Updated: June 27, 2026
If there’s one drink I never get tired of making, it’s homemade lavender lemonade. I absolutely love lemonade in just about every flavor, and anything with lavender immediately has my attention. This Lavender Lemonade has become one of my favorite drinks to serve at spring brunches, summer cookouts, and afternoon gatherings because it’s light, refreshing, and just a little fancy without being difficult to make. Fresh lemon juice paired with homemade lavender simple syrup creates the perfect balance of bright citrus and delicate floral flavor that everyone always asks for.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfectly balanced flavor. Fresh lemons provide bright citrus while lavender simple syrup adds a delicate floral sweetness without overpowering the lemonade.
- Easy to make. With only a handful of ingredients, this homemade lavender lemonade comes together in just minutes.
- Made with fresh ingredients. Freshly squeezed lemons and homemade lavender syrup, this will taste better than any store bought product.
- No artificial food coloring. Add butterfly pea flowers for a gorgeous lavender-purple color without using artificial food coloring.
- Perfect for entertaining. This refreshing drink is ideal for spring brunches, baby showers, bridal showers, summer cookouts, or simply relaxing on a warm afternoon.
Ingredients
This refreshing summer drink comes together with just a few simple ingredients to make this refreshing lavender lemonade. Detailed measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemons provide the bright citrus flavor that gives homemade lemonade its signature fresh taste. Fresh juice always produces a cleaner, more vibrant flavor than bottled lemon juice.
- Lavender Simple Syrup – Homemade lavender simple syrup adds a delicate floral sweetness while naturally sweetening the lemonade. It gives this recipe its beautiful lavender flavor without tasting like perfume.
- Cold Water – Cold water balances the sweetness and acidity while creating a smooth, refreshing drink that’s perfect for hot days.
- Butterfly Pea Flowers (Optional) – Butterfly pea flowers naturally transform the lemonade into a beautiful lavender-purple color while adding very little flavor. They’re an easy way to create a stunning presentation without artificial food coloring.
How to Make Homemade Lavender Lemonade
This recipe comes together in just a few simple steps. The full ingredient list and detailed measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
STEP 1: Make the Lavender Simple Syrup – In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium-low heat. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved, then remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the dried culinary lavender and butterfly pea flowers (if using for color), and allow the mixture to steep for 20 to 30 minutes, similar to brewing tea. Once finished steeping, strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove the flowers and let it cool completely before using.
STEP 2: Juice the Lemons – While the lavender syrup is cooling, wash the lemons and gently roll them across the countertop using the palm of your hand. This helps release more juice. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze until you have about 1¼ cups of fresh lemon juice, removing any seeds with a fine mesh strainer. Set the juice aside.
STEP 3: Mix the Lemonade – In a large pitcher (I’m using a 68-ounce pitcher for this recipe), combine the fresh lemon juice, cooled lavender simple syrup, and cold water. Stir until everything is well combined. Taste the lemonade and adjust it to your liking by adding a little more cold water for a lighter flavor or additional lavender syrup for a sweeter drink.
STEP 4: Chill and Serve – Refrigerate the lavender lemonade for at least 30 minutes before serving so it’s nice and cold. Pour over ice and garnish with fresh lemon slices and lavender sprigs, if desired. Enjoy!
TIP: If you’ve already prepared a batch of homemade lavender simple syrup, you can skip this Step 1. You can also find my complete Homemade Lavender Simple Syrup recipe with detailed instructions here.
Substitutions & Variations
This lavender lemonade is incredibly easy to customize depending on your preferences.
- Make it sparkling. Replace some of the cold water with sparkling water just before serving for a bubbly twist.
- Use Meyer lemons. Meyer lemons produce a slightly sweeter, less tart lemonade with a wonderful citrus aroma.
- Make it a cocktail. Add a shot of gin or vodka for an elegant summer cocktail that’s perfect for entertaining.
- Try honey. Substitute part of the lavender simple syrup with honey syrup for a subtle floral sweetness.
- Make it stronger or lighter. Increase the lemon juice for extra tartness or add additional cold water for a milder lemonade.
- Add fresh herbs. Fresh mint or rosemary makes a beautiful garnish and adds another layer of refreshing flavor.
- Use blueberries. You can turn the lavender syrup purple naturally without food coloring by using blueberries as well. Detailed step-by-step instructions can be found on my lavender syrup recipe.
What Are Butterfly Pea Flowers?
