Peach Lemonade with Basil Simple Syrup
This is one of those recipes that sounds much fancier than the amount of effort it actually takes.
Fresh peaches, lemon juice, and an easy homemade basil simple syrup come together for a bright, summery lemonade that’s a little sweet, a little tart, and just a little unexpected. We used lemon basil for ours, but whatever basil you have on hand will work just fine.
And don’t worry too much about exact measurements—the basic ratio gives you a great place to start, and then you can make it as peachy, tart, sweet, or strong as you’d like.
First, Make the Basil Simple Syrup
You’ll need equal parts:
Water
White sugar
Fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
For an easy batch, start with 1 cup of each.
Step 1: Make Your Simple Syrup
Add 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a small saucepan and place over heat.
Warm the mixture just until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Step 2: Add the Basil 🌿
As soon as the sugar has dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and add 1 cup of lightly packed basil leaves.
We like to tear the leaves up a little before adding them—it helps bring out a bit more of that basil flavor.
The important part here is not to boil the basil. You’re steeping it, not cooking it. Ideally, the leaves should stay mostly nice and green; a little browning around the edges isn’t anything to worry about.
Step 3: Let It Steep
Let the basil sit in the warm simple syrup for about 30 minutes.
Then pour everything through a fine mesh strainer, removing the basil leaves. Your finished syrup should have a pretty, light greenish-gold color.
That’s it—you’ve made basil simple syrup!
Now for the Peach Lemonade 🍋
The basic ratio couldn’t be much easier:
**1 part basil simple syrup
1 part fresh lemon juice
1 part peach purée
5–6 parts water**
Think of this more as a starting point than a rule. Taste as you go and adjust until it’s exactly how you like it.
Step 1: Make the Peach Purée
Peel and cut up your fresh peaches, then blend until smooth.
An immersion blender works perfectly, but a regular blender or food processor will do the job just as well.
Push the purée through a fine mesh strainer with the back of a spoon to remove any larger pieces and give you a nice, smooth peach purée.
Step 2: Mix Your Lemonade
Combine equal parts:
Basil simple syrup
Fresh lemon juice
Peach purée
Then add about 5 parts cold water and give everything a good stir.
Taste it.
Want more peach? Add another spoonful or two of purée. Too strong? Add a little more water. Want it sweeter? Add another splash of your simple syrup.
This is definitely a make-it-how-you-like-it kind of recipe.
Step 3: Pour & Enjoy
Serve your peach lemonade cold over plenty of ice.
And if you’re feeling a little fancy, add a fresh peach slice and a sprig of basil to each glass. 🍑
A Little Lolans Farm Note
Summer produce doesn’t need much help to be something special. This recipe is really just fresh peaches, basil, lemons, sugar, and water—but put them together and you’ve got a pitcher that tastes very much like summer.
We used lemon basil for ours, which adds a really lovely citrusy note, but regular basil works beautifully too. Use what you have, play around with the ratios, and don’t worry about making it perfect. The best version is the one that tastes good to you. 🌿🍋🍑
