemon slices to sit in the sugar mixture on low heat until the lemon looks transparent and most of the sugar water has disappeared
5. Remove the lemons from the pan and allow them to dry overnight
6. Use as a garnish for your lemonade

Notes

Don’t let the garnishes keep you from making this drink. They were a fun way for me to be creative but they don’t make or break this drink. But this cherry lemonade will make your summer! PROMISE

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