Blood Orange Vanilla Lemonade

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Let's make some lemonade, you guys! Yes, I know it's still basically winter, but hear me out. This IS winter lemonade. Since blood orange season is only December through May, you can only make this in winter or spring soooooo I'm not crazy! Or at least, I'm not crazy because of this idea.

I love, love, love blood orange so much more than regular oranges. I think they're sweeter and have an almost berry-citrus flavor. Does that make sense? Yes? No? Maybe? Maybe the color is playing with my brain!? I buy them as often as I can get my hands on them. This lemonade is a must, a cocktail often occurs, maybe toppings for a salad, glaze for salmon, a pound cake with champagne, oh the possibilities! 

I made this a few years ago on a whim, for a family game night and we drank almost all of it that night. My sister took the rest home and has become a hardcore fan of it. Which reminds me, I set some aside for her. I need to take it to her ASAP. There is a good chance if I don't hurry it won't last long enough. 

Blood Orange Lemonade

Makes approximately 1/2 gallon

1 1/2 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)

3-4 lemons to equal 1/2 cup lemon juice

4-6 blood oranges to equal 1 1/2 cup blood orange juice

3-4 cups cold water * to taste

2 vanilla beans

Juice and strain lemons and oranges until you reach the needed measurements, add to drink container or pitcher. Stir in water and simple syrup. Split vanilla beans and add to lemonade and stir. Remove the vanilla bean after about an hour if you don't want a strong vanilla flavor. Store in refrigerator up to a week.

Simple Syrup 

makes about 1 1/2 cups simple syrup

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

In a sauce pan, combine and heat water and sugar, stirring until all sugar dissolves. Allow to cool to room temp before refrigerating. 

Cheers!
XO,
Ashley

Cherry Lemonade

This is a new favorite in our house.

In fact, it was a huge inspiration for my kids' birthday party.

I made  a Lemonade and Tea Bar. 

Basically we had a huge container of lemonade and a huge container of tea with tons of flavored simple syrups and cotton candy to add in.

The possibilities are endless to the dreamy concoctions that can be made.
More on that at a later date. 

I've tried to make this multiple times before and since but cherries never last long in my house. A certain tall, dark and handsome man keeps stealing them out of my fridge. He is a real problem with pluots too. I can't keep any good stuff around them. I really need to get faster about making these recipes.

This is perfect for a picnic or just a treat on a hot day. 

This is such a versatile idea too. 

Swap out the cherries for any fruit or stir in a teaspoon of an flavored extract to the simple syrup, if you prefer. 

Cherry Lemonade

(click to print)

4 lemons, juiced

1 cup cherry simple syrup (recipe follows)

3 cups cold water

10ish cherries, pitted and smashed

Combine all ingredients in you pitcher or serving container and give it a stir. 

Cherry Simple Syrup

makes 2 cups

25 cherries, pitted and sliced

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

In a sauce pan stir together your ingredients and heat it over a med-high heat until is comes to a slow boil. Turn the heat down to low, allow to simmer for 10 minutes or so. Allow to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. 

It should last a week in the refrigerator, but mine is always gone within 2 days, so I make no promises. 

 Thirst quenching goodness!

xoxo,
Ashley