Homemade Fresh Cherry Limeade
This Homemade Fresh Cherry Limeade is sweet, slightly tart, and so refreshing. Made from scratch using real cherries, freshly squeezed lime juice, and cane sugar, this homemade cherry limeade tastes like fruit punch and has the perfect balance of cherry and lime flavors without being too sweet. Perfect for summer and quick to make in under 30 minutes, enjoy a glass with these Smoked Beef Hot Dogs in an Electric Smoker.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s made with 4 ingredients. This is not a Sonic cherry limeade copycat recipe. Sonic’s cherry limeade is made with lime juice, lemon-lime soda or sparking water and sweetened maraschino cherry juice or syrup. While delicious, it’s filled with dyes and artificial sugars. This homemade fresh cherry limeade recipe uses fresh lime juice, cane sugar and real cherries, so you really taste that sweet cherry flavor that we all love!
- It’s quick and easy to make. From start to finish this easy summer drink only takes 20 minutes to prepare.
- It’s a sweet and tart refreshing drink perfect for summer. It’s non-alcoholic and tastes like fruit punch with a fruity cherry and light lime flavor.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cherries. Fresh or frozen sweet cherries. Pit fresh cherries or use frozen cherries. Just make sure to thaw them for at least 30 minutes so they will blend easier.
- Lime juice. Freshly squeezed from 8 – 10 limes.
- Cane sugar. This recipe is lightly sweetened, but you can also use 1 cup of sweetener if you like. White granulated sugar or honey can also be used.
- Ice cubes. For serving or use crushed ice like Sonic.
How to Make Cherry Limeade with Real Cherries
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step one. Pit the cherries if using fresh or allow your frozen cherries to thaw for at least 30 minutes. Add cherries, lime juice, cane sugar, and 2 cups of water to a blender. Puree until the cherries are very fine.
Step two. Strain the cherry mixture into a large bowl or large pitcher then add the remaining water, stirring to combine.
Step three. Serve over ice with lime slices enjoy!
Variations
If you love lime you could try using a couple more limes than this recipe calls for to add a brighter and tangy lime flavor!
For this recipe, the sugar is blended with all the ingredients instead of making a simple syrup, because it’s much quicker. Make a simple syrup by heating the sugar with 1 cup of water over medium heat until the syrup has reached a gentle simmer and the sugar has fully dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool completely before combining with the cherry lime mixture.
Make it refined sugar free by using a natural sweetener like honey, stevia or monk fruit.
Tips and Tricks
Make sure you are using fresh lime juice it will make a big difference in the taste of your limeade.
Because we are using fresh cherries this limeade will naturally have a thicker consistency, if you like a thinner consistency, strain the limeade twice through a fine strainer to remove any leftover cherry pulp.
Make sparkling cherry limeade by reducing the amount of water, so you can serve it over sparkling water. You may need to add more sugar.
Looking For More Summer Recipes?
- Blackberry Lemonade
- Iced Tea Lemonade
- Mango Lemonade
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Matcha Lemonade
- Raspberry Lemonade
- Watermelon Mint Lemonade
- Mint Ginger Lemonade with Homemade Mint Syrup
- Sparkling Limeade
- Dragonfruit Lemonade
- The Best Dragon Fruit Mocktail
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Cherry Limeade
Equipment
- Large pitcher for serving
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup fresh or frozen pitted cherries 10 ounces
- 3 cups filtered water divided
- ¾ cup cane sugar
- 1 cup lime juice 8 – 10 limes, freshly squeezed
- Ice
- Fresh lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- If using fresh cherries, pit them first. If using frozen, allow them to thaw for at least 30 minutes before blending.
- To a blender add cherries, 2 cups of water, and cane sugar. Blend until smooth1 ½ cup fresh or frozen pitted cherries, 3 cups filtered water, ¾ cup cane sugar
- Strain cherry limeade concentrate with a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl or pitcher. Add the remaining cup of water and freshly squeezed lime juice then stir to combine.1 cup lime juice
- Add ice and serve with lime slices. Enjoy!Ice, Fresh lime slices for garnish
Notes
Storage instructions/ Make ahead
- Store in the refrigerator for 5 days. Some separation is normal, stir before serving.
- Make ahead. Make the recipe like usual but save the ice for just until you are ready to serve it so your limeade doesn’t become watery.
Variations
- If you love lime you could try using a couple more limes than this recipe calls for to add a brighter and tangy lime flavor!
- For this recipe, the sugar is blended with all the ingredients instead of making a simple syrup, because it’s much quicker. Make a simple syrup by heating the sugar with 1 cup of water over medium heat until the syrup has reached a gentle simmer and the sugar has fully dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool completely before combining with the cherry lime mixture.
- Make it refined sugar free by using a natural sweetener like honey, stevia or monk fruit.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure you are using fresh lime juice it will make a big difference in the taste of your limeade.
- Because we are using fresh cherries this limeade will naturally have a thicker consistency, if you like a thinner consistency, strain the limeade twice through a fine strainer to remove any leftover cherry pulp.
- Make sparkling cherry limeade by reducing the amount of water, so you can serve it over sparkling water. You may need to add more sugar.
Cherry limeade is a favorite for me and my oldest son, and this recipe did not disappoint. We both loved it and will definitely make it again. (We didn’t strain because our blender got it so smooth and foamy which we enjoyed. I didn’t miss the carbonation of a typical CL)
I love to hear it! Thanks so much, Carrie. 🙂
When do you add the lime juice?
Sorry about that Amy, I just updated the post. The lime juice is added after straining with the final cup of water. Thanks!