Butterfly pea flowers are dried edible flowers that are commonly used to naturally color beverages, teas, cocktails, and desserts. When steeped, they produce a deep blue liquid that reacts with acidic ingredients like fresh lemon juice. As soon as the butterfly pea tea meets the lemon juice, the natural pigments change from blue to a beautiful purple or lavender color. It’s a fun kitchen trick that creates a gorgeous presentation without using artificial food coloring. The flowers contribute very little flavor, making them perfect when you want vibrant color without changing the taste of your pitcher of lavender lemonade.
Can You Use Blueberries to Turn Lavender Lemonade Purple?
Yes! Blueberries are another natural way to give this lavender lemonade recipe a beautiful purple color. For the best results, simmer about ½ cup of fresh blueberries with the lavender flowers until they burst. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve, then stir the blueberry juice into the lemonade. The blueberries add a subtle fruity sweetness while creating a beautiful lavender-purple color. If you want the purest lavender flavor without adding any fruit notes, butterfly pea flowers remain the best option because they provide beautiful color with almost no change in flavor.
Storage & Make Ahead Tips
One of the best things about this homemade lavender lemonade is that it’s easy to prepare ahead of time, making it perfect for entertaining.
- Refrigerate: Store leftover lavender lemonade in a covered pitcher or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir before serving, as some natural separation may occur.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the lavender simple syrup up to 2 weeks in advance and keep it refrigerated in an airtight jar. When you’re ready to serve, simply mix it with fresh lemon juice and cold water.
- Freeze the Syrup: Lavender simple syrup freezes beautifully. Pour it into ice cube trays, freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe bag. Thaw as needed for homemade lemonade, cocktails, mocktails, or lavender lattes.
- Skip the Ice (Until Serving): If you’re making a large batch for a party, avoid adding ice directly to the pitcher. Instead, chill the lemonade first and serve it over ice so it doesn’t become watered down.
More Lavender Recipes
If you love the delicate floral flavor of lavender as much as I do, here are a few more recipes to try next:
FAQ
Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh lemon juice is highly recommended for the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice tends to have a duller, more acidic taste that doesn't produce the same fresh, vibrant lemonade.
Can I use store-bought lavender syrup?
Yes. While homemade lavender simple syrup offers the freshest flavor, a quality store-bought lavender syrup can be used if you're short on time.
Can I make this recipe less sweet?
Absolutely. Simply reduce the amount of lavender simple syrup or add a little more cold water until the lemonade reaches your preferred sweetness.
Do butterfly pea flowers change the flavor?
Not very much. Butterfly pea flowers are primarily used for their beautiful natural color and contribute very little flavor to the finished lemonade.
Where can I buy butterfly pea flowers?
You can usually find dried butterfly pea flowers online, at specialty tea shops, Asian grocery stores, or health food stores.
What type of lavender should I use?
Always use culinary-grade dried lavender. Culinary lavender has a pleasant floral flavor that's safe for cooking and baking. Avoid decorative or heavily fragranced lavender intended for potpourri or crafts.
Recipe Card
Lavender Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 tbsp Organic Food Grade Dried Lavender Flowers
- 1 tbsp Pea Flowers, (for natural food coloring)
Lavender Lemonade
- 1¼ cups Lemon Juice
- 2⅓ cups Lavender Simple Syrup
- 4¾ cups Cold Water
Instructions
- Make the lavender simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium-low heat. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, then add the dried lavender and butterfly pea flowers (if using). Steep for 20-30 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and let cool completely.
- While the syrup cools, roll the lemons on the countertop, then cut in half and juice until you have 1¼ cups of fresh lemon juice. Strain out any seeds.
- In a large pitcher (I used 68 oz for this recipe), combine the cooled lavender simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and cold water. Stir until well combined. Taste and adjust with additional water for a lighter flavor or more lavender simple syrup for a sweeter lemonade.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices and fresh lavender sprigs, if desired.
Notes
- Flavor: Freshly squeezed lemon juice produces the brightest, freshest flavor.
- Temperature: Allow the lavender syrup to cool completely before mixing the lemonade.
- Natural Coloring: Butterfly pea flowers are optional and provide natural purple coloring with very little flavor.
- Sweetness: Adjust the sweetness by adding more lavender syrup or dilute with additional cold water.
- Leftovers: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Hosting Tip: For parties, chill the lemonade first and serve over ice instead of adding ice directly to the pitcher.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Craving More?
If you make this Homemade Lavender Lemonade, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out, or tell me what lemonade flavor you’d like to see me make next. Don’t forget to tag @elicitfolio on Instagram so I can see your beautiful creations. You can also follow me on Pinterest for even more homemade recipes, entertaining ideas, and seasonal inspiration.
