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Cherry Limeade

4.75 from 4 votes
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posted: 06/28/22

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Cherry Limeade is delicious, refreshing, and so easy to make! It is the perfect kid-friendly drink on a hot day. While most Cherry Limeades bring in maraschino cherry juice, we opt for the real thing in this absolutely delicious drink.

a mason jar glass filled with cherry limeade and ice, garnished with a lime wedge

There is something so refreshing about a big glass of lemonade on a hot day. If you are looking for the perfect fun spin on lemonade, this Cherry Limeade does the trick. It is a great summer day project with the kids.

Reminiscent of Sonic’s Cherry Limeade, but made easily at home with real cherries, your family will love this delicious treat! This recipe is a fun twist on our Strawberry Lemonade, another great summer recipe.

Reader Review

I made this Cherry-Limeade for our family get together yesterday. Everyone loved it. I was afraid no one else would like it and I would be drinking it for a week. Hah! We ran out before the evening was over. It is really delicious.

How to Make Cherry Limeade

  1. Make Cherry Puree. In a food processor or blender combine thawed frozen cherries and lime juice until the cherries are very fine.
  2. Make Cherry Lime Syrup. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the cherry-lime puree, water, and sugar. Bring to a boil and then simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  3. Strain the mixture. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large pitcher.
  4. Cool the mixture. Allow the mixture to cool completely in the refrigerator.
  5. Add in water. Once the mixture is completely cooled, combine with 3 cups of cold water and serve.
a glass of cherry limeade, garnished with a lime wedge, with a pitcher of it in the background

All Natural Cherry Limeade

A lot of cherry limeade recipes are made with maraschino cherry juice as the cherry flavor. While this might be a slightly easier way to make this drink, it doesn’t have quite the cherry punch that this recipe has. Additionally, if you have some in your home with an intolerance to food dye, like we do, that drink will leave them feeling terribly ill.

Our recipe for cherry limeade gets all of it’s cherry flavor from fresh or frozen cherries. Couple that with some fresh lime juice and a little simple syrup and you have the perfect kid friendly summer drink.

a glass of cherry limeade garnished with a lime wedge

Fresh vs. Bottled Lime Juice

While bottled lime juice is a very handy ingredient to keep in your refrigerator, I urge you to use freshly squeezed lime juice for this recipe. The difference between the two is somewhat subtle when it comes to marinades, but when we are making drinks and cocktails, it is quite noticeable. The bottled lime juice tends to be more sour, and it also separates, while the fresh lime juice has a smoother taste in drinks.

Let's Talk Sugar

You may notice that there is a cup of sugar in this recipe. While this is true, it is spread out over eight servings. It is also pretty important to balance the tartness of the lime juice. You may not realize, but that much sugar is pretty standards in lemonade recipes too. If you would like to use less, you are welcome to do that, following the rest of the recipe as written. Another great option would be to substitute the sugar with swerve or monk fruit.

Making it a Cocktail

Naturally, whenever I post kid friendly drinks like this I get comments from my lovely followers on social media about making it into a cocktail. I’ve got you covered with this Cherry Lime Vodka Tonic!

Cherry Lime Vodka Tonic

This Cherry Lime Vodka Tonic is the perfect and most brilliant answer to summer. It starts with just a little of my Cherry Limeade and then with some vodka and tonic water, you have the perfect grown up treat for hot summer days.

FAQ

How long does cherry limeade last?

This recipe will keep in your refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Always use your best judgement when it comes to leftovers.

Can we use fresh cherries?

You can use fresh cherries, just keep in mind that they will need to be pitted and will need to simmer a little longer to get nice and soft.

Does it have to be strained?

Yes, I recommend that you strain the cherry limeade with a mesh strainer for a more enjoyable beverage.

a glass of cherry limeade on a picnic table garnished with a lime wedge

What to Serve with Cherry Limeade

If you are hosting a backyard summer BBQ, here are some great recipes that will go perfectly with this amazing drink.

If you make this Cherry Limeade recipe or any of my other recipes, please be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

a glass of cherry limeade garnished with a lime wedge
4.75 from 4 votes

Cherry Limeade

Serves: 8 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 2 hours 15 minutes
This Cherry Limeade is delicious, refreshing, and so easy to make! It is the perfect kid-friendly drink on a hot day.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces frozen cherries thawed
  • 1 cup fresh lime juice about 10 medium limes
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 cups of water divided

Instructions

  • In a food processor or blender, puree the cherries and lime juice together so that the cherries are very fine.
  • In a saucepan over low heat, bring the cherry-lime mixture, 1 cup of water, and the sugar to a low boil, stirring consistently. Simmer until the sugar is compltely dissolved
  • Strain the mixture into a large pitcher and allow it cool completely in the refrigerator. This will take about 2 hours.
  • Add the remaining three cups of water and serve over ice.
Serving: 6ounces Calories: 190kcal (10%) Carbohydrates: 50g (17%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 1g (2%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Sodium: 5mg Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 42g (47%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
a glass of cherry limeade garnished with a lime wedge

did you make this

Cherry Limeade

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Melody Wright says

    You out did yourself on this post. The cherry limeade did me in but THEN, the adult version!! Oooo. Girl! Gonna do these for the 4th. Also, FYI, I save almost all your pins under the title Simple Joy on my Pinterest account and your pins are the most saved on my acct. Keep up the good work and Happy July 4th.

    • Lisa Longley says

      You made my day, Melody!

  2. Phyllis Hughes says

    5 stars
    I made this Cherry-Limeade for our family get together yesterday. Everyone loved it. I was afraid no one else would like it and I would be drinking it for a week. Hah! We ran out before the evening was over. It is really delicious. It was a little more tart than I like so I added a half cup of sugar more than it called for. My limes might have just been a bit more tart than normal. But then I like my lemonade sweeter than most, too.

    • Lisa Longley says

      Phyllis, I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it! And I’m glad it was a hit with your family.

  3. Ray says

    4 stars
    Very easy to make and it tastes great. I followed your suggestion to add vodka and tonic which was very refreshing.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m glad you liked it, ray!

  4. Melody Wright says

    5 stars
    O.K. I didn’t make this on the 4th. Too much food and other drinks. But today! Oh my! Heat index today in North Florida was 104°. I worked in my yard hoeing and weeding. After all that work, I had a glass. Oh, alright, 2 glasses. And I had the adult version with vodka. It was so good and refreshing. It is a little tart but I liked it immensely. After all, I adore green plums and salt. I will make this again. Thanks for the recipe.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you liked it, Melody! Thank you for taking the time to come back and tell me.

